In a message dated 98-09-15 00:40:08 EDT, barryfreed@WA.NET writes:

<< In late May and early June we made a 4000+ vacation from Washington State,
 through So. Cal, Arizona, Utah and Idaho with nary a problem in our recently
 acquired '87 Westphalia.  Last weekend we took a 120 mile trip to go camping
 and wouldn't you know it......

 On the way back the engine coolant warning light began flashing after
 driving about 30 miles on the freeway.  The temperature gauge needle was
 just below the light.  We stopped and checked the coolant level in the
 expansion tank and the refill tank and both were OK.  Belts looked fine.
 The owners manual said that the fan should be running when the light is on,
 which it wasn't.  Checked the fuse (it couldn't be THAT easy) and it was
 fine.  Engine temp didn't seem to be extreme.   We let it sit for 10-15
 minutes and started again.  Keeping the speed to around 55 mph we were able
 to go 20 or so miles before the light came on again.  It doesn't go on
 around town or on short runs on the freeway.

 I have not worked on any of my vehicles since selling my '67 bus 12 years
 ago and have lost what little mechanical apptitude I had.  I am hoping that
 this might be something simple to correct that I can do myself.  My guess is
 that the fan motor has gone out.  My second guess, after looking at my
 Bentley is that it might be the thermo-switch for the fan.   I am guessing
 this is similar to a thermostat on a "normal" car and it looks like
 something I can replace myself.  How's that for creative diagnostic
 thinking?)

 Any suggestions or guidance would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

 Kevin Ainslie
 Puyallup, WA
 '87 Westphalia-Gonzo
  >>
Hi Kevin, it's not your fan motor, thermo fan switch or your thermostat
because it's not overheating, your gauge is reading only half way.  You don't
need a fan motor or a thermo switch to be working anyway when the vanagon is
moving ( freeway speeds) because the ram air is passing through the radiator.
Here is a simply test. In your engine compartment , rear left, is the coolant
reseviour, ( make sure there is coolant in it, DO NOT open with a hot motor,
stone cold only.). On top is the coolant level sensor. Remove the electrical
connector, bridge the connector with a wire, by doing this you are fooling the
control unit that controls the stupid red light that there is coolant in the
reseviour. Remember, that the light is there for only two reasons,  if it over
heats it will turn on the light and if the coolant in the reseviour (engine
compartment) drops below minimum.  Ok, leave the wire bridged, drive the
vanagon as you normally would, if the light comes back on, you need a new temp
gauge.  If it doesn't come back on you need to change the coolant ( if its non
VW coolant, and has to be a 50/50 mixture) and replace the coolant level
sensor.  Good luck.
 Michael Modl
 87 syncro
 87 quattro
 VW service department, Bellevue VW, WA.