Blue Coolant/Temp Light Blinking

[markian]

HI Everyone,

My coolant/temp gauge was blinking two weeks ago...i topped up the coolant and it went away. Just recently the blue temperature light blinks after 30 mins of driving. The coolant levels are fine. Suggestions?

Markian.

[Maggadog]

The coolent level sensor?

[AccountingTroll]

This is one of the things that drive me crazy about the NB; no temperature gauge.

I was under the impression that the blue light only indicates coolant temperature is cold. A flashing red light means the level is low and a steady red light and buzzer means the temp is too hot.

Can anyone confirm this?

If what I say above is true, then your coolant temp is crashing during normal driving. I have only seen this when the thermo-stat was stuck open.

Good luck.

[Chucktastic]

bringing back a stalled thread

Mine started coming on while driving past few days but eventually turns off.

Just now gf txt's me and tell me its now blinking blue ??

any suggestions?

[Picknicker]

I had that too (once) - the cause of this error was at the lamda sonde. I got both replaced (luckily warranty) - and I still had the problem - then it turned out, that a magnetic switch controling something down there (at the sondes) was broken (a 3$ piece)... Got it replaced and no more blinking blue lights

[AccountingTroll]

Originally Posted by Picknicker

lamda sonde.

Can you explain that a different way? I'm not sure what "lamda sonde" is/are. Sounds like an easy cheap fix.

Thanks in Advance.

[Chucktastic]

I see now that I am in the wrong engine thread since I have the 2.0L gas.

Reading up on other threads I think I will replace the coolent level sensor either this weekend or next and see if that helps. (Have to go to dealer to get gas tank door cable replaced anyways)

[vgmnstr]

Originally Posted by Chucktastic

I see now that I am in the wrong engine thread since I have the 2.0L gas.

Reading up on other threads I think I will replace the coolant level sensor either this weekend or next and see if that helps. (Have to go to dealer to get gas tank door cable replaced anyways)

I don't think the engine difference matters, they should have similar cooling warning circuitry. I think the owners manual says what the different lights are indicating. I can't be sure, I don't have my manual handy.

[Picknicker]

I got a 2l gas too...
Blue blinking does not have to be the coolent level sensor... Best ist getting to your local dealer and letting him read the error memory. This will tell you more...

@AccountingTroll
The NB has two lambda sondes (at least the gas ones) - one befor and one after the catalyst. These two lambda sondes measure the oxygen level in the exhaust fumes. Simply: these two sondes tell the car whether the fuel-air-mixture is lean stoich or rich which then reacts by adjusting the fuel-air ratio...

A new lambda sonde costs about 145€ (that's about 230$ - though I think the US price for a sonde will be the same absolute amount in $$) plus installation (that's 100€ - 160$)...

If it's a magnetic switch (like it was in my case) it's a thing of about 5$ plus installation

[whitedog]

"Sonde" in German translates to "probe", or "sensor".

Also, the dealer will probably charge a diagnostic fee of at least half an hour. A friend with VAG-COM or a generic scanner may do it for dinner or just to see your smiling face.

[Picknicker]

Originally Posted by whitedog

"Sonde" in German translates to "probe", or "sensor".

oops... Better not trust a usual dictionary not made for technical english (cuz that's where I found the "Lambda Sonde" [ger] as "lambda sonde" [eng])

Originally Posted by whitedog

Also, the dealer will probably charge a diagnostic fee of at least half an hour. A friend with VAG-COM or a generic scanner may do it for dinner or just to see your smiling face.

My dealer did it for no fee at all. Plugged in - read - deleted - plugged out