Just got an 1987 GXL and am a little unfamiliar. The previous owner warned me about this problem and pointed out that he grounded the coolant level/flow sensor to kill the buzzer.

The car runs consistently cool with the temp around 1/3 of the way up the gauge, but the buzzer comes on. If I top off the coolant system using the plug on the radiator as a stopping level, the buzzer will kick off. Then, after driving a little, the buzzer will come on and I will find the extra coolant in the overflow can. I'm not too worried because it isn't tool much water and the temp never goes up. I just want to fix the reason why the buzzer is going off.

Perhaps I need a new sensor? The previous own suggested the radiator might be a little clogged and I should get a new one. He said the sensor measures flow and not level.

Any ideas?

thanks,
Tom

 

The sensor grounds itself through the coolant to stay "off", so as soon as the level drops below the sensor's tip, the ground is broken, and the warning is activated.

Sounds like you may have a bad rad cap, if the overflow tank is "adding" coolant after shutdown...

 

Try to find an OEM cap, the cheap replacements do not always work.

 

Yeah, there is a brand new pep boys cap in it. Do you think there is a problem with that?

Tom

 

Tom,
I had cooling problems in my '87 TII which had two of the pep boys caps. I replaced them with OEM along with the thermostat (also OEM) and the radiator. Problem solved. I haven't added coolant in the last two months of summertime driving. Before, I'd add about a gallon a week.

I found a significant improvement with replacing the rad caps, but had to replace the radiator because of excessive clogs.

- k -