Flashing Temp Light

[Big Daddy Roth]

The temp light on my AAZ B3 is constantly flashing. Doesn't come on right away. But after abotu 30sec of driving it starts flashing. I've swapped in a new coolant temp sensor. I have also checked the reservoir sensor. I unplugged the connector and shorted the two pins together, no change.

I'm stumped.

[Doug]

Clean your reservoir sensor as in remove it and clean it with hot water and soap. You may have an oil film in there that is causing it to not work. then clean the reservoir with hot soapy water. Refill before trying again. Check reservoir sensor leads for breaks at the spade connectors.

[Big Daddy Roth]

Clean your reservoir sensor as in remove it and clean it with hot water and soap. You may have an oil film in there that is causing it to not work. then clean the reservoir with hot soapy water. Refill before trying again. Check reservoir sensor leads for breaks at the spade connectors.

I already eliminated that problem with the reservoir. I took the connector off, and shorted the two pins together. That should have stopped the flashing, but it didn't.

[Vincent Waldon]

I took the connector off, and shorted the two pins together. That should have stopped the flashing, but it didn't.

This suggests that the issue could be a break in the wiring upstream of the sensor... often at the connector itself.

BTW, the flashing LED also signifies an overheat situation... what's your temperature gauge saying?  Could be the temp circuitry in the cluster is misbehaving.  

[Big Daddy Roth]

Yes, I suspect the cluster is poop too. I did swap the voltage reg when I got the car.

My temp gauge is reading correct.

I'll check the wiring.

I really wish my passat Bentley covered the AAZ. Does anyone know where I can find a book that does?

[Vincent Waldon]

The A3 Jetta/Golf Bentley manual (red cover) covers the AAZ engine in depth. It's vague on the nuances of the EGR and emissions stuff, unfortunately, so I wouldn't recommend buying it if that's all you're really trying to track down... but for everything else it's the bible.

[Big Daddy Roth]

Yeah I have the mk3 book as well. It's doesn't really help me in cases like this. I need something that covers the B3 AAZ.

[Big Daddy Roth]

FIXED!

I pulled the cluster back out and fired up my soldering iron. Found a couple of cracked connections.

No more flashing light. Everything works like a charm.



......except now my clock illumination is intermittant