Golf MK2 1.8 Driver - Oil & Coolant light problems

[nec10]

Hi

I have a persistant fault on my Golf that no garage or main dealer seems able to fix.

The car has developed the fault in the last month.

Car: '92 Golf Driver 1.8 non-cat unmodified 112000 Miles - good condition.

History: Bought the car about 6 months ago and did the following work immediately:
- Replaced electric fan (Noisy bearings)
- Replaced faulty boot light switch (Causing battery to go flat)
- Replaced battery

The car was then fine for a good 3 months before the following fault developed:

- The coolant temperature light flashes constantly after a few minutes
- The oil light comes on intermittently, especially when the headlights are turned on.

What's been done so far:

- The water inlet/outlet housing on the top of the engine with the 3 sensors in has been replaced to cure a water leak (apparently)
- The contacts on the dash control module have been cleaned up as they were found to be corroded.

This is at a local garage and the main dealer in Cambridge. In both cases the fault was supposedly "cured" and tested. In both cases there is no difference whatsoever to the symptoms :-(

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Nick
Cambridge
UK

[boschmann]

I suppose they checked that the coolant level isn't low as the sensor in the expansion tank will cause the light to flash (even when the gauge reads normal). Is there any relationship as to engine speed when the oil light comes on? Have they tried checking the pressue with a gauge &/or replaced the sensors as they are inexpensive? If your sure it's not the sensors (& the part about doing it in relation to the headlights hints at this) then I'd start looking at ground (earth) connections both in the engine compartment & under the dash.

[nec10]

OK, More info:

- Dropping the revs very low causes the light to stop flashing. So there IS a relationship with engine speed!

- The brake lights also make the problem worse, so it seems the more lights (more load on alternator?) I put on, the worse the problem gets...

I'll check as much as I can at the weekend.

Thanks :-)

[glaj88]

Originally Posted by nec10

Hi

I have a persistant fault on my Golf that no garage or main dealer seems able to fix.

The car has developed the fault in the last month.

Car: '92 Golf Driver 1.8 non-cat unmodified 112000 Miles - good condition.

History: Bought the car about 6 months ago and did the following work immediately:
- Replaced electric fan (Noisy bearings)
- Replaced faulty boot light switch (Causing battery to go flat)
- Replaced battery

The car was then fine for a good 3 months before the following fault developed:

- The coolant temperature light flashes constantly after a few minutes
- The oil light comes on intermittently, especially when the headlights are turned on.

What's been done so far:

- The water inlet/outlet housing on the top of the engine with the 3 sensors in has been replaced to cure a water leak (apparently)
- The contacts on the dash control module have been cleaned up as they were found to be corroded.

This is at a local garage and the main dealer in Cambridge. In both cases the fault was supposedly "cured" and tested. In both cases there is no difference whatsoever to the symptoms :-(

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Nick
Cambridge
UK

have a similar problem with a 96 golf 1.8. got the car used and in its currant state. after 3 days of tests, i think its the actual cluster. the cluster appears to of been played with/changed. maybe mention that to the dealer/garage. find a compatable cluster from the scrap yard.

[nec10]

This problem turned out to be the classic water damaged fuse box problem. MK II Golfs have a design flaw where the water runs down the bonnet release cable and can come in through the bulkhead and affects the fuse box. I still haven't fixed it yet but at some point I'll have a new fuse box fitted. The symptoms are that the water temp and oil lights flash or come on when you load the system, i.e Headlights, Wipers, Full beam etc.