AK86GXL

Ok, I'm pretty much a newbie to rotaries and I've had my 86GXL for about six months. Today the add coolant light came on, and off, and on, and off and on....etc.....

I called my friend CARX7 and he told me it sound like there was a loose ground wire or something. Ok, please tell me where this is, if a wire is loose or if a sensor needs replacing. The car is not running low on coolant, this much I know, but that dam light and worse, buzzer keeps coming on and off. mostly when I take right hand bends in the road but that may not make a difference.

When looking at the engine I see two wires I think it may be related to, the first is connected to the top of the radiator, then runs to the left hand side of the car under the air intake and to a whole mess of wires that descends into the engine. The second, is next to the radiator cap on the engine, near the neck and sticks straight down. It's late and I spent 5hrs driving to and from LA tonight, I forget what it's called. Where is all this grounded?

Please help and be very specific b/c we'll pretend I'm a total idiot!

The buzzing must stop!
thanks
eric

kevino

First of all, if the buzzer sounds when you make sharp turns, then I would say the sensor is working (make absolutely sure your coolant is at the proper level). If your coolant levels are as good as you say they are, then 9 times out of 10 the source of your problem will be the sensor located on top of your radiator (the one you mentioned). In most cases, the sensor will become detached from the coolant ground due to the intense coolant temperature exposure over time. So, you have two options. Either you can replace the sensor or you can bypass it. If you replace the sensor (recommended) you will still have a fail-safe in case coolant levels drop for some reason. If you want the cheap fix, then ground the wire running to the sensor and replace the sensor with a solid bolt of equal dimensions. Still, you "should" get a replacement sensor (from 60 to 120 dollars depending on source), but its your car, so do what you want.

good luck,
kevin

AK86GXL

Replacing the sensor isn't a problem. I can do that, just put teflon tape around the threads to make it tight, right? My questions are twofold:

A: how high should the coolant level be? When you take off the cap should you see the coolant there? I would think this to be the case. A flush probably wouldn't hurt it.

B: I'm not sure where this ground is to check to see if it's good or not. The wires head off to the left side of the car, but where is this ground. My car is completely stock so I wouldn't be surprised if it's buried in there. I've got the complete workshop manuel but I didn't see any grounding positions. Then again it was at 11 last night.

Please advise and thanks
e

SDrotary

pull off the rad cap and fill it with coolant , start the car if you see small bubbles in the coolant you have a leak somewhere and are losing coolant, check all the hoses (for cracks)and go from there. Mine had the same problem and it was the coolant seals.

jon88se

My sensor is admittely ghetto...I soldered the ground wire to ground point at the top of the radiator and secured that part down with a very small hose clamp - never broken free

AK86GXL

Thanks guys, huge help. Where can i get this sensor? Any auto parts store? I'll check for bubbles, then replace the sensor (if needed) then check the grounds and if it's still no good, then off to a shop. Worst part is I have nowhere to work on it so I'm kinda up the creek.

If you have any other suggestions, please post 'em, I'll be back in an hour with what I've found.
e

Knightdulac

Mazdatrix has sensor and seal seperate not a bad price for peace of mind

theflatlander

iTrader: (3)

thats where i got mine. total was a little over 20 dollars w/ shipping.

AK86GXL

Ok...just checked it. Needed about 2 cups of H2O and it's fine. No bubbles either...she was just thirsty. Wil keep eye on level and temps for awhile though.

carx7

iTrader: (31)

Dork. I just mentioned the sensor for the buzzer. haha, glad it was just water, but that's what I meant to convey to you.

-Chris

J-Rat

iTrader: (2)

Whatever, get over the fact that I am the master..

theflatlander

iTrader: (3)

Hate to jack this thread but gotta ask, carx7 hows the project coming?

AK86GXL

CARX7 did tell me to check the temp, but I was on an LA run, there and back to NORTH LA and since my temp guage was solid and not climbing I decided I didn't want to sit around a gas station and let it cool before fillin' 'er up. Jrat just told me to get off my *** and go check it. Which I did, so I give you both credit this time around.