allroad-Coolant symbol flashes in the morning when cold!

[reggieroo]

On a few occasions now that the cold weather is starting to creep in, the coolant symbol flashes on a cold morning after start up. It flashes for a few minutes then goes out & only does it if it's a cold morning, you can start it in the afternoon when the weather is warmer & nothing flashes up.

I looked it up in he drivers manual & it say that it's either coolant level too low or the coolant temp is too high. I've checked the coolant level (an hour after using it) & it was fine, I put a spot in as I thought maybe when it's cold it goes down a little but the symbol still flashes up for a few minutes on cold mornings. It's obviously not temperature too high so could it be?

 

[kite]

Try giving the prongs in the coolant res a srape.
Mk1 TT's seem to suffer with this too.

 

[murran]

usually its a build up of crud on the two pins (level sensor) that stick into the coolant inside the expansion tank.
a new expansion tank should sort it out as the level sensor is integral with it.

 

[reggieroo]

Mmmm worth a look as the coolant level is fine, checked it yesterday morning again.

 

[reggieroo]

Noticed something odd today. I started it up, the coolant light came on again so I went on with the journey & noticed that the temp gauge hadn't moved but stayed on 60. I also had the climate on high but it never got that hot in there as expected. I looked it up in the manual & it says that the gauge should go midway to about 90.

Wondering now if I have a dodgy thermostat?

 

[kite]

Coolant light on when first starting can be a sign of a dying battery.
The engine temp should be @90C, sounds like your stat has gone, if your going to change the stat its cambelt off !!

 

[reggieroo]

Doesn't sound good having to take off the cambelt! It already needs a service & new front brakes.

 

[adamss24]

Doesn't sound good having to take off the cambelt! It already needs a service & new front brakes.

You can change the thermostat without replacing the belts or pulleys but when there is soo much work involved why risk-it ? I do full cambelt changes for the v6 tdi for much less money than any dealer or specialist can ! Pm me for a quote. I include full cambelt kit(contitech wich includes the vibration damper, tensioner + relay roller), water pump with metal impeller, genuine thermostat, aux. belts (2 of), 5L of G12 antifreeze and dynamic setting of the injector pump. Regards, Chris- 077 899 12128.

 

[The Slug]

does the warning only come on for a bit then go off once warmed up?

 

[reggieroo]

You can change the thermostat without replacing the belts or pulleys but when there is soo much work involved why risk-it ? I do full cambelt changes for the v6 tdi for much less money than any dealer or specialist can ! Pm me for a quote. I include full cambelt kit(contitech wich includes the vibration damper, tensioner + relay roller), water pump with metal impeller, genuine thermostat, aux. belts (2 of), 5L of G12 antifreeze and dynamic setting of the injector pump. Regards, Chris- 077 899 12128.

I'll PM you soon.

 

[reggieroo]

does the warning only come on for a bit then go off once warmed up?

Yep just comes on when it's really cold for about 10-20 seconds then goes off.

 

[The Slug]

just needs top up then! its because of the extremes of temp, going from -5 say upto 60-90 deg's engine temp soo i wouldnt presume anything sinister Just topup by small amount when cold...look at the level it will be minute, probably an inch within the header tank.

 

[reggieroo]

just needs top up then! its because of the extremes of temp, going from -5 say upto 60-90 deg's engine temp soo i wouldnt presume anything sinister Just topup by small amount when cold...look at the level it will be minute, probably an inch within the header tank.

That was the first thing I tried, topping up when cold, made no difference unfortunately.

 

[kite]

the brake symbol flashing on first start up is caused by a low voltage spike, it can be the sign of a dying battery.

 

[reggieroo]

the brake symbol flashing on first start up is caused by a low voltage spike, it can be the sign of a dying battery.

It's the coolant symbol not the brake symbol.

 

[kite]

It's the coolant symbol not the brake symbol.

sorry.....I must read more carefully...
Have you tried scraping the prongs inside the coolant res. ?

 

[reggieroo]

sorry.....I must read more carefully...
Have you tried scraping the prongs inside the coolant res. ?

No not yet, I've been meaning to go out & do it among other things. I should go do it now actually.