Coolant level/temp sender

[the edmundator]

Can someone tell me where this is? The light in my temp gauge on the '82 GTI intermittently starts flashing (temp and coolant levels both fine), so I think the sender is likely to be playing up.

A part number would be helpful - I've had a look on VAGCAT, but as I don't really know what I'm looking for, I haven't found anything that sounds suitable.

[1lazza]

Hi Ed -

I think it's on the RHS (as you look at the car from the front) of the radiator side moulding, facing backwards into the car - a screw-in part, about 20mm in diameter with two connectors on it. Before you bin it, try cleaning the connectors. Car looked very shiny in your pics at the NEC!

//Laurence

[GT Matt]

Hi Ed -

I think it's on the RHS (as you look at the car from the front) of the radiator side moulding, facing backwards into the car - a screw-in part, about 20mm in diameter with two connectors on it. Before you bin it, try cleaning the connectors. Car looked very shiny in your pics at the NEC!

//Laurence

Hi Ed, that's the radiator fan switch that's being described above and does not work the coolant LED in any way.

The coolant temp sensors are located in the housing that comes off the cylinder head that then joins to the top hose. On later models (GTII) it is the sensor fitted on the underside on the housing is for the gauge, been a while since I looked at an earlier one but think the other sensor is for the warning light. Will confirm when I've had a look at one this weekend.

On vehicles with MFA, there is also a coolant level sensor located in the expansion tank. This is the electrical device connected into the top of the tank that reaches down the assess the coolant level.

Will let you know

Matt

[the edmundator]

Hi Ed -

I think it's on the RHS (as you look at the car from the front) of the radiator side moulding, facing backwards into the car - a screw-in part, about 20mm in diameter with two connectors on it. Before you bin it, try cleaning the connectors. Car looked very shiny in your pics at the NEC!

//Laurence

Thanks, I passed a gritter on the way back from the NEC, so the GTI will be garage-bound for a while now!

Hi Ed, that's the radiator fan switch that's being described above and does not work the coolant LED in any way.

The coolant temp sensors are located in the housing that comes off the cylinder head that then joins to the top hose. On later models (GTII) it is the sensor fitted on the underside on the housing is for the gauge, been a while since I looked at an earlier one but think the other sensor is for the warning light. Will confirm when I've had a look at one this weekend.

On vehicles with MFA, there is also a coolant level sensor located in the expansion tank. This is the electrical device connected into the top of the tank that reaches down the assess the coolant level.

Will let you know

Matt

Thanks for the clarification. Turns out the parts chap at the dealer was looking at the right picture when I asked for the coolant level sensor in the expansion tank and he told me there wasn't one.

If there are separate sensors for the gauge and the light (which would make sense), then it's the one controlling the light that's faulty.

[1lazza]

1lazza wrote:
Hi Ed -

I think it's on the RHS (as you look at the car from the front) of the radiator side moulding, facing backwards into the car - a screw-in part, about 20mm in diameter with two connectors on it. Before you bin it, try cleaning the connectors. Car looked very shiny in your pics at the NEC!

//Laurence

Hi Ed, that's the radiator fan switch that's being described above and does not work the coolant LED in any way.

The coolant temp sensors are located in the housing that comes off the cylinder head that then joins to the top hose. On later models (GTII) it is the sensor fitted on the underside on the housing is for the gauge, been a while since I looked at an earlier one but think the other sensor is for the warning light. Will confirm when I've had a look at one this weekend.

On vehicles with MFA, there is also a coolant level sensor located in the expansion tank. This is the electrical device connected into the top of the tank that reaches down the assess the coolant level.

Of course it is! Apologies and thanks for the correction GT Matt. Senior moment...