weird cooling system problem III, keeps getting weirder - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• weird cooling system problem III, keeps getting weirder by chrissev on 08 Dec, 2004 17:09
• Well it appears I have unintentionally fixed my cooling system problem. After running the car to see if it would overheat after replacing the thermostat and coolant, and after the gauge again indicated that the car was overheating (flashing red light, gauge pushing the white line at the top), my main ground connection to the transmission from the battery melted down and caught fire.  I regrounded it elsewhere on the transmission and took the car for its first drive tonight.  The coolant temperature gauge never went past the middle no matter how hard I drove it.  So it appears I have fixed the problem.  A bad ground connection can make the coolant light flash.  Only on a volkswagen....
• #1 by kooloo on 09 Dec, 2004 04:54
• Quote from: "chrissev"

  Only on a volkswagen....

  
  
   :lol:  :lol:
  
  Weird but it's good to know that a bad ground connection can make the coolant light flash!
• #2 by jtanguay on 12 Dec, 2004 02:20
• my coolant light came on too!  so I added coolant and it went away.  I love when things go smoooothly!!!
• #3 by chrissev on 13 Dec, 2004 12:27
• Quote from: "jtanguay"

  my coolant light came on too!  so I added coolant and it went away.  I love when things go smoooothly!!!

  
  
  yeah, I found that out too.  There's a water level sensor in the coolant expansion tank that makes the light flash if the coolant is low.  You don't get a lot of room for playing around since the feelers don't go into the tank very far.
• #4 by srivett on 13 Dec, 2004 16:07
• Don't forget that means you have a leak somewhere.  
  
  "It leaked and it leaked and it leaked but right before I decided to fix it the leak stopped"    
  
  Steve
• #5 by jtanguay on 14 Dec, 2004 00:43
• could have a leak... definitely a possibility... maybe ill try the old swedish trick of putting mustard powder with the anti freeze worked for me on my golf 1.8  hehe
• #6 by 89VWdieselGolf on 14 Dec, 2004 07:35
• speaking of coolant leaks... i thought mine leaking around the thermostat housing. turns out its the head gasket ......steam billows out of the hood after i drive it hard....time to ease up until i get it fixed i guess
  
  Jeff
• #7 by jtanguay on 14 Dec, 2004 16:35
• ouch head gasket leaks are no fun
• #8 by srivett on 14 Dec, 2004 16:53
• The head gasket isn't that big of a deal if you needed to do the timing belt already.  My cars last mechanic always did them together.  A leaking coolant flange will look just like a head gasket leak and they are a common problem.  Mine were dribbling down onto the head gasket where the coolant begins to flow sideways.
  
  Steve