Coolant light problem
 

Hi,

I have a 93rx7. Every day for about 2 wks, every time I started the car the coolant light went on for about 30 sec to 1 min then went out. Then after 2 weeks a hose expoded and coolant was all over the place. Got the hose fixed and all was fine for 2 days. Then the light started coming on again, sometimes for 10 sec, sometimes for a minute or two. Sometimes the temp gauge even goes up for a few secs then drops.

I don't see any other leaks and I add coolant from time to time directly into the top cap (not the overflow).


I have no idea what is the problem, can someone help?

My emails is rj_kennedy@netzero.net
Any replies would be greatly appreciated.
Bob

Any excessive smoke out of the exhaust at startup?

Hey Bob I sent you a long e-mail about the coolant light problem, let me know if you got it?!
-Nicole

No smoke out tail pipe at start up- nothing abnormal anyway

Check this thread about coolant problems and see if it helps:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=101109

Seems like this problem is fairly common- But either the advise is rebuild or reason isnt known.

What PSI should the cap be? I looked it up in a book and for a 1993 it says 16psi but the 94 and 95 are 14 psi...Seems odd, doesnt it?

Let me add this - the coolant light even comes on if you just put the key to the accessory position.
Any help?

I had this happen a long time ago, sometimes the coolant buzzer would come on when starting the car and then go off, and I thought it was air in the system. It happened maybe 5 times. Then one day I just turned the key to accessory power and it came on for about 5 seconds before going off! The car was stone cold too, so there's no way it could be air. The thing is, the problem went away on its own and never returned, this was over a year ago and I haven't had any problems since so I don't know what to say. If the light activates without starting the car then its probably a short or the sensor going bad. Especially if it suddenly goes off on its own without doing anything.

Mahjik, If you had read the thread you should have seen that Bob was the 3rd person to reply to it.

Anyway..
Lots of these coolant problems going around lately.Tis the season. I 've had my share of coolant problems lately as you all may know.
Bob if you haven't already follow the link I left on the other thread to "lightning in a world of thunder" I suggestthat you take time to read through it all. The info there is good stuff.:D

Bob,
The light will come on if the sensor is not detecting coolant in the filler neck. If it starts buzzing. Turn the car off immediately let it cool awhile and then top off the coolant. You will need to determine where your leak is. Try replacing the coolant level sensor. Check the overflow tank to make sure that the coolant line is still attached and there are no cracks in it. Also check the radiator for leaks and both hoses. If you run a pressure test the pressure shouldn't matter as long as it stays constant. Make sure the AST is not cracked and seeping coolant. The one thing you said that concerns me is when you said the temp needle rose and then went back down. If the temp needle rose on you it is probably already warped the housing a bit. The stock guage sits through about a 30 degree range once at running temps. The guage is not very accurate. It is only about 20 degrees off from causing serious heat soak damage by the time the needle starts to rise. I hope this is not true in your case.

If the car stumbles and smokes a bit at start up it is likely that your coolant seals are failing.
Good luck :eek:
-Dave

Dave- (thanks for info.) Since you seem to know alot on this topic, let me add even more info for you to consider. I fill the cap (not the overflow) and it always takes coolant. I add some and you can see the bubbles lowering the level. Then I can run the car and check it later and the level is down that you can barely if at all see the coolant.

I have checked the overflow and it always seems full.

Thanks
Bob

You might want to check your small coolant lines. Any type of "kink" can cause strange results in coolant flow.

My car has the same symptoms right now Bob. I'm still trying to prove that it is not the seals. I have one more thing to check then I'm sure it's the seals. We'll two things actually. Check the items I mentioned before.
Also you didn't say ..does your car stumble when started even for a sec or two, and does it puff any smoke at all?

It always ran rough for about 3-5 sec after start up for at least as long as i can remember (yrs). But I never need to use the gas pedal to start it nor is there any smoke. It used to (a while back) backfire slightly at start up but that hasnt happened for many months. (Dont know why it stopped).

Yesterday I filled it all the way up. It took a good amount of coolant. Lots of bubbles. Then it finally stopped needing coolant and I capped it and drove. After about a 20 mile drive I stopped and went it the house. When I came out a short while later there was coolant on the ground. Must have overflowed the overflow tank.

I think I mentioned this already but the light even comes on with the key in the on (not started) position.

bob

Its an open or short. get a voltmeter and test it from the sensor. Make sure that the sensor is not bad. also make sure coolant is pass the sensor on the filler neck. It does not take much to get that little buzzer going....