Add coolant light keeps coming on?
 

Hey guys, I am getting my car going for the first time after rebuilding it and as advised by the engine builder I am starting it filled with plain water then going to drain it and fill with proper coolant.

The car starts without a problem and oil pressure comes up straight away but after about 10 seconds of idling the "add coolant light" comes on and starts alarming. When I remove the filler cap to check, the water seems to be fizzing/frothing but is still at the full level. Any help on this guys??

Much appreciated.

did you bleed the coolant system properly?
fizzing is not a good sign

Possibly didn't bleed coolant system properly, where would I find how to do that? Thanks alot for your help Brodie.
Adam.

I would do a coolant pressure test to make sure your coolant seals aren't pinched.

Bleed instructions in the manuals in the archive. I suggest getting an AST. You'd be surprised how much air gets trapped in there especially when filling it up from nothing. Just repeat the cycles, heat car up, cool it down, bleed, repeat. Also keep track of how much you put in and compare that with what manual says is needed to fill car.

Coolant pressure test not a bad idea but make sure you are filled with coolant and air bled first.

If you still have water plumbing to the throttle body, pop the upper hose off and fill it from there. That does wonders.

+1 forgot about that one...great place to bleed.

Nothing to worry about just yet. There's probly just air pockets in the system still. Use a 2 liter bottle filled with coolant/water and make it fit securely to the coolant fill neck and watch as all the bubbles come up through the bottle. squeezing it and letting it sit. Do this on and 5-6 times in rotation. After a few times less and less air bubbles will come up and your system will have much less air in it. It's a little bit of a process so take your time. Also, i'd advise against using plain tap water. After pulling my motor apart and seeing what it leaves in my coolant passages.... i'll never use it again.

Never use tap water for any car. lol

probably there are air bubbles in your coolant, you have bleed it while filling it thats what i did and it solve my problem. I normal fill it first than start car have it warm up so the coolant can slowly process down than bleeding it while filling more coolant. If the that doesnt work try testing it with the coolant diagnoser.

Most appreciated guys I will drain out all the tap water straight away and flush with distilled water then do the bleeding proceedures.
@Aeka & evot23, do you mean fill the system from the throttle body hose instead of the main filler cap?
Thanks again guys.

I've worked on many vehicles and found this tool to be the best at getting rid of ALL air.

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24610-Sp.../dp/B001A4EAV0

Fill the car up like you are supposed to. And fill up the funnel half way and start the vehicle with heat at max to cycle the coolant.

Wait till the engine warms up and t-stat opens, it will suck in more coolant and just top if off and watch HOW much air will bleed out from the top, its amazing and I never have to worry about spilling coolant and trapped air in vehicles. I uses this on every car that comes into my shop.

-AzEKnightz

You disconnect the throttle body coolant line, then fill your coolant normally until you have coolant coming out of the TB coolant line.

disconnect the TB line and fill coolant normally until it comes out of the TB line. Its a high point so air will push out to the TB line. Put a rag there..it comes out quick

I have drained and refilled with distilled water and performed the various bleeding techniques mentioned and now there is no fizzing/frothing but the coolant buzzer and light keeps alarming. Should I be letting the car continue to run and warm up properly with the buzzer still going or not? I havn't wanted to keep running the car with the warning on.

ps: I have filled probably just over 9 litres into the system including the overflow bottle which I think is what the service manual says, so just still confused about the alarm.
Thanks again anyone that offers their help.

Make sure you have the sensor wired up properly:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/need-wiring-info-coolant-buzzer-799078/

Thanks Mahjik I will try that and see how I go.

The sensor wire isn't the most robust. I've seen many that are loose or kinked giving intermittent signals.

Just checked that link and wow straight away fixed the problem, thanks alot Mahjik