Red Lights on Dash

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NakedonaHorse
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Red Lights on Dash

Post by NakedonaHorse » Fri Sep 20, 2013 4:38 pm

Hello, I've been driving my van daily ever since my boyfriend totaled his car. He's borrowing my truck and now I'm spending some quality time with my van. But recently on my commute over to the boyfriends house. The two red lights on the dash have come on and are staying on. It's the battery light and OXS light :scratch: (whatever that means). Before they would often flicker as I was driving around and I just got used to ignoring it since there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to it, figured it was a loose wire or something. But now the two lights come one and stay on.

So I just wanted to check in and see if I need to do something about it or just keep ignoring them. The van is driving expertly. A couple times I've looked down and I was going 70!!! Never thought I'd see the day.

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Bleyseng
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by Bleyseng » Fri Sep 20, 2013 4:55 pm

What year is this "Van"??
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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NakedonaHorse
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by NakedonaHorse » Fri Sep 20, 2013 5:45 pm

1984

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tristessa
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Location: Uwish Uknew, Oregon
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by tristessa » Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:37 pm

Check the connections at the alternator, and make sure the voltage regulator is screwed into the back of the alternator securely. It looks like this:
Image

Maybe drop Bob/Hambone a line, see if he;s got some time to poke at it. Whereabouts in Portland are you?
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!

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hambone
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by hambone » Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:37 pm

OXS is oxygen sensor, probably a reset button somewhere. Probably not important but whatta I know?
Battery light, perhaps your alternator is no longer providing a charge. Further tests are needed, some places test for free in Portland, battery shops, etc. You can also check the battery voltage etc. with a voltmeter.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
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hambone
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Location: Portland, Ore.
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by hambone » Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:38 pm

We posted at exactly the same time...
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat

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tristessa
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Location: Uwish Uknew, Oregon
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by tristessa » Fri Sep 20, 2013 9:41 pm

Flickering before it comes on permanently, alternator. See here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=264599
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!

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NakedonaHorse
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by NakedonaHorse » Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:46 pm

The battery is new, just bought it in January. The lights appear to behave in unison. I drive it from E 60th and Burnside out to Happy Valley multi times a week and it starts up fine each time.

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tristessa
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by tristessa » Sat Sep 21, 2013 6:41 pm

Just because the battery is new, doesn't mean the alternator is working like it should.

Any chance you could swing over to the Lab on Monday? We could look at it there...
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!

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tristessa
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by tristessa » Fri Sep 27, 2013 6:19 pm

Any news? I remember we found that flakey wire on Monday...
Remember, only YOU can prevent narcissism!

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NakedonaHorse
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by NakedonaHorse » Sun Sep 29, 2013 4:28 pm

All is well, Thanks so much for the help. We might actually be taking the van up the coast this week. So I'll have plenty of time to make sure it all works.

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Xelmon
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Location: LA or Portland, OR
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by Xelmon » Mon Sep 30, 2013 12:24 am

Naked, I have a van, you have a bus.

Even if it's a Vanagon, it's still a bus. =P

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Amskeptic
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by Amskeptic » Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:18 am

Xelmon wrote:Naked, I have a van,
Clothed, I have a bus.
Colin
(takes all kinds, I guess . . . :sunny: )
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Xelmon
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Re: Red Lights on Dash

Post by Xelmon » Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:04 am

Amskeptic wrote:
Xelmon wrote:Naked, I have a van,
Clothed, I have a bus.
Image

That's going in my signature!!

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