Low Coolant Warning
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Hemet California
Low Coolant Warning
This morning when I was leaving the house, I got to the end of my neighborhood, and the LOW COOLANT light came up on the dash. I was already running late, so I didn't really think to much of it when I cleared the message. In hindsight, I probably should have gone back and looked to see if there was any leakage, but I don't remember seeing any when I backed out of the garage.
Anyway, I didn't really think about it until after I left school, when I noticed that the temperature was up to 215, when its normally right around 190-195. There also didn't seem to be any leakage when I left the parking lot. I drove it again a little while later to the gym, and it ran at about the same 215. And these are both very short drives of 2-3 miles, mind you.
So my question is, what is the best course of action to take? I couldn't check the levels, because it is still fairly warm. What should I do tomorrow? Not drive it? Is it okay, for the 2-3 miles that I drive each way? Or is this something that needs to be taken care of immediately?
Anyway, I didn't really think about it until after I left school, when I noticed that the temperature was up to 215, when its normally right around 190-195. There also didn't seem to be any leakage when I left the parking lot. I drove it again a little while later to the gym, and it ran at about the same 215. And these are both very short drives of 2-3 miles, mind you.
So my question is, what is the best course of action to take? I couldn't check the levels, because it is still fairly warm. What should I do tomorrow? Not drive it? Is it okay, for the 2-3 miles that I drive each way? Or is this something that needs to be taken care of immediately?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
Fairly simple my dear Watson, get out the car and check your coolant level. Obviously you seem to be a drive and park type. Vehicles do need periodic checking of the various fluids that keep it running and in shape.
The time it took you to log onto your computer and into the forum and post, you could have checked your car. There is a hot and cold level on the coolant tank.................................... .....
This post is rated-----UE--------- USER ERROR
The time it took you to log onto your computer and into the forum and post, you could have checked your car. There is a hot and cold level on the coolant tank.................................... .....
This post is rated-----UE--------- USER ERROR
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,568
Likes: 1,352
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
215 is not hot. It is still in the normal range. I would not have just pressed a reset button on a low coolant message though, unless you do not mind spending a boat load of money on repairs just because you are in a hurry. A message like that would get me to pull over and look into the problem.
You do not have to remove the tank cap to see if the tank is low or not. It is transparent.
Even if you do not see a leak, you must have a small one somewhere.
You do not have to remove the tank cap to see if the tank is low or not. It is transparent.
Even if you do not see a leak, you must have a small one somewhere.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Hemet California
I would have checked the fluid if it wasn't hot... Because theres only a full cold mark right? Anyways, thanks for the responses. I checked the level today while it was cold, and it is just ever so slight low, maybe a 1/4 inch at the most? Maybe the light just came on because it was only 38 degrees yesterday morning, and the stuff expands with heat, right?
What I'll probably do is just top it off, and then watch it over the next couple weeks from there.
What I'll probably do is just top it off, and then watch it over the next couple weeks from there.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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If everything else checks out, you just might have a low coolant sensor about to die on you.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
I would have checked the fluid if it wasn't hot... Because theres only a full cold mark right? Anyways, thanks for the responses. I checked the level today while it was cold, and it is just ever so slight low, maybe a 1/4 inch at the most? Maybe the light just came on because it was only 38 degrees yesterday morning, and the stuff expands with heat, right?
What I'll probably do is just top it off, and then watch it over the next couple weeks from there.
What I'll probably do is just top it off, and then watch it over the next couple weeks from there.
This is not to be funny, but basic good advise. It will save you lots of headaches and trips to the dealer.
If you don't or won't take the time to know your car then it will empty your pockets of money, because you will be paying out the nose and a premium to other people to fix simple things and check your car.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 392
Likes: 6
From: woodstock ga
part of the fun of owning one of these cars is to work on them and understand how they work. if you dont do this you are missing a big piece of the smile factor. open the hood immediately and look around. vehicles will not run without gas, oil, and water.