Re: That Temp Sensor!!! Help!

[Steve Manning <stephenm@ix.netcom.com>]

At 04:56 PM 6/29/98 PDT, you wrote:
>Fellow list members...I need your help regarding my temp sensor...i have 
>a 1990 80 quattro...Everytime I turn my wheel to the right in a sharp 
>turn my coolant light, on the dash, starts flashing like mad-this of 
>course, drives me nuts!!..I notice usually only on turns...Another 
>attribute worth mentioning is that the car after 15 min in stop go 
>traffic starts to go just past the normal temp range about I I <-that 
>much...When i am on long stretches of highway it stays pretty 
>cool...What gives? Coolant? Temp sensor?..I am really not sure but i 
>dont want it to cause something that could and should be prevented...if 
>everyone could help me out i would be very grateful
>thanks list!
>
>nick meyers
>90 80q
>864csq
>854ks
>87.5 CGT 

Nick - first, it is normal for your car to run slightly hotter in town vs.
on the highway....as long as the fan comes on, it cools down, and the cycle
continues, it's OK.

As far as the coolant light, that usually indicates your coolant overflow
tank is not quite full....when you go around a turn it changes the level
and reports as 'too low'.  If you refill closer to the 'max' mark you
should be OK.  If that solves it for a while and you continue to use
coolant, you'll have to track that problem down.  

Also, sometimes the level sensor in the overflow tank gets cranky/stuck and
you can either 1) replace the whole plastic tank w/new sensor (not that
expensive), or 2) clean it out and hope that takes care of it............SLM

Steve Manning:  stephenm@ix.netcom.com
...Physical home: Metro D.C. area, USA
.....Virtual home:  http://www.stationwagon.com