Electrical messages

[bub1]

My 1995 lumina is overheating. I have replace the water pump and thermostat. Instrument indication, my "hot" engine light and low coolant level light is on even at initial start. Also, my temp gauge is stuck on hot, again, even on initial start-up. What would cause all these messages at the same time even when engine is cold?

[broughy84]

if this is happening after the car has sat all night and there is no way in hell that it is even warm, then I would venture to say thay you have a bad sensor or sending unit.

[bub1]

Originally Posted by broughy84

if this is happening after the car has sat all night and there is no way in hell that it is even warm, then I would venture to say thay you have a bad sensor or sending unit.

Agree. Thanks for the response. Would you think the same sensor or sending unit would feed 2 different indicators? One is the idiot light and the other a gauge.

[cadgear]

The low coolant light will be on for a few drive cycles after draining and refilling the coolant, that's normal. The temp guage sounds okay, but the sensor should be tested by a voltmeter that can read resistance.

They are two different sensors, and each simply goes to the PCM which controls what lights are on and what guages are reading what. The low coolant sensor is in the radiator while the temp sensor is right by the thermostat housing.