Flashing Light @@@@HELP@@@@

Hi all, I'm new to this website and have not long joined, well today I purchased a Golf GTI Convertable, I had one of these about 15 years ago and loved it, I since had many cars but last year I sold my main car and bought a run around and with the extra cash went out and purchased a 1973 VW Camper Type 2, spent all last year restoring it and now have the DUB BUG     The Golf drives very well and had a lot of mechnical work done, new exhaust, brakes all round, new radiator, gear linkage.
My Issue
What I'm after is some advice… All though the car drives well I drove it home and all the way the temp gauge didn't move plus it was flashing red all the way, it didn't overheat and drove fine just wondering if it's a quick fix.
Any advice would be helpful/welcome.
Many Thanks
Paul

Hi mate,

Obviously you'll have checked that there's coolant in the system so it's not that.  Airlock?  Try taking the expansion tank cap off and squeezing the radiator hoses a bit; if the level drops it could be that.  

When you say "didn't move" do you mean didn't go up at all?  Thermostat could be stuck open; does the heater work?  If not that could be part of the issue, but equally it could be stuck shut with a dicky temp gauge if it's baking hot.  Does the radiator fan come on if you leave it idling for five minutes or so?  Does the fan run constantly?

Could be the sender for the gauge or the overheating light or a bad connection to either.

Don't worry, someone who's been into Golfs longer than me will be along to this thread in a bit to give you some answers rather than just places to look!  :wink:

does the temp gauge move at all

i had this but it sorted it self out somehow the light would flas over bumps and stay on and sometime switch off

take the lead off the sender and quickly earth it and see if the gauge moves they the

if the gauge moves  when earthed try a new sender as they are only a few pounds worth a try

See?     

Thanks for the quick replies guys, I'll try some of the things you've suggested 2moro when I get in from work, as for the temp gauge I drove about 20 mile and it didn't move up at all, the guy I bought it from has just fitted a new radiator…?????  It' looks new anyway. before I left him he said the light flashing would go off once the car warmed up not sure if this is correct but after 20 mile it was still on.
I'll try the few things you suggested and let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

From what I can tell, the light is for temp too low  and temp too high!

If your fuel gauge is reading ok then it is the sender or wire to it, if the fuel gauge is reading miles out or not at all then it may well be the voltage stabiliser. hth!

Fuel gauge is fine, Just temp gauge, I will try some of the thing the guys have suggested hopefully 2moro.
I'm from the north east and wouldn't mind meeting up with a few other dub nuts if anyone is nearby. )

Quick update, I haven't had a chance to look at this issue as I've been to busy working but i can tell you that the light sometimes stops flashing, when it stops the fuel gauge also stops working, when you go over a bump the light might start flashing again and the fuel gauge kicks in to life !!

Just a quick update if anyone out there is having the same issue, the light was still flashing but not all the time, when it wasn't it didn't register at all neither did the fuel gauge, last night I popped the bonnet, on top of the header tank was the temp sensor i think, anyway i removed this with a large socket and found the two long spikes which I guess are submerged in the water, these were covered in a copper coloured film, got some sandpaper and give them a good clean along with the contacts put it all back together and bob's ya uncle all is working sweet. temp and for some reason the fuel gauge both working fine. Bazaar.. :roll:

Sorry to jump on this thread mate but I got a similar problem but when I run mine the temp gauge needle gradually goes up and starts flashing I think it's a dodgy gauge because we've changed the thermostat and sender
but if any of you guys have any ideas please let me know
btw it does run fine