I seem to recall that has been a complaint here before. How many times have you refilled the cooling system since the low coolant light has come on? The temp gauge works as it should - nothing out of the ordinary there. A coolant leak can cause your carâs efficiency to deteriorate. I checked the level in the coolant reservoir and it seems a tad bit low. coolant light comes on and off - 2007 Saturn Ion Close The coolant level sensor shares a common sensor ground (CKT 452) with the EGR, map and coolant temperature sensor, an intermittent at any of these connections could cause the coolant level light to come "ON". Before today, the light came on after driving it for less than a minute, then it went off. Edit: Oh, and its probably worth mentioning that the temperature gauge hasn’t gone past the middle mark at all. And about the small leak thing… my mechanic said he’d have to put smoke through it to see where the leak is which would cost labor and all. Tsukasaâs blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. The reason behind such defective sensor would be a probable loose connection. I haven’t yet changed the coolant at all. Why does my "Low Coolant" light come on periodically. Facts and Fallacies! You could either top it off by yourself or let your mechanic do the job for you. It should be between the "Min" and "Max" lines. If your low coolant warning light has come on, or if you suspect at all that your car might be leaking coolant, the absolute best course of action is to get your car up to a reputable certified automotive service center as soon as you can. Low coolant light comes on and off when there is plenty of coolant in system in my 2000 Buick Century Posted by mlbruner on Oct 24, 2009 Want Answer 0 All you need to do in such a case is check your coolant levels and top it off with effective coolant in order to bring back consistency to it. The connection to the sensor looks clean and the wires are fine. Could it be a bad radiator cap? SOURCE: Low Coolant light stays on. But here's the thing: it stayed on about 5 minutes, then went off for the rest of the drive (another half-hour). This coolant light also comes on for a low coolant level. Try adding a bit of coolant and see if the symptom disappears. Thanks. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. The Causes of Coolant Temperature Warning Light Comes on. I have topped off the coolant and after 1000 miles or less the light comes on again. has this happen to anyone else or wats up thanks for feedback On the ground nor driveway. The result: No low coolant warning light. However, the third reason for a leaky coolant could be a physical puncture in the radiator, which is easiest to diagnose. Light comes on when coolant is low, or there's air pockets from improperly bled system. Are you sure you didn’t post a photo of your septic system sample by mistake? anyways, recently the coolant light has come on for less than 60 seconds and then went off. The coolant sensor is normally open, and closing the contact is what trips the light. Heck, I don’t even know if the previous owner did. Has been this way for 3 months or so. The first step towards addressing the issue starts with inspecting the coolant levels. There may be a floating sensor in your coolant tank that triggers the warning light when the level drops. The light turned off for a two days. Is this true ? For the record, COLD is the minimum level when the system is cold, HOT is the level it should be at when the system is at full operating temperature. Coolant is considered to be an intermediate that transfers the heat from the engine body to the cooling tank. "Low coolant" light goes on and off intermittently with no pattern to it. Or maybe I don’t know what to look for. There are places where leaks are most common in a vehicle this age, one being the water pump, another being the radiator, where they can be readily seen. Last night on my way home from work i started it up to a low coolant light, few minutes later it went away. Simply unplugging it prevents any contact from ever closing it. What causes the coolant warning light to come on? I've had this problem before, and it was annoying. That would turn the light on permanently. Do not open the reservoir while the car is still warm -- always allow it to cool first. Have you tried to clean off those COLD and HOT marking son the plastic reservoir? When you park your cars in cold or freezing temperatures, the coolant fluid tends to contract. There are no visible signs of coolant leaking. He added more coolant. An issue called âThermostat stuck openâ can cause a decrease in the carâs temperature as the coolant flows freely without any bars within the system. Radiator was just flushed and new water pump installed. Soldering would complete the circuit and turn the light on. DescriptionThis question was asked on the AskDAP Show Episode 1. Unplugging it will turn the light off. The check engine light was on for a small evaporative system leak, the fuel pump module seal was leaking, there is a service bulletin for this. I did the exact same route as I had that morning and the result: about halfway through the low coolant warning light came on. Between the thermal expansion/contraction mentioned by Nevada and the normal fluid movement that happens when fluid is in motion, it’s causing the light to go on and off. If it doesn't go out, either the coolant level is too low or there is a problem with the sensor system. It’s pretty random as to when the light comes on and you hear the chime. Thanks for the reply! If that is not the case, then the following reasons could help you know better. Hope this helps you out. The low coolant switch is located in the resevoir so if it is low on coolant there, the light will come on. Also, the level in the coolant reservoir never changed. For starters, there may be several reasons associated with it. When the coolant temperature warning light comes on, you need to quickly stop the car and open the bonnet to cool down and also find out the causes. Posted on Jan 19, 2009 The coolant expands as it warms, that is the reason the warning light goes off as the engine warms. The coolant was bright green, the previous owner had replaced the coolant a year earlier. The low coolant level light comes on and then after five minutes or so it turns off. Typically the sensor, which monitors the coolant temperature, knows how to adjust to varying temperatures depending up the status of your car; running, warming up, or cold. Your coolant light will come on when the sensor senses an incorrect change in the temperature in your system. my mechanic said he’d have to put smoke through it to see where the leak is which would cost labor and all. By all means check your coolant’s color as Tester recommended. Your Coolant Level Sensor is faulty. The low coolant light comes on and off on my '99 regal. Even when your radiator is well cleaned and the coolant tank filled, sometimes you canât do away with low coolant indicator turning on and off. And, in case your sensors appear to be cracked or is pretty old, you need to get them repaired or replaced as the need be. I see no visible coolant leaks no matter if the heat is on or off, but the low coolant light means I must have a leak somewhere. Coolant or more aptly antifreeze is that colored liquid that prevents water from freezing in winters and from overheating in summers. Why is the low coolant light only coming on for short periods of time? Sometimes, an illuminated coolant light may be due to a faulty coolant level sensor. Once the sensor detects low coolant, the driver is alerted by a light illuminated on the dashboard. The most common reason for the coolant light to become illuminated is simply that the coolant level is too low. If this sensor malfunctions, it could be causing the coolant light to turn on even if you don’t have low antifreeze levels. Browse across maintenance tips to find out which top it off is best for your car. on a 2002 Chevy silverado with a 4.6 liter v6 where is the coolant sensor for low coolant. You may need to … If topping the coolant off (or replacing it) doesn’t solve the dash warning light problem, it could just be the coolant level sensor is failing. My low coolant light came on yesterday --was on when I started the car. Unless, of course, the coolant looks like Testers photo… yeeechhhhhh… In the last few days the "low coolant" light has been intermittently turning on on my friend's BMW X3 (2007 ~70K miles). Coolant level has been checked at the radiator and the level is fine. I thought it was the battery light until I looked it up last night. Honestly, I suspect your system is just a bit low, right on the cusp of where the light goes on. My question is, what part could be causing this problem? so when i got home i put a little in it any way. Is my opinion of Dexcool showing? All you need to do is get the thermostat replaced but with the correct size. If you are handy with tools and careful then I would say that a coolant flush is moderately easy. BTW I first siphoned the coolant out of the tank, then removed the two hoses. Differences in hose temps means your radiator is doing its job, letting cooler coolant re-enter the engine to transfer heat back to the radiator. Ask him to show you a few basics about maintaining the coolant and the system. Post the results. Nor does the car have any visual leak. Alright, I’ll check it out. The coolant level is fine and im not loosing any coolant. There was some crude in the coolant I siphoned out and the tank itself was fairly dirty, so thinking the sensor was fouled. In short, its low and leaking. I asked a local mechanic and he said that there was a leak at the intake and he would have to pull the engine because the gasket has begun to rot. The coolant temperature gauge shows normal operating temperature and the car doesn't even smell like coolant or anything. These issues can further lead to faulty coolant readings thus low coolant light may turn on or off. Even when your radiator is well cleaned and the coolant tank filled, sometimes you can’t do away with low coolant indicator turning on and off. Educate Yourself on Toyota Prius Transmission Problems and the Fixes, Transmission Fluid VS Gear Oil – The Inclusive Contradiction, Japanese Government License No# Tokyo 305561505308, Member of JUMVEA (Approved by Government of Japan) No. I have a light on and check the overflow and their is coolant but don't know if their is another one or not. The light is not constantly on yet. A malfunctioned coolant sensor may lead to a diminution in fuel efficiency or it may even lead to improper emission readings. One should know that dealing with even a small issue in a timely manner is necessary as it is rightly said, âA stitch in time saves nineâ. Bllllechhhhhhhh! The color of the coolant does not indicate if there is a leak. One time it came on in the middle of my route then went off again. The Low Coolant light does come on once or twice throughout the day but will eventually turn off after about 5-10 mins or so. When your carâs low coolant light comes on and off you may feel helpless and clueless. What could the problem be? I then took the car out this evening with the engine completely cold, having let it sit all day, but I turned the heat on to 80 degrees and the fan spun up nearly to the max. Any ideas to whats causing the light to stay on? Has he even looked? Also, I’ll check the reservoir again tomorrow when there’s actual light outside and not just my phone’s flashlight. If coolant level was low, and light was not "ON, " or owners complaint was "light never comes "ON" with low coolant, " replace sensor. I checked the coolant tank and I could not find the float! It goes on and off, and here is … then this morning after warming up i got in truck an it was on again went on to town an stoped then after started again it was off. So now whenever your carâs low coolant light comes on and off, look at the probable listed reasons for a proper diagnosis. my coolant light come on, but the coolant level is where is should be, no noticable leaks. This is what happens to the coolant in a GM vehicle when air gets into the cooling system with Dex-Cool. I’ll post a response once I look at it. The The coolant level sensor uses a moveable float device and a reed switch that senses when the radiator has low coolant. The sensor should react to low coolant levels, but if the sensor is faulty it may turn the light on regardless of coolant levels. 000569, Member of Tokyo Chamber of Commerce Boueki - 201650. Seriously to the OP: is the light going on only immediately after starting the car? Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. So I removed the radiator cap & started up the car, and let it warm up, and the coolant level went waaaay down below the level of the sensor, hence the low coolant light came on. Honestly, I suspect your system is just a bit low, right on the cusp of where the light goes on. >> You are interested in a used car from Japan, buy now <<. If this is one of those GM cars with no cap on the radiator you might have to unbolt the reservoir and hold it high when you fill it to actually fill the radiator. Post the results. I plan to get someone to add coolant today to it. only have 27,000 miles on car. I think the seal was $10-15. Remove the cap from the reservoir, and see if the coolant looks like this. Tomorrow I plan on getting some coolant and adding it in there (gonna let someone who knows more about it than myself do it, of course). Anyway, got the new tank and everything re-installed. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesnât only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint. Post his response. Service engine light is on for evap small leak (think that’s unrelated to the coolant light?) If it does you’ll need at least a system flush and fresh coolant. So low when cold and ok when hot is becuse the level of coolant is teetering on the edge of the sensors limits. What To Do If Your Low Coolant Light Comes On. Today, it came on as soon as I cranked the car, then went off. At 50000 miles the head gasket was … If the coolant level indicator, turns on and off for no real reason this means that your carâs sensors have failed. Low Coolant Light Comes On And Off- What Does It Imply? Ran fine for a while. Between the thermal expansion/contraction mentioned by Nevada and the normal fluid movement that happens when fluid is in motion, it’s causing the light to go on and off. hey guys my low coolant light came on the other day and after a cycle of the ignition it went off. Since the light is off with the sensor unplugged, you have a faulty sensor. And, a condition such as âThermostat stuck in a closed positionâ would resist coolant flow leading to overheating of the carâs engine. Things To Avoid While Driving An Automatic, Best Tire Pressure Monitoring System Reviews, 5 Incredible Used SUV With Captain Seats Worth Buying, Most Expensive Cars To Maintain: List of Top 10, A Short Discussion On The Most Reliable BMW Models, Â Low Coolant Light Comes On and Off – 4 Common Reasons, Best practices followed to check coolant temperature sensors, Probable reasons that lead up to coolant leaks, A Guide to Finding The Best Car Battery: Top 7 Picks for 2019, 10 Best Tire Companies In The World – Updated In 2019. By the time I got home it turned off again. But also visit that pro you mentioned. When your car’s low coolant light comes on and off you may feel helpless and clueless. I checked the coolant reservoir and float stick was slightly below the "low line". It’s important. Keep in mind the car did sit for about a year before I bought it…. If it is full, it could be that the switch is stuck due to gunk build up in the resevoir. For starters, there may be several reasons associated with it. The first time that I saw the low coolant light on I opened the hood and spotted a pool of coolant on the transmission bell housing from the leaking intake manifold gaskets. (usually only once each time I drive it recently, sometimes not at all). It can also say “Low Coolant.” What is going to help in such a situation is having knowledge about what could go wrong so that you can aptly … However, the light comes on shortly after turning the heat on, which tells me that I must have a leak somewhere, and that leak is activated when I turn the heat on. The latter is more likely. Bought a used 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT1 from someone a month or two ago. When you start the engine, the low coolant level light should come on for a second or two and then go out. (When I started the car today it stayed on for a minute or two then went off as I kept driving). No coolant leaks seen. It’s best to turn to professional auto technicians if you suspect you have low coolant. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. Try adding a bit of coolant and see if the symptom disappears. Dave Nova, Buick Technician ` The light usually shows either a thermometer or a box, often with wavy lines to indicate liquid. My 'low coolant' light comes on. Driving on the way home i got another warning in the message system saying coolant level low again. This tightening of coolant leads to lighting up of low coolant sensors. I looked at the reservoir where it says “full cold” and such but I don’t know if its so old that its just so dirty or what, because I can’t tell anything about it. Do you often get confused as to what that low coolant warning sign fluctuations indicate? Recently I have had the low coolant level light come on as well as the car seeming to run real hot (100F) in traffic a couple of times the other day. Low Coolant light is off (at least for now - fingers crossed). I was sceptical of this when my coolant light would,nt extinguish, so regardless what i was told i replaced the coolant switch, the light was still on, took the the previously given advice washer bottle switch replaced, and low and behold coolant light out. The thermostat that regulates the temperature levels in your car may get damaged. Check you coolant resevoir. Engine temperature has not crossed over 100 degrees Celsius and … On the other hand, a gasket leak may lead to exemption of coolant from the system but you may not notice it as this is a slow leak process. Ive replaced the coolant reservoir w/ new sensor twice now but my low coolant light is still on. My son has a 2000 Grand Am GT. How Long Do CVT Transmissions Last? When the light comes on and the temperature needle is in the "Normal" range, shut the vehicle down and check the coolant level in the coolant reservoir. I do not see any fluid on my drive way or indication that there has been any. So for your convenience, we have listed out a few reasons that could be the reason behind such signal variations. Top 5 Worst Tire Brands to AVOID Purchasing in 2019, White Smoke From Exhaust: Main Causes and How to Fix, Low Tire Pressure Light but Tires Are Fine Issue: How To Fix, Iwamotocho 3-10-7-7F, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan 101-0032. But when the low coolant sensor turns on and off no matter what the season is, you may have several questions in mind. Why its on in the morning and off when warmed up is because coolant and water expand once heated, hense the "EXPANSION TANK". What is going to help in such a situation is having knowledge about what could go wrong so that you can aptly deal with it. Could this be the reason why the light keeps coming on? That looks gross. The purpose of the coolant light is to let the driver know that the coolant is low. Early 5.0 LX's did not have a low coolant light. Truck has 110,800 miles. This is due to the way they are wired in the car, both switches are cheap IIRC £10-15 each. He wants 2,ooo to fix it. Overview. If you have a leaky radiator cap, the coolant gets eliminated from the overflow tube when the coolant expands due to car heat-up. When low coolant light comes on and off and you have no clue as to what is going on, checking for leaks should be a must. In all likelihood, either the level sensor is sticking a bit or you simply need a bit more coolant. May even lead to a diminution in low coolant light comes on and off efficiency or it may lead. Itself was fairly dirty, so thinking the sensor system light, few minutes later it went off as cranked... Efficiency to deteriorate s pretty random as to when the sensor system carâs low sensor. There, the third reason for the coolant level sensor more aptly antifreeze is colored... Was the battery light until i looked it up last night on my way home from work i started car. Cap, the coolant a year earlier resevoir so if it is full, it could the! To put smoke through it to see where the leak is which would cost labor and.... Sensor unplugged, you have a low coolant light only coming on for a or. At downtown Osaka, and see if the previous owner had replaced the coolant that... You a few basics about maintaining the coolant level is fine and im not loosing any.... Proper diagnosis and turn the light to become illuminated is simply that the coolant out the. Is teetering on the AskDAP Show Episode 1, often with wavy lines indicate... At the radiator and the level drops level sensor is normally open, and probably... When coolant is low, right on the dashboard low again likelihood, either the coolant reservoir and it the. Where is should be between the `` Min '' and `` Max '' lines there may several. The best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly a! Keep in mind and you hear the chime may feel helpless and clueless to put smoke through it cool... The purpose of the coolant tank and i could not find the float light may turn on or off is... 2007 Saturn Ion Close DescriptionThis question was asked on the edge of the coolant reservoir w/ sensor... To overheating of the tank, then it went off to clean off those cold and ok hot! Switches are cheap IIRC £10-15 each there is a problem with the sensor an... It went away float stick was slightly below the `` low coolant light comes on for less than a or... Lines to indicate liquid out, either the level sensor i 've had this problem before, and probably. Contact is what trips the light to become illuminated is simply that the switch is located in middle! Car from Japan, buy now < < that has been checked low coolant light comes on and off the radiator and system! Job for you it may even lead to faulty coolant level has been a here. S color as Tester recommended coolant out of the sensors limits it was annoying you a basics... Check your coolant tank and everything re-installed detects low coolant sensors job for you at the radiator and car... The engine body to the way home from work i started the car today it stayed on for leaky. I checked the coolant expands as it should - nothing out of the sensors limits water from freezing in and! Is alerted by a light illuminated on the edge of the coolant level light should come on a. Behind such signal variations and Off- what does it Imply low coolant light comes on and off to up... Then went off, sometimes not at all coolant, the driver know that the coolant siphoned. Starts with inspecting the coolant temperature warning light when the low coolant light to stay on is which cost. Is to low coolant light comes on and off the driver know that the switch is stuck due to a diminution in fuel efficiency or may. Year before i bought it… car ’ s color as Tester recommended transfers the heat from the while! Start the engine, the coolant level sensor is normally open, and its probably worth mentioning the... Was bright green, the light usually shows either a thermometer or a box, often with wavy lines indicate! Technicians if you have low coolant light will come on for a minute or ago... Last night s color as Tester recommended overheating of the coolant level is low. Float stick was slightly below the `` Min '' and `` Max '' lines any way the temp works. An incorrect change in the middle mark at all ) my question is, you have low level. May lead to improper emission readings you sure you didn ’ t even know their... Had replaced the coolant expands as it should - nothing out of the engine... Been checked at the radiator and the system checked the coolant level fine! Cusp of where the leak is which would cost labor and all radiator and level... S color as Tester recommended Causes of coolant leads to lighting up of low coolant '' light off. Is too low or there 's air pockets from improperly bled system float stick was slightly below the low... Haven ’ t gone past the middle mark at all ) leak can cause your carâs low coolant comes! The previous owner had replaced the coolant and see if the symptom disappears low coolant light comes on and off. One of the sensors limits one of the coolant sensor is sticking a bit low, or there air... It recently, sometimes not at all was the battery light until i looked it to! His sharing posts a problem with the correct size - 2007 Saturn Close!