-JRC-
Low Cooant Light
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Low Cooant Light
Everytime my car reaches 85 degrees celcius the low coolant light comes on. There is plenty of coolant in the system. Is it possible that there is a leak somewhere in the system which causes this? Any other ideas?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
nope... it's a design flaw... the low coolant sensor is mounted high on the radiator... too high actually, so an air pocket developes.
not much that can be done, that I am aware of. Bastet44's 1987 does the same exact thing.
not much that can be done, that I am aware of. Bastet44's 1987 does the same exact thing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Henderson NV
There is a fix for the design flaw, I saw it in one of my old Corvette magazines. I've been looking for an hour and haven't found it yet. (several hundred to go) Sometimes it is the sensor itself; my 87 insisted that the coolant was low every time I climbed up a hill. Finally replaced it and never saw the light again (except at start-up)
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Ridgefield CT
After a recent water pump change on my 89 I filled and "burped" the system but still got a low coolant light after getting up to operating temperature. For 3 nights I let it cool down and removed the red. cap and added a little coolant. It would only take about 2 ounces each time. After the third night, no more low coolant light. As stated, the sensor is mounted very high in the radiator and it only has to be down a few ounces to set the light.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Say guys,,, going thru the same thing... my 87 low coolant lite all of a sudden came on and hasen't gone off yet, replaced sensor, burped the thing 4 times already... been working with TJWong on the issue, ordered a new coolant module, if that doesnt work, i'm getting some flat black paint and paint out the lite...lol.... There has to be a way to disable the lite in the DIT... maybe someone knows of a perm fix...
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 670
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From: charlotte nc
Low coolant fix
I had the same issue with my 86. It turned out to be a slow leak in the front of the intake manidold. As stated in earlier replies, it doesn't take much of a coolant loss to trigger the light. One helpful thing is to drill 4- 1/16 inch holes radially around the thermostat to allow trapped air to escape. One other thing to try is ; with the engine cold, remove the radiator cap and rev the engine to a constant 2000 rpm and fill the radiator. replace the cap before letting the engine idle . My light hasn't come on since I fixed the leak.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by vinnies87
Say guys,,, going thru the same thing... my 87 low coolant lite all of a sudden came on and hasen't gone off yet, replaced sensor, burped the thing 4 times already... been working with TJWong on the issue, ordered a new coolant module, if that doesnt work, i'm getting some flat black paint and paint out the lite...lol.... There has to be a way to disable the lite in the DIT... maybe someone knows of a perm fix...
- 1986 Original Owner -
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: North Yorkshire, England
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Sensor problem
They located the sensor high on the radiator and when you start up
you get the indicator light. They corrected the problem with the location of the sensor later in the C-4 series, I think in 1994?
Don't worry about it, its not a problem.
you get the indicator light. They corrected the problem with the location of the sensor later in the C-4 series, I think in 1994?
Don't worry about it, its not a problem.