Blinking red temperature light - what does it mean?

I wouldn't worry unless your car is overheating. Is the temperature gauge in the normal postion? The cause of your blinking light is likely an electronic component in your cooling system. You don't need to stop driving the car unless it's overheating or malfunctioning mechanically.

I don't know if it's overheating - I don't have a temperature gauge.

I d> I wouldn't worry unless your car is overheating. =A0Is the temperature

First and foremost a flashing light means stop now or risk serious and expensive damage. Of course it is always possible that the computer is reacting to a bad sensor not high heat or low oil etc. I would not drive that car unless I could verify that it is indeed not overheating.

Second: Dealers are no better (or worse) than independent mechanics for almost anything you might need done on your car. They will almost always charge more per hour and often more for parts and supplies. They also tend to look at repairs a little different than the independent.

A dealer may well recommend work that strictly may not be needed, but could be connected to the problem or maybe replace a part when a little repair would fix it ALMOST as good a new.

There is no need to bring your car to the dealer for any service other than service that is going to be paid for by a recall or original warrantee. During the warranty period be sure to have all required (as listed in the owner's manual) maintenance done and to document all maintenance work.

I suggest that most people would be better off finding a good independent (Not working for a chain) mechanic.

Note: Never ever use a quick oil change place. They are fast cheap and very very bad.

Some signs your car is overheating:

-steam seeping out from under the hood near the radiator or coolant expansion tank

-A hot smell

-Sound of water boiling after a long drive.

Your blinking light may be caused by (in order of likelihood):

-Coolant temperature sensor

-Thermostat

-Radiator malfuction

-Coolant level too low or too high

take your pick...

1- it's blinking because engine is overheating. If so, you may do more damage. 2- coolant level is low 3- fans not running see above #1 4- coolant pump impeller cracked and slipping see #1 5- coolant sensor going bad, but then again I never replaced one for falsely going red. 6- do you have heat in the car? If no good sign of the coolant pump

One possibility, I did not see as a response. The facility in the instrument panel may be intermittently faulty.

Thanks for all the replies.

Problem turned out to be a broken water pump. Miraculously, it's still under warranty even though my car is 9 years old - I guess it's part of the powertrain. Dealer is fixing it for free right now. I guess that's one good argument for going back to the dealer.

Frank

You are one of the lucky ones! lol congrats to you!

Doesn't anyone EVER read their owners manual???????????????????????????????

Question mark abuser:

Yes.

Of course, many people buy their car used and often the manual does not remain with the car. Furthermore, perusal of owner's manual's for issues such as the original topic in this post you will generally find that the manual directs them to the dealer (ugh). Be kind with your posts. You may need this group some time.

responding to

Brandy wrote: I own a vw, and this problem is on in the owner's manual. That's why I googled it. I looked though the entire thing. So there you have it.

I own a vw, and this problem is on in the owner's manual. That's why I > googled

The plastic impellers split. and they have sensors both sides of the water pump

7-20-2015 but very first check that the heater core is not leaking in the car mostly on the passenger side these carpets will hold a lot of water, feel the carpet, if saturated heater is leaking (very common), just disconnect the heater hoses and reconnect one in a loop back to the engine, refill water bottle and drive, if no more blinking light then heater core needs to be replaced.

replying to flarosa, bobbie wrote: The blinking red light means low coolant. If it stays red that meand its hot and you shoud pull over and not drive it untill problem is resolved.

replying to Joseph Meehan, Conor Richards wrote: Stop wasting your time hating on dealerships. I've worked as a technician at both independent and dealership shops and there are HUGE differences. Dealership shops use better parts and tend to have smarter mechanics.

Your anti-dealer ranting has nothing to do with actually fixing cars. Sorry.

replying to bobbie, prince wrote: though this topic was in 2016,help out a brother. My polo 2006 coolant bottle is acting up, flushing out water/coolant everytime i stop/park, more like the water overheated but the temperature gauge is always at the middle. Checked to see if theres a brokage, the coolant is seen droping back through the return pipe nicely. What can be the problem?

replying to Craig, Meta wrote: Some used cars don't come with an owner's manual and not everyone can understand every little detail in it even if they did look.

replying to Craig, Louis KFC wrote: no