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

TII running hot and low coolant buzzer going off (but coolant is topped off...?)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-10-05, 09:47 PM
  #1  
Make Money.
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
eriksseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,137
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
Thumbs up TII running hot and low coolant buzzer going off (but coolant is topped off...?)

So, the car in question is a rebuilt (6000k mi) '88 TII with exhaust, street-ports etc.

Yesterday I went on a 6 hour round-trip drive in my TII.

I was suprised when on the way back I noticed my temperature gauge hovering just below half... This is unusual because my stock temperature typically reads right around 1/4 to 1/3.

So, for safety's sake I turned on my heater and opened my windows. After turning on the heat my car dropped back down to normal...

When I got home I checked my coolant level and it was fine... I topped it off and looked around to see if there was something caught in my bumper (or something) and everything looked normal...

Just a few minutes ago I was driving and my car got warm very quickly and just stayed right below 1/2 on the gauge. I pulled over, popped the hood and looked around and saw nothing abnormal. Well, The gauge got to 1/2 a few minutes later, so I turned on my heat and turned around and came home.

What could possibly be wrong? T-stat, blockage in my stock rad.?

I'm planning on getting a Koyo in a couple weeks (going FMIC) in case someone suggests upgrading my rad.

Thanks guys,
Old 07-10-05, 09:54 PM
  #2  
Boosted. I got BLOWN!!!

iTrader: (29)
 
beefhole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Where did you check the coolant level? Remember, overfill tank and radiator levels are different! The buzzer goes off if the level in the radiator is low. You could have an air bubble in the system too.
Old 07-10-05, 10:01 PM
  #3  
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: sav GA
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i think this shoud in the the faq
take the coolant sensor(top of radiator) and sand it clean with sandpapper.
it doesn't matter if the water it top/full, if the sensor to dirtty and not getting direct ground from the water, it'll keep buzzing
Old 07-10-05, 10:06 PM
  #4  
Boosted. I got BLOWN!!!

iTrader: (29)
 
beefhole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
That's true and a good idea, but the problem here is not that it's dirty. The enegine did overheat and the buzzer did go off, so it's working fine. The problem is low coolant.
Old 07-10-05, 10:13 PM
  #5  
Make Money.
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
eriksseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,137
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by beefhole
Where did you check the coolant level? Remember, overfill tank and radiator levels are different! The buzzer goes off if the level in the radiator is low. You could have an air bubble in the system too.
Yeah, I popped the caps off the water-pump housing and the radiator and the coolant levels were good.

I know a bubble will cause the buzzer to go off, but would air bubbles cause me to be running hot?
Old 07-10-05, 10:14 PM
  #6  
Make Money.
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
eriksseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,137
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by beefhole
That's true and a good idea, but the problem here is not that it's dirty. The enegine did overheat and the buzzer did go off, so it's working fine. The problem is low coolant.
But the coolant isn't low, lol.
Old 07-10-05, 10:15 PM
  #7  
Boosted. I got BLOWN!!!

iTrader: (29)
 
beefhole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Are you checking the radiator level? If it's topped off and you're sure you don't have any bubbles, they next issue may be a clog in the radiator or the thermostat is stuck.
Old 07-10-05, 10:18 PM
  #8  
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: sav GA
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by beefhole
That's true and a good idea, but the problem here is not that it's dirty. The enegine did overheat and the buzzer did go off, so it's working fine. The problem is low coolant.
opps i read the tittle only
Old 07-10-05, 10:30 PM
  #9  
slow car, Got a Rotor?
 
Slixxor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've had problems like that in my series 5 too after a rebuild, now im not sure how it works where you're from but in AUS after a rebuild the car is running only on tap water only while the silicone adhesive that keeps the engine together sets. there is not coolant... what i'd suggest is tap the radiator cap off the one with the cable attached it to it and fill the water through the main filling tank. let the water flow out of the radiator sensor hole.. you may notice brown silicone crap coming out (this is leftover from the rebuild) if you do this and flush the coolant every so often you wont have this problem. suggest maybe take it back to your mechanic it may be the water tank.

If the car gargles alot of water this can also be bad and can mean lack of compression due to housing wear and tear. during a rebuild you get new seals and the crap cleaned out but the housing are not usually exchanged. the new seals need to wear into the rotor housings, if the damage is too great you may need new housings (as i did).
Old 07-11-05, 01:55 AM
  #10  
Make Money.
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
eriksseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Posts: 4,137
Received 8 Likes on 2 Posts
Yeah... I'll try kind of "flushing it out" like you're suggesting.

But since I've got 6k miles on the rebuild and this problem started yesterday, it's probably not from bad engine internals.

I'm going to flush out the cooling system and replace my T-stat and see if that gets rid of my problem.

Thanks a lot people,
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dkwasherexd
Single Turbo RX-7's
21
05-27-17 04:51 AM
alphawolff
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
17
11-17-15 05:57 PM



Quick Reply: TII running hot and low coolant buzzer going off (but coolant is topped off...?)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:26 AM.