Low Coolant Indicator

I had the Low Coolant Light flash on briefly this morning right after startup. The light was illuminated for about 5 seconds then shut off. I inspected the coolant level a couple days ago and it looked fine. This was the first noticeably cold morning (<32 F) of the year.

My guess would be the level sensor is going bad. However, I can't shake the notion that it could be an issue that is now being exacerbated by the outside temperature. The vehicle was parked all day yesterday and I didn’t notice any coolant on the driveway.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Did you check the coolant level at just the reservoir or at the radiator?

Reservoir, not the radiator. I plan on checking that after the engine has had a chance to cool down for a few hours.

Sounds like mine when the sensor went bad. In the colder temps, the light would come on at initail startup and shut off when the car hit operating temp. My coolant was full and not leaking. Eventually the light just stayed on as the temps got colder and colder. I got fed up untill I replaced the sensor.

My car had just about 80,000 miles on it when my sensor went bad. I think I'm starting to see a pattern.....

I think I'm starting to see a pattern.....

The ones that concern me Tim are the unresolvable ones where members are leaving the sensor disconnected after exhaustion of all advice given and the ones that get the low coolant level indication either on steady or flashing shortly after switching out the Dex-cool to anti-freeze like Prestone EL 5/150. :screwy:

The weirdest one I worked on with a local '98 Grand Prix turned out to be bad seals at the radiator reservoir tanks on each side of the core. Upon careful and close inspection you could see coolant residue/seepage but not enough to drip to the ground. The only thing I could assume when the engine was turned off and during cool down it was sucking in air causing the erratic low coolant indication. Of course around $60 was wasted for the sensor.

The ones that concern me Tim are the unresolvable ones where members are leaving the sensor disconnected after exhaustion of all advice given and the ones that get the low coolant level indication either on steady or flashing shortly after switching out the Dex-cool to anti-freeze like Prestone EL 5/150. :screwy:

This is the trend I am also seeing. My original one had the steady on issue the following day after switching from AC Delco Dex Cool to Prestone.

I'm still planning on dooing an experiment regarding different types of sensors and the stock Coolan Level sensor. I just havn't had time to. I will keep you informed.

The ones that concern me Tim are the unresolvable ones where members are leaving the sensor disconnected after exhaustion of all advice given and the ones that get the low coolant level indication either on steady or flashing shortly after switching out the Dex-cool to anti-freeze like Prestone EL 5/150. :screwy:

sounds like mine...the plug is still disconnected in the SE, never did figure that darn thing out