Water pump question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Hagerstown Maryland
Water pump question
I recently had to remove my water pump to replace the a/c compressor. I reinstalled the water pump and refilled the system with 50/50 dex-cool and water. However, I keep getting a "low coolant" alarm on my display. Is it possible there is air in the system? If so, what is the easiest way to cure the problem?
Thanks
Thanks
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
I recently had to remove my water pump to replace the a/c compressor. I reinstalled the water pump and refilled the system with 50/50 dex-cool and water. However, I keep getting a "low coolant" alarm on my display. Is it possible there is air in the system? If so, what is the easiest way to cure the problem?
Thanks
Thanks
Here is the process for "burping" the system. That may help.
Caution
With a pressurized cooling system, the coolant temperature in the radiator can be
considerably higher than the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure.
Removal of the surge tank cap, while the cooling system is hot and under high
pressure, causes the solution to boil instantaneously with explosive force. This will
cause the solution to spew out over the engine, the fenders, and the person
removing the cap. Serious bodily injury may result.
Important
If the procedure below is not followed a low or high coolant level condition and/or
vehicle damage could result.
With a pressurized cooling system, the coolant temperature in the radiator can be
considerably higher than the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure.
Removal of the surge tank cap, while the cooling system is hot and under high
pressure, causes the solution to boil instantaneously with explosive force. This will
cause the solution to spew out over the engine, the fenders, and the person
removing the cap. Serious bodily injury may result.
Important
If the procedure below is not followed a low or high coolant level condition and/or
vehicle damage could result.
Fill the cooling system through the surge tank.
Fill the cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL® coolant and deionized
water.
Fill the cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL® coolant and deionized
water.
Corvette Forum - View Single Post - DIY for coolant change?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1572613100-post2.html[2/1/2010 8:15:30 PM]
Start the engine.
Allow the engine to idle for 1 minute.
Install surge tank cap.
Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant
temperature reaches 99°C (210°F).
Shut off the engine.
Remove the surge tank cap.
Start the engine.
Allow the engine to Idle for 1 minute. Fill the surge tank to 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above
the COLD FULL mark on the surge tank.
Install the surge tank cap.
Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant
reaches 99°C (210°F).
Shut off the engine.
Remove the surge tank cap.
Top off the coolant as necessary, 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above FULL COLD mark on the
surge tank.
Rinse away any excess coolant from the engine and the engine compartment.
Inspect the concentration of the engine coolant.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1572613100-post2.html[2/1/2010 8:15:30 PM]
Start the engine.
Allow the engine to idle for 1 minute.
Install surge tank cap.
Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant
temperature reaches 99°C (210°F).
Shut off the engine.
Remove the surge tank cap.
Start the engine.
Allow the engine to Idle for 1 minute. Fill the surge tank to 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above
the COLD FULL mark on the surge tank.
Install the surge tank cap.
Cycle the engine RPMs from idle to 3000 in 30 second intervals until the coolant
reaches 99°C (210°F).
Shut off the engine.
Remove the surge tank cap.
Top off the coolant as necessary, 12.7 mm (0.5 in) above FULL COLD mark on the
surge tank.
Rinse away any excess coolant from the engine and the engine compartment.
Inspect the concentration of the engine coolant.
Install the surge tank cap.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
First, 50/50 and water? If you use 50/50 there is no need to use water too, it is already blended for you.
I had a similar issue and a very wise corvette mechanic told me to try a little trick (I am in Hawaii and he is back in Charleston, so he helped me on the phone)...turn on the heater. The heater core allows some gate to open and once it does you will need to be ready to start applying more coolant to the system. I don't remember all of the technical terms, but I will say this, it worked. It is similar to the post above however this way ensures that the coolant is getting to all of the lines in the core of the motor.
Good luck and BTW, I didn't get injured doing this, but be careful, things do get warm and you could get burned.
Micah
I had a similar issue and a very wise corvette mechanic told me to try a little trick (I am in Hawaii and he is back in Charleston, so he helped me on the phone)...turn on the heater. The heater core allows some gate to open and once it does you will need to be ready to start applying more coolant to the system. I don't remember all of the technical terms, but I will say this, it worked. It is similar to the post above however this way ensures that the coolant is getting to all of the lines in the core of the motor.
Good luck and BTW, I didn't get injured doing this, but be careful, things do get warm and you could get burned.
Micah
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,362
Likes: 1,128
From: Dyer, IN
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Hagerstown Maryland
Hi Lucky,
The resevoir is full to the full cold line and it doesn't move. The low coolant alarm wasn't there before I replaced the a/c compressor and had the water pump off. I guess it could be a sensor, but it is odd that it went bad while I was removing/replacing the ater pump.
Do you know where the sensor is located? Maybe I can take a look at it while I'm under the hood.
Thanks,
Tim
The resevoir is full to the full cold line and it doesn't move. The low coolant alarm wasn't there before I replaced the a/c compressor and had the water pump off. I guess it could be a sensor, but it is odd that it went bad while I was removing/replacing the ater pump.
Do you know where the sensor is located? Maybe I can take a look at it while I'm under the hood.
Thanks,
Tim
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,362
Likes: 1,128
From: Dyer, IN
Hi Lucky,
The resevoir is full to the full cold line and it doesn't move. The low coolant alarm wasn't there before I replaced the a/c compressor and had the water pump off. I guess it could be a sensor, but it is odd that it went bad while I was removing/replacing the ater pump.
Do you know where the sensor is located? Maybe I can take a look at it while I'm under the hood.
Thanks,
Tim
The resevoir is full to the full cold line and it doesn't move. The low coolant alarm wasn't there before I replaced the a/c compressor and had the water pump off. I guess it could be a sensor, but it is odd that it went bad while I was removing/replacing the ater pump.
Do you know where the sensor is located? Maybe I can take a look at it while I'm under the hood.
Thanks,
Tim
In any case, follow the procedure in this thread to ensure all the air is out of the system....and go from there.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Really? Where? The only thing that goes into the reservoir are hoses, there are no wires to read any measures from a sensor. I have replaced the entire reservoir and to be honest, it is just a piece of plastic you put water in, don't remember there being any sensors in it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,362
Likes: 1,128
From: Dyer, IN
Really? Where? The only thing that goes into the reservoir are hoses, there are no wires to read any measures from a sensor. I have replaced the entire reservoir and to be honest, it is just a piece of plastic you put water in, don't remember there being any sensors in it.
Race Director
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,362
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From: Dyer, IN
I don't have access to the schematics right now, but I believe the coolant level sensor went away starting in 2001. What I can say with certainty, is the 97-99 had them for sure.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 761
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From: sunnyvale ca
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,362
Likes: 1,128
From: Dyer, IN
I was wrong. According to the schematics, the coolant level sensor went away in 2002. The coolant level sensor is just a switch that provides a ground when the level is full, so starting in 2002, that input to the IPC was grounded to keep the message from popping up, and the sensor was not used. I'm not certain when this started, so some MY 2001's could have been affected.
Last edited by lucky131969; Apr 2, 2010 at 12:44 PM.
