Sailmed

I talked the wife into a road trip today - Nice ride - 75 miles. On the way up we hit the interstate. I know "I never exceeded the legal limit" but it sure felt like 100 - 120 the whole way. Beautiful ride - no problem. On the return I took the back roads thru the foothills - found a new "blues cafe" so it was, all in all, a great trip. (Not to mention meeting Mark and getting to check out some NICE work was cool too!)
Question - Just before I pulled into my little area of the world, my red warning light started flashing on me. The car is a '78 Euro 5 spd and I don't think it has a TB warning. Oil is up to level, radiator is topped off, temp was normal, voltage great, running fine.
I shut the car off, turned it back on, and the light still flashes. It's nice to have a 16v now - I didn't worry about the TB (it's fairly new and adjusted w/ my K tool), so we just drove the last few miles home.
What is it connected too?
I just figured it was like radar and warning us to quite having too much fun before we returned home to the kids.....

Fabio421

Flashing could be low oil pressure.

pscottjr

Sounds like a great trip.

Any other symptoms, smells or unusual noises. I, once during the last month, thought I had the parking brake (which needs adjustment) down and it was up just a little. No indicator on the pod that the parking brake was on but, the warning light was on.

Rod Underwood

Check your brake fluid level. My 82 had this happen and that was the problem. I had to replace the rubber grommet connectors to the master cylinder. Easy, but it worried me as well when it happened.

Also check coolant level in the small fill container, if it has too much or too little, a light will come on. It won't show overheating, just an early warning.

Rod

Fabio421

A steady ! could ean alot of things but I'm pretty sure that flashing is an indicator of oil pressure.

tommytomaso

Unplug it then replug...mine acts up sometimes (its old and finiky) might of gotten hot, too cold, too shaken or wet? who knows but at thier age i cant say i would trust its accuracy.

Sailmed

Brake fluid was fine - but the sensor wires are attached to the cap on the OB - (the '86.5 has the wires leading thru the side of the tank) - As I removed the cap to check the level - the wire came loose from the connector - Good guess Rod!

Thanks,
Mike,
Proudly contributing to DNA (National Dyslexic Association)

However - It may have just decided not to light back up anyway and I broke the wire?
Oil pressure? first thing I looked at - and it was fine...
Hey Tommy - Your right
I think it's like my wife - plug it in, unplug it, plug it in...... At their age - all women are the same - no one can trust their accuracy, she still say's she likes it.....

Rod Underwood

Glad it was something that simple.

Rod

Landseer

I think you need another car, just in case.

Jim bailey - 928 International

From the owners manual..." THE CONTROL FUNCTION OF THE CENTRAL WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM IS DIviDED INTO TWO MAJOR GROUPS: Group A engine oil pressure -engine oil level,brake circuit(pressure) ,brake fluid level. Group B brake wear,parking brake,coolant level,coolant temperature,fuel reserve level,windshield and headlight washer fluid level, stop lamps,tail lamps. ....Group A any malfunction reported by the system MUST BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY ....PLUS the reset button does NOT apply to group "A" related problems BOTH central and individual warning lights will continue to flash because an immediate remedy of the problem is necessary. " Basically if it is a serious problem that might kill you or the car it is a "group A" . Less serious things like worn brake pads push the central warning button and it stops flashing but the warning light in the dash stays on to remind you to have the fault corrected , it resets everytime you shut off the car then appears IF it gets another signal. Group A group B big difference. Which means in this thread it could have only been one of four Faults since it continued to flash !. There really is a LOT of useful information in the owner's manual

Sailmed

Thanks Jim - Leads me to believe it probably was the wire on the brake fill cap then. I drove 45 miles to the station today and everything was back to normal
Guess I'll have to find a manual for my <$1,000 piece of art.
When in doubt

tommytomaso

QUOTE=Jim bailey - ....Group A any malfunction reported by the system MUST BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY ....PLUS the reset button does NOT apply to group "A" related problems BOTH central and individual warning lights will continue to flash because an immediate remedy of the problem is necessary. " Basically if it is a serious problem that might kill you or the car it is a "group

And to think how long (100+ years) we drove with out such helpfull warnings.