2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

add engine coolant (?)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-21-05, 04:29 PM
  #1  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
add engine coolant (?)

undefined
I got a 1988 RX7, add engine coolant light on and can hear water boiling thru motor but temp gauge is fine and radiator full ................HELP!
Old 10-21-05, 04:40 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

 
PoderRotativo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Troy, NY
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
check the sensor on the radiator this usually goes bad
Old 10-21-05, 04:46 PM
  #3  
backslash beanbagrace

iTrader: (1)
 
Stanello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I have yet to see a coolant sensor "go bad". However the wire comes off the sensor quite easily.

Where on the gague does the needle sit when it boils out, and what year car is it?
Old 10-21-05, 04:52 PM
  #4  
Radioactive Rotary Rocket

 
GodSquadMandrake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mine did this until I topped off the radiator cap.
Old 10-21-05, 04:54 PM
  #5  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
88...temp gauge halfway, doesnt overheat
Old 10-21-05, 04:57 PM
  #6  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
May I ask what topped off cap means?
Old 10-21-05, 04:57 PM
  #7  
Senior Member

iTrader: (4)
 
theagavejazz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 378
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sunflower4140
88...temp gauge halfway, doesnt overheat
halfway is too far on an s4, should be about a quarter.
Old 10-21-05, 04:59 PM
  #8  
backslash beanbagrace

iTrader: (1)
 
Stanello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Actually... on cars 86-88 the "normal" place for the needle to sit is about 1/4 way up the gague. I didn't know this until it was too late.

If I remember correctly, halfway is about 220 degrees.
Old 10-21-05, 04:59 PM
  #9  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We were having probs with "exhaust system overheat" till we gutted cats, just dont understand the "add engine coolant" if she's full
Old 10-21-05, 05:02 PM
  #10  
backslash beanbagrace

iTrader: (1)
 
Stanello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
There could be air trapped in the cooling system.

The cooling system has to be completely full.

Is the light/buzzer on all the time, or does it come on and off?
Old 10-21-05, 05:06 PM
  #11  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm beginning to think its the sensor cuz light and buzzer goes on and off, doesnt stay on, and it is doing it when first cranked up like its taking time to circulate or something
Old 10-21-05, 05:19 PM
  #12  
backslash beanbagrace

iTrader: (1)
 
Stanello's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
If it goes on and off, I'd bet that there is air trapped in the system, or it is being pushed out into the overflow tank due to overheating.

I'd start off by bleeding the air out of the system. Do a search for "air in coolant" or something like that if you're unsure of the procedure.
Old 10-21-05, 05:23 PM
  #13  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, gonna do just that first will keep things posted, "another" weekend of gettting this car right....just bought it, it sat up for close to a year so having to work out some bugs, just hope they gonna be minor ones. the mech said so but hey he's not a rotary kinda guy
Old 10-21-05, 05:26 PM
  #14  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Prob could use a good radiator flush huh....DUH
Old 10-21-05, 05:59 PM
  #15  
Junior Member

 
bRABBiT1226's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I added more water after "add coolant" sign came on..person who was working in the shop said i had to much coolant so he added bottle of water to the radiator made that sign and noise disappeared
Old 10-21-05, 06:07 PM
  #16  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok , we added water and coolant mixed. The temp gauge going to halfway got me worried tho...ex racecar mech across the street said sounds like air in system cuz steam being pumped thru not coolant
Old 10-21-05, 08:01 PM
  #17  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
jono20's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Vernon, BC
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I say its the coolant seals going, combustion gas is being pumped into the system creating air pockets,a llowing the coolant to boil.

but im a pesimist
Old 10-21-05, 09:04 PM
  #18  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well actually I was going to ask for the worst case scenario! We got air out of system and the boiling stopped, temporary fix? Now throttle cable seems to be too long, when gas pedal all the way down the throttle only goes halfway so next problem..... not to mention seal on tranny needs to be replaced which I know is not that bad of a job. The car needs a little tlc, been sitting up for a year so this is to be expected.
Old 10-21-05, 09:58 PM
  #19  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Mombodogs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Vallejo, CA
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It sure is amazing how when vehicles sit for a while, they don't perform properly. Then, after asking advice, they finally take it to someone else to solve the problem.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE ADVICE OF PEOPLE HERE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, DON'T F--KING POST. IF YOU ASK FOR ADVICE, LISTEN TO IT, SHUT UP AND TEST WHAT THEY SAY, AND THEN COME BACK AND GIVE RESULTS.

THIS IS GETTING SO OLD.

PEACE THE DOG
Old 10-21-05, 10:14 PM
  #20  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok I did take advice here and got air out of system now I was just wondering about other minor problems I am running into. Not all of us are experts and I was enjoying coming here to learn things but apparently I came to the wrong place.
Old 10-21-05, 10:23 PM
  #21  
RIP Icemark

iTrader: (4)
 
Tournapart's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Mombodogs
It sure is amazing how when vehicles sit for a while, they don't perform properly. Then, after asking advice, they finally take it to someone else to solve the problem.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE ADVICE OF PEOPLE HERE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, DON'T F--KING POST. IF YOU ASK FOR ADVICE, LISTEN TO IT, SHUT UP AND TEST WHAT THEY SAY, AND THEN COME BACK AND GIVE RESULTS.

THIS IS GETTING SO OLD.

PEACE THE DOG

i see your getting the drift of the stupid people on here
Old 10-21-05, 10:48 PM
  #22  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Look I came here to get advice on my son's car and no I dont know sh-- about a rotary motor so I guess that does make me one of the "stupid people" but if u guys r so smart y didn't u give me any advice instead of a dog?
Signed "Just a stupid woman"
Old 10-21-05, 11:20 PM
  #23  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And I guess some of u were BORN with all of this knowledge and u didnt have to go thru the learning process...wow
Old 10-21-05, 11:34 PM
  #24  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Mombodogs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Vallejo, CA
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sunflower, does you being a woman have to do with anything? Post like I first did six months ago: New, stupid, rotary retarded, "DOG", I'm a man, what does sex have to do with it. Next time, just say you're a woman, and 1/2 this site will be at your front door fixing "yours son's" car. If you don't know how to work on them, thats O.K., were all new at some time.

And this is the right site, and it sure is nice that a mother cares that much about her son.

PEACE THE DOG
Old 10-21-05, 11:51 PM
  #25  
Junior Member

Thread Starter
 
sunflower4140's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: sc
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Mombodogs. I have always been interested in working on cars but this is first foreign car I have ever dealt with. I got it for us to be able to learn to work on together and until we get thru alot of the basics there will be many "stupid" questions. The mechs here suck and someone recommended this site to me. I know this is a high maintenance car but think I will enjoy the challenge.


Quick Reply: add engine coolant (?)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:13 PM.