Help... Red Flashing Light!!!!!

[didsi]

I got in my car this morning and it was -1.5 on the temp display. as i started the engine i heard three beeps and there is a red flashing light (in the engine temp dial) flashing all the time now! at first i thort it was something to do with the temp but now am thinking its maybe the oil level.

does any1 know what it is?

 

[Dodson]

Coolant level isnt it?

 

[lcrthebull]

this has also happened to me lately. I think it has something to do with a sensor?...anyhow, once you're up to temperature and you're stopped at a set of lights or something, turn the ignition off and then back on again, and the light will stop flashing.

 

[slatord]

I also have had this problem, and as lcrthebull said, once its up to temp, turn off and back on and it stops. I quite often get this when its been sitting for a while in cold conditions. I check my coolant levels every time this happens and its always ok. Thinks its just some kind of sencor glitch in extreme cold

 

[wilksy]

my car did the same this morning so i turned it off then turn the ignition on waited till the petrol light n temp light went off the fired it up n it was ok
the 1.8t is prone to temp sensor n thats wot happens

 

[Andy3004]

Search!

This has come up at least three times recently. It's a dodgy temp sensor in the expansion tank.....if the car is in warranty seat will replace the entire tank as the sensor is moulded in....if not some peeps have found a clean helped....

 

[RobM]

It is 9 times out of 10 a dodgy sensor. However, it could be a perfectly working sensor telling you that your coolant is low, so get out and check it asap! If the coolant level is fine, it's the sensor as people have said above.

 

[didsi]

thanks guys i will go check on my lunch! will let you know

 

[skunnie26]

guys, i was having exactly the same problems and did a good bit of research on this problem. i replaced the engine temperature sender/sensor. i would put my house on this being the source of the problem. this is where i got the info from: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1287042

I bought a replacement off fleabay for around 10 notes. remember to buy the green one.......... it takes 5 mins to fit (very easy)

it is frezzing up here in Scotland and have had no problems since.

 

[jetsetjimbo]

guys, i was having exactly the same problems and did a good bit of research on this problem. i replaced the engine temperature sender/sensor. i would put my house on this being the source of the problem. this is where i got the info from: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1287042

I bought a replacement off fleabay for around 10 notes. remember to buy the green one.......... it takes 5 mins to fit (very easy)

it is frezzing up here in Scotland and have had no problems since.

I had the same with the old black sensor - it was replaced under warranty with the green sensor and it's been fine since.

As skunnie says - this is very easy to do yourself.

 

[RobM]

I know you are all probably right, as this comes up very often (a search wouldn't have hurt), but it does make me laugh that people immediately point to a technical problem rather than the actual thing that the warning light is designed to warn you about

The coolant warning light is on.... must be broken. Bet you wouldn't apply the same logic to the low fuel warning light!

 

[Drew1982ish]

I have this problem every morn from cold - once the car has been running and the car warms up the light does eventually stop flashing - been advised by dealer that this is just z warning to say the enginge is really cold after a while the light does actually stop flashing once car has started to warm up - again like the other guys i have checked coolant levels and they are all bob on - thing is manual would probably say refer to dealer which would charge you hours labour just to have a look -

 

[jetsetjimbo]

I know you are all probably right, as this comes up very often (a search wouldn't have hurt), but it does make me laugh that people immediately point to a technical problem rather than the actual thing that the warning light is designed to warn you about

The coolant warning light is on.... must be broken. Bet you wouldn't apply the same logic to the low fuel warning light!

No but the fact that it only happens when very cold and the fact that it dosen't reoccur when the ignition is turned off and restarted points to a known issue with the coolant sensors on VAG engines.

One would hope that common sense would dictate that the first thing to check would be the coolant level obviously.

 

[RobM]

I know But since the poster hasn't said it doesn't come back when the ignition is restarted and also hasn't said it always happens when really cold, those are all just assumptions