Add coolant light is on...
#1
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Add coolant light is on...
My add coolant light is on but the endine is not overheating...when i turn on my car, the meter is on the very bottom as if there is no coolant at all but after about 5 minutes it rises to the middle and stays there. After that happens the add coolant light goes off. What is wrong with me car? please help.
#2
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The add coolant light/buzzer and the temperature needle have nothing to do with one another. The needle is not a gauge of how full the cooling system is, it's a gauge of the temperature of the coolant. The light goes off because liquid expands as it heats up, thus taking up more space and causing the sensor to stop detecting a low condition.
Here's what you should do:
1. Go to the auto store and buy some 50/50 premixed coolant
2. Make sure the car is cold
3. Open the fill cap that's in the center of the engine bay (on the thermostat housing) and add coolant until it reaches near the top
4. Check the coolant level in your overflow tank and fill if necessary
5. Attempt to determine why you lost coolant in the first place
Before you ask questions about where any of these things are, do a search. You'll learn more by helping yourself.
Here's what you should do:
1. Go to the auto store and buy some 50/50 premixed coolant
2. Make sure the car is cold
3. Open the fill cap that's in the center of the engine bay (on the thermostat housing) and add coolant until it reaches near the top
4. Check the coolant level in your overflow tank and fill if necessary
5. Attempt to determine why you lost coolant in the first place
Before you ask questions about where any of these things are, do a search. You'll learn more by helping yourself.
#3
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I have the same problem. The light comes on after the engine has run for about 15 sec. It goes off after I have driven it 200-300 yards/meters. There is nothing wrong with the coolant level. The water pump is working. The temp gauge reads OK.
I suppose it could be the level sensor, but then why would it stop buzzing once the engine has warmed?
I suppose it could be the level sensor, but then why would it stop buzzing once the engine has warmed?
#4
It Just Feels Right
Originally Posted by salamander
I have the same problem. The light comes on after the engine has run for about 15 sec. It goes off after I have driven it 200-300 yards/meters. There is nothing wrong with the coolant level. The water pump is working. The temp gauge reads OK.
I suppose it could be the level sensor, but then why would it stop buzzing once the engine has warmed?
I suppose it could be the level sensor, but then why would it stop buzzing once the engine has warmed?
Are you sure the coolant level is good? It should be almost up to the cap (cold). If you add coolant and the buzzer stops for a couple of days, you most likely have a small leak somewhere.
#5
Originally Posted by salamander
I have the same problem. The light comes on after the engine has run for about 15 sec. It goes off after I have driven it 200-300 yards/meters. There is nothing wrong with the coolant level. The water pump is working. The temp gauge reads OK.
I suppose it could be the level sensor, but then why would it stop buzzing once the engine has warmed?
I suppose it could be the level sensor, but then why would it stop buzzing once the engine has warmed?
This is what happens when there is an air pocket at the fill neck location...i.e. low coolant. Since your car is doing exactly what it is supposed to, put some coolant in and watch the level for changes over the next few days.
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#8
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i had this problem also.
solution....purge any excess air from your cooling system. i did this by removing the tb coolant line and filling the thermostat housing untill coolant spewed from the tb line
solution....purge any excess air from your cooling system. i did this by removing the tb coolant line and filling the thermostat housing untill coolant spewed from the tb line
#9
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It could also be the level sensor. It was in my car.
I'd just get random beeping for about 30-45 seconds(just long enough to bug me), then it would go off for awhile. Never ran hot or smelled of coolant.
I took it to my mechanic, he swapped the sensor and the beep's gone.
I'd just get random beeping for about 30-45 seconds(just long enough to bug me), then it would go off for awhile. Never ran hot or smelled of coolant.
I took it to my mechanic, he swapped the sensor and the beep's gone.
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its a rx7 not a miata!!!
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uuhhhh my buzzardd has been on for like 3 weeks non stop .. im sure its the sensor but i havent been able to fix it .. i just turn up the radio !! ha ha all collant is fina no overheating temp stays about 88-89c all day long =)
#13
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I also am having a problem with this my buzzer has been on for a day now, about 3 sec after car is started, the level is fine, though a little dirty going to get it flushed but it is also leaking when i filled it from the overflow tank... is the light on because of possibly pressure because of this leak, (only leaks when I'm puting more coolant in)
#14
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Same Problem W My Car......coolant Was Fine No Over Heagt...guess What It Was The Sensor It Was Going Brittle So It Saw Contact Some Times..i Took It Out Asnd Got It Resoldered>>>>beep Gone
#15
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how much was the sensor?
Originally Posted by DDagman
I took my care to the mechanic and he said that the coolant is leaking into the exhaust and its time for a new engine so be aware maybe that is the case.
EDIT: You can check to see if it's a sensor issue by turning the ignition switch on (don't start the motor). On a cold motor, remove the filler neck cap and verify the coolant level is fine. Turn the ignition switch to "ON", DON'T START THE ENGINE and wait for 9-16 seconds. If you hear the buzzer and light come on, then you have a sensor/electrical issue.
Last edited by mdpalmer; 10-01-06 at 08:30 PM.
#16
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i have a question.
my FDs coolant buzzer has been going off occasionally aswell. I just top it off as everyone says and everything is fine for a little while. then it comes on again. so i just top it off again.
I want to know what it means when it doesn't stop coming on. If it's not the simple air pocket in your cooling system, because i'm sure i've gotten all the air out by now, then what else could it be???
My aftermarket water temp gauges stays between 160-180 at normal operating temp. There is no smoke on start-up. No sweet smell. What do you guys think it could be?
the only abnormal thing i've noticed other than having to top off the coolant semi-often is that there has been some black carbon build up on my bumper. not very much at all... just throwing it out there in case thats an indicator for something.
my FDs coolant buzzer has been going off occasionally aswell. I just top it off as everyone says and everything is fine for a little while. then it comes on again. so i just top it off again.
I want to know what it means when it doesn't stop coming on. If it's not the simple air pocket in your cooling system, because i'm sure i've gotten all the air out by now, then what else could it be???
My aftermarket water temp gauges stays between 160-180 at normal operating temp. There is no smoke on start-up. No sweet smell. What do you guys think it could be?
the only abnormal thing i've noticed other than having to top off the coolant semi-often is that there has been some black carbon build up on my bumper. not very much at all... just throwing it out there in case thats an indicator for something.
#17
Turd Ferguson
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with the car cold, open the radiator cap. Start the car. Look for little champagne like bubbles in the coolant. if you got them then theres a coolant leak somewhere.
it's possible that the sensor is goofy. When you say you "top it off" how much are you adding? Less than a cup? 1/2 gallon? what are we talking about exactly?
it's possible that the sensor is goofy. When you say you "top it off" how much are you adding? Less than a cup? 1/2 gallon? what are we talking about exactly?
#18
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There are no champagne like bubbles. i've read about that test so i already checked. The only time it does bubble is when im actually pouring in coolant... but im assuming thats just from draining into the AST. after its full i can let it idle with the cap off and there are no bubbles.
and usually i just ad about a cup of coolant, just enough to get it to the top of the filler neck.
and usually i just ad about a cup of coolant, just enough to get it to the top of the filler neck.
#19
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OK, today is sunday. It has been exactly 1 week since i put coolant in, and the light came on again. I took a measuring cup this time to see how much coolant i'm putting in. It took 2 cups to fill up all the way.
I did notice that, all the coolant is draining into the AST. so i took the cap off the AST, and the coolant level did drop in there.
Water temps are normal. No smoke on startup. No sweet smell. No puddles under the car after being parked for a couple days. No champaign bubbles. I have no idea whats wrong!! what could it be? or is 2 cups a week normal?
suggestions please! =)
I did notice that, all the coolant is draining into the AST. so i took the cap off the AST, and the coolant level did drop in there.
Water temps are normal. No smoke on startup. No sweet smell. No puddles under the car after being parked for a couple days. No champaign bubbles. I have no idea whats wrong!! what could it be? or is 2 cups a week normal?
suggestions please! =)
#23
Rotary Enthusiast
check the hose from that runs from the top of the AST to the coolant overflow tank. There is a join along that pipe which could have come a little loose allowing air into the system, causing air bubbles and pressure loss. this will result in the coolant not getting drawn back into the system from the overflow tank. and the occasional "add coolant" buzzer going off.
I had a similar problem recently and that line turned out to be the problem. (my symptoms were, car didnt get hot, no smoke, no coolant smell but the coolant buzzer turned on when car was parked after being driven with the keys turned to the on position but engine not on, coolant buzer would turn off when i started the car) i believe the reason for my buzzer was hot coolant from the overflow tank not getting sucked back into the system when the car was cooling due to a slight leak in the AST to overflow tank hose. air got sucked back into the system not the coolant from the overflow tank causing air pockets and coolant buzzer that would turn off when engine is started.
I had a similar problem recently and that line turned out to be the problem. (my symptoms were, car didnt get hot, no smoke, no coolant smell but the coolant buzzer turned on when car was parked after being driven with the keys turned to the on position but engine not on, coolant buzer would turn off when i started the car) i believe the reason for my buzzer was hot coolant from the overflow tank not getting sucked back into the system when the car was cooling due to a slight leak in the AST to overflow tank hose. air got sucked back into the system not the coolant from the overflow tank causing air pockets and coolant buzzer that would turn off when engine is started.
#24
this is a real question? my coolant light is on, what do i do? probably add coolant. My gas light is on too, what do i do? My headlight buzzer is on when i turn off my car, why? My door chime beeps when my door is open an the interior light is still on. Really people, think a bit
#25
Rotary Enthusiast
coolant buzzer can go off if coolant is full. air could be in the system, topping up your coolant wont stop more air getting into the system.
also FD's shouldent burn coolant so if you are loosing coolant or getting coolant buzzer you have a problem. topping it up dosent fix the reason its burning/loosing coolant in the first place
also FD's shouldent burn coolant so if you are loosing coolant or getting coolant buzzer you have a problem. topping it up dosent fix the reason its burning/loosing coolant in the first place
Last edited by 96fd3s; 08-20-08 at 04:45 PM.
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