red flashing temperature light

[shellbug]

I drove over to Augusta this weekend to see my hubby, went to start my car yesterday morning and the temp light started blinking red and it chimed like 3 times. I turned it off and opened the hood, not before I started crying LOL. Hubby and kids were gone to the Georgia football game and I was stuck at this extended stay hotel that I have never been to and had no clue what to do. I called the dealership and the guy told me to drive it there, on the way the red light went out. They couldn't find anything wrong with it, no codes thrown and they washed it for me . The light didn't come on again yesterday. I go to start it today to come home and it comes on again right when I start it and then goes away after I start driving. So it only comes on when I first start it and then goes off after I start driving it. Any ideas? Thanks, sorry for the long read.

[scarabY2k]

How's your coolant level?

[Lnzbug]

That happens to me when I'm low on coolant. Either add distilled water or VW coolant. It must be the same stuff that's in there. If you have pink in the system and you add green they say it gunks up. You don't even have to be that low for it to do that.

[shellbug]

Where should the coolant level be? The dealer guy said they added a little bit of coolant.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Just make sure the coolant level in the "BALL" is above MIN or minimum level. Mine is always above MAX. If that doesn't do it then it's probably your temperature sensor....a 10 minute fix at the dealer. If you're planning a long trip and the light came on again, I'd see the dealer again explaining your long trip first.

[LadybugEwa]

The coolant tank is the round-shaped plastic container under the hood on the passenger side. The 'high' and 'low' marks are stamped on the off-white plastic, so you have to get up close sometimes to notice them. It also helps if you take a small flashlight and hold it right against the side of the tank to see the level. If they added some, the problem should go away unless you have a leak somewhere. Keep an eye out for pink liquid in your parking spot. Good luck

[shellbug]

Thanks for all the info. It did not come on this morning, yippee. I did not see a high and low mark on the ball, thats the first thing I looked for on Saturday. IT does have 2 black dots and G12 or something like that on it.

[LadybugEwa]

Were you able to see the level of pink coolant liquid inside the ball? It's sometimes not so easy to see, but holding a small flashlight right against the side of the tank really helps you see the level. I hope you don't have a small leak in the coolant system, but that's how it started in mine. If the light comes on again, or you see any pink liquid under the car then that is the case

[shellbug]

I have not seen any liquid, when I checked it before I took it in it was a little below half full. I had my oil changed last month and I don't think the place checked my fluids because my windshield washer fluid was empty last week.

[BigBlackBean]

this is an extremely common fault in VASS (vw, audi, seat, skoda)AND PORSCHE vehicles, considering that they are all VOLKSWAGENS! when your engine is cold, say you woke up and you're going to your car for the first time of the day, check your coolant level, if the ball is half filled you are fine, the level goes up when engine is warmed up, if not half, like significant, ummmm, an inch less than half, then you have a leak somewhere. anywho, if all is alright with coolant level, IT'S THE FOUR PRONG FAULTY TEMP SENSOR! it's actually an upgrade from the stock one to the either green or blue, ask for c-clip and fresh o-ring. extremely common fault, sometimes throws check engine light.

thanks for reading

[EttaOtto]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

That happens to me when I'm low on coolant. Either add distilled water or VW coolant. It must be the same stuff that's in there. If you have pink in the system and you add green they say it gunks up. You don't even have to be that low for it to do that.

What is the different between the pink and the green coolant? My GF's '01 had the red flashing light happen when I borrowed it today. Her coolant was low. Got the car home. This evening I added some green coolant to the "ball"... did I mess something up? Do I need to limp to a shop?? ?

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by EttaOtto

What is the different between the pink and the green coolant? My GF's '01 had the red flashing light happen when I borrowed it today. Her coolant was low. Got the car home. This evening I added some green coolant to the "ball"... did I mess something up? Do I need to limp to a shop?? ?

The two are not compatible!!! According to folks on here, it'll cause the fluid to gel. Call your VW dealer asap.