Guys

Wonder if you can help?

Car is a 1995 Polo, 1.3, is that a 6n?

The coolant light has recently started flashing constantly - it doesn't happen all the time but most of the time.

Temp gauge on the dashboard seems to work OK, the needle settles at the midway point after about 10 mins and doesn't go any higher. All teh other warning lights etc in the dash seem to work fine, its just the coolant that's flashing

My Dad took the connector off the top of the expansion bottle and it still kept flashing. He checked all the interior fuses and they are all fine - are there any fuses in the engine bay? Haynes manual isn't clear on this. He thought that maybe the radiator fuse had blown or something like that?

Not sure if the radiator comes on, its too cold outside!!! Heater works fine, blows hot and cold as expected.

Expansion tank is full.

Any ideas why its flashing and what to do about it - neither handbook or the Haynes manual have anything about a flashing light. I'm a bit worried that its going to go bang!!

I did a search but nothing seemed to help.

Thanks in advance

Fleur x

The light will flash for two reasons, High water temp or low water level. So if the temp is showing OK it should be the low level that is causing the fault, to prove this if you put a paper clip between the two pins on the connector removed from the expansion bottle this should put the light out, if it does and the water level is OK it must be the sensor in the expansion bottle at fault

The light will flash for two reasons, High water temp or low water level. So if the temp is showing OK it should be the low level that is causing the fault, to prove this if you put a paper clip between the two pins on the connector removed from the expansion bottle this should put the light out, if it does and the water level is OK it must be the sensor in the expansion bottle at fault

Thanks Nige - this is the connector that sits near the top of the expansion bottle, on the left hand side? Little black connector that pulls off? By putting a paper clip across the two pins we're shorting it out? Will that damage anything?

Don't have a Haynes manual to hand at the minute - where is the sensor situated in the bottle and how easy is it to replace? I assume they can be bought separate to the bottle?

The water is definitely OK - my dad filled it up when it started to flash even though it didn't really need filling.

Thanks for your speedy reply - I'll get my Dad to try it when he gets home from work.

Fleur x

The light will flash for two reasons, High water temp or low water level. So if the temp is showing OK it should be the low level that is causing the fault, to prove this if you put a paper clip between the two pins on the connector removed from the expansion bottle this should put the light out, if it does and the water level is OK it must be the sensor in the expansion bottle at fault

Thanks Nige - this is the connector that sits near the top of the expansion bottle, on the left hand side? Little black connector that pulls off? By putting a paper clip across the two pins we're shorting it out? Will that damage anything?

Don't have a Haynes manual to hand at the minute - where is the sensor situated in the bottle and how easy is it to replace? I assume they can be bought separate to the bottle?

The water is definitely OK - my dad filled it up when it started to flash even though it didn't really need filling.

Thanks for your speedy reply - I'll get my Dad to try it when he gets home from work.

Fleur x

There is only one connector on the expansion bottle, you will not do any damage, on models that do'nt have the low level warning they have a shorting link fitted in the fusebox and by shorting the two pins together on the connector your doing the same job.

The sensor is'nt replaceable as a seperate item, so it will have to be a new expansion bottle, there not that expensive from Eurocarparts if you use the club discount, or you could just join the wires together and not have the low level warning and just rely on checking the water levels yourself.

Hiya

Tried the paper clip thing (well my dad did anyway..)

Coolant light still flashes regardless.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance

Fleur x

Here is the proper wiring diagram for the coolant warning, it might pay to have a look at the earth point on the cylinder head

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?...p;#entry2314716

Hi Nige

An update. Dad tried the paper clip thing again, but this time he did it when the ignition was turned off - when I turned the ignition on there was no flashing light!!

I turned the car off and he replaced the plug onto the expansion bottle - turned it on and still no light.

Fingers crossed that this little trick has fixed the flashing light - I didn't get chance to have a drive around as I had college to go to.

Would this "fix" cause the engine management system or whatever to reset do you think?

I'll look at replacing the expansion bottle at some stage - I like everything to work properly on my car

Thanks for your help

Fleur x

Hi Fleur,

Hopefully it was just a bit of corrosion on the connector pins & sockets, at least you will know where to look if the problem comes back.

The level sensor has nothing to do with the engine management system so no worries there :-)