3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

power FC shows 83 degrees water temp. but stock cooling gauge says add coolant

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-09-05, 06:38 PM
  #1  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
Ranger Yi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
power FC shows 83 degrees water temp. but stock cooling gauge says add coolant

when i start the car the add coolant alarm goes off. but when i look at the power FC the water temp. is ok. the alarm only goes off when i start the car or when i am at a stop light. the coolant buzzer turns off while im driving but comes back on when i stop.
Old 10-09-05, 06:47 PM
  #2  
3rd motors a charm I hope

 
fastcarfreak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Central New York
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you probably have an air pocket in your system. You need to sort of burp it and top it off. One trick i do is, squeeze the coolant hoses a few times with the coolant cap on then check the level. If you need to add, then add and repeat.

Adam
Old 10-09-05, 06:50 PM
  #3  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
potatochobit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thats because the water pump chruns when u drive and water is being pumped over the low coolant sensor.
Old 10-09-05, 07:01 PM
  #4  
Mr. Links

iTrader: (1)
 
Mahjik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 27,595
Received 40 Likes on 26 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger Yi
when i start the car the add coolant alarm goes off. but when i look at the power FC the water temp. is ok. the alarm only goes off when i start the car or when i am at a stop light. the coolant buzzer turns off while im driving but comes back on when i stop.
Ranger,

The "coolant alarm" is not related to temperature. The "coolant alarm" is for "low coolant level". The sensor is in the thermostat housing. With the car cool, open up the cap on the filler neck and check the level of the coolant. If it's not near the top, that would be why your sensor is going off.

If it is low, finding out why it's low is another process. BTW, when I had that problem, it was failed coolant seals.
Old 10-09-05, 07:02 PM
  #5  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
Ranger Yi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i added water to the coolant resvoir. i think it might be a leak because it never fills up and i always see water coming from the bottom of the car. i cant get an accurate reading from the resvior. i take out the resvior dip stick, wipe it down with a cloth, stick the dip stick back in, pull it out, but i cant see an accurate level of the water. is anyone in houston that can help me out here?
Old 10-09-05, 07:04 PM
  #6  
Mr. Links

iTrader: (1)
 
Mahjik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 27,595
Received 40 Likes on 26 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger Yi
i added water to the coolant resvoir. i think it might be a leak because it never fills up and i always see water coming from the bottom of the car. i cant get an accurate reading from the resvior. i take out the resvior dip stick, wipe it down with a cloth, stick the dip stick back in, pull it out, but i cant see an accurate level of the water. is anyone in houston that can help me out here?
That's not where you add water/coolant. Here is where you add it:

Old 10-09-05, 07:32 PM
  #7  
rotors + turbos = bliss

 
Madmax670's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago (Mt. Prospect)
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can someone show me the location of the water pump please?
Old 10-09-05, 07:35 PM
  #8  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
potatochobit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
see that green circle in the pic above? its straight below it near the pulleys attached to the front of the engine.

follow the hose at the bottom of the radiator.
Old 10-09-05, 07:37 PM
  #9  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
sonix7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: ft. collins, colorado
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
its right under the stock x-over pipe, its the pulley directly below it. and below and to the left of the alternator.
Old 10-09-05, 07:40 PM
  #10  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
sonix7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: ft. collins, colorado
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
beat me to it. the problem is just as Mahjik says, the water temp sensor is seeing a low level at the thermostat housing. You might have an air bubble, it might be more serious. Just drive it, stop let it cool, add more water at the thermostat housing filler, drive it. repeat steps until it stops and hope that is the only problem.
Old 10-09-05, 11:20 PM
  #11  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
Ranger Yi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i just drove the car for about ten mins..how long should i wait till i can open up that cap on the pic above from majhik
Old 10-10-05, 11:08 AM
  #12  
DETH TRP

iTrader: (7)
 
4CN Air's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wait until the car is totally cooled down, if not get ready for a nice warming antifreeze shower
Old 10-10-05, 11:18 AM
  #13  
Banzai Racing

 
BlueTII's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger Yi
i added water to the coolant resvoir. i think it might be a leak because it never fills up and i always see water coming from the bottom of the car. i cant get an accurate reading from the resvior. i take out the resvior dip stick, wipe it down with a cloth, stick the dip stick back in, pull it out, but i cant see an accurate level of the water. is anyone in houston that can help me out here?
If you are seeing water pouring out of the overflow tank after you have run the car then you have another problem. If it is just overflowing when you were trying to fill it then you are OK, but if it happens when hot then you need to replace your AST cap and hope that you do not have a blown coolant seal.
Old 10-10-05, 11:40 AM
  #14  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
Ranger Yi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the problem was fixed.. i put water where mahjik told me to.. and it went away. thanks everyone for the quick replies....

ps.. ast removed..
Old 10-10-05, 11:51 AM
  #15  
Mr. Links

iTrader: (1)
 
Mahjik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 27,595
Received 40 Likes on 26 Posts
You'll need to watch it. If the buzzer comes back in a few days, then you have a problem.
Old 10-10-05, 12:08 PM
  #16  
DGRR 2017 4/26-4/30, 2017

iTrader: (13)
 
Herblenny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 13,597
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
This thread was little scary..

Maybe we should have a faq section to let all the newbs know where everything is located. Just pics pointing at where you should add coolant, what AST is, water pump looks like, etc etc.
Old 10-10-05, 03:48 PM
  #17  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
Ranger Yi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yea. that would be greatly appreciated if i knew where everything was.
Old 10-10-05, 09:10 PM
  #18  
DGRR 2017 4/26-4/30, 2017

iTrader: (13)
 
Herblenny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 13,597
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger Yi
yea. that would be greatly appreciated if i knew where everything was.
You are not alone.. I know ton of newbs on the forum that have no clue where things are.

I'll try to get something together for you.. Also, Do you have a FSM (factory service manual)? If not, go get one on ebay or download it from internet.
Old 10-11-05, 12:21 AM
  #19  
13B Rotary Turbo

 
Spirit_Rotary_7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: South California
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/shop_manual.html

Great shop manual that would tell you everything. Might be a little complicated, but if you have any questions this is the best place to ask
Old 10-11-05, 12:46 AM
  #20  
Full Member

Thread Starter
 
Ranger Yi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
when i bought the car.. about 3 days ago. the previous owner gave it to me.. along with TSB Print outs .. and a bunch of other things
Old 10-11-05, 07:02 PM
  #21  
What's your point ?

 
CantGoStraight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Posts: 3,573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by herblenny
This thread was little scary..

Maybe we should have a faq section to let all the newbs know where everything is located. Just pics pointing at where you should add coolant, what AST is, water pump looks like, etc etc.
This is an excellant idea. Kinda like an owners manual or something. Since these cars are sooooo old they usually don't have them any more. If someone wants the pictures hostred let me know.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
befarrer
Microtech
3
08-22-15 05:52 PM
LMBTG
New Member RX-7 Technical
7
08-15-15 01:43 PM



Quick Reply: power FC shows 83 degrees water temp. but stock cooling gauge says add coolant



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 PM.