Instant Low Coolant Light
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 7,996
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From: McAlester Oklahoma
Instant Low Coolant Light
Filled my radiator 2 twice now to the top but as soon as I start it the Low Coolant light comes on. I can not see any leaks. The light will go off when I do a little spirited driving. Oh, also there is never any coolant in the overflow tank.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
What year Vette???
On my '88 that tank is a resevoir that the cooling system continually takes coolant from and returns it to. Fill it to the indicated mark and things should settle out soon.
On my '88 that tank is a resevoir that the cooling system continually takes coolant from and returns it to. Fill it to the indicated mark and things should settle out soon.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 62
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From: Ocean NJ
I had a similar issue on my '88. It seems that there can be an air pocket in the system that you need to get out. I removed the radiator cap with the car cold, then started it and watched till the thermostat opened. The fluid level went down and I added coolant and then replaced the radiator cap. Haven't had a light since. It can get a bit messy so be prepared to hose down your driveway to get rid of any coolant that spills over. And, of course, when your engine reaches operating temperature the coolant is HOT so be careful.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
If your coolant reseroir is, like in my '88, located below and to the right of the radiator it should be about 1/2 full of coolant.
You might pull it and verify that the filler hose and the spout into the resevoir are not clogged as well as check for leaks.
If all is well there you may have a problem with the radiator cap. The cap is designed to hold pressure to a specific set point but to allow the cooling system to pull up coolant when needed.
Then fill it with coolant to the mark on the stick upder the cap.
You might pull it and verify that the filler hose and the spout into the resevoir are not clogged as well as check for leaks.
If all is well there you may have a problem with the radiator cap. The cap is designed to hold pressure to a specific set point but to allow the cooling system to pull up coolant when needed.
Then fill it with coolant to the mark on the stick upder the cap.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 7,996
Likes: 0
From: McAlester Oklahoma
Originally Posted by 65Z01
If your coolant reseroir is, like in my '88, located below and to the right of the radiator it should be about 1/2 full of coolant.
You might pull it and verify that the filler hose and the spout into the resevoir are not clogged as well as check for leaks.
If all is well there you may have a problem with the radiator cap. The cap is designed to hold pressure to a specific set point but to allow the cooling system to pull up coolant when needed.
Then fill it with coolant to the mark on the stick upder the cap.
You might pull it and verify that the filler hose and the spout into the resevoir are not clogged as well as check for leaks.
If all is well there you may have a problem with the radiator cap. The cap is designed to hold pressure to a specific set point but to allow the cooling system to pull up coolant when needed.
Then fill it with coolant to the mark on the stick upder the cap.
Good idea about pulling the overflow tank out. I'll try that as that should be cheapest fix.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
Originally Posted by TripleBlack88
I had a similar issue on my '88. It seems that there can be an air pocket in the system that you need to get out. I removed the radiator cap with the car cold, then started it and watched till the thermostat opened. The fluid level went down and I added coolant and then replaced the radiator cap. Haven't had a light since. It can get a bit messy so be prepared to hose down your driveway to get rid of any coolant that spills over. And, of course, when your engine reaches operating temperature the coolant is HOT so be careful.
). Be quick, be careful (gloves are a must) and you should be able to top off your radiator and never see the low coolant light again.
HTH!
