Low coolent light

Hey fellas......quick question. I have my low coolent light coming on (sometimes)...but very very dim.......and then sometimes....not so dim.....but never fully lit up....and most the time...not on at all. The coolent level seems to be fine......any ideas on what is causing it? I assume the sending sends a ground or a ground lift to tell the computer what is happening.....is it going bye bye?


Thanks

Ernie, check the coolant level sensor located on tha passenger side of the radiator about 3 inches below the filler cap. Normally, if you remove and clean the sensor it will resolve the issue. If not it will need replacement. Good luck!

Ahhhh....Bob to the rescue...thanks!! Hey.....while I have you.....think I am going to covert to Prestone and dump the Dexcool.....tired of the gelling. Any issues with this?

Ahhhh....Bob to the rescue...thanks!! Hey.....while I have you.....think I am going to covert to Prestone and dump the Dexcool.....tired of the gelling. Any issues with this?

No Ernie, no problems. To date I have converted all 3 "W" bodies I own. I use the Prestone Extended Life in the yellow container. It is fully Dexcool compatible and based on the same Organic Acid Technology (OAT). And a hell of a lot cheaper. The coolant will be green in color. If there is any residual Dexcool after a flush mixing will not cause any problems. Goodluck!

BTW - Don't forget to bleed air out of cooling system after the flush and refill.

Will do......and thanks agian Bob. Finally got some sunshine and some better temps up here......time to get to work!!

Will do......and thanks agian Bob. Finally got some sunshine and some better temps up here......time to get to work!!

Not a problem and you are welcome Ernie. I guess all the good weather we are having in West Texas has moved your way. Sunday is a great day for auto work. I had a fun week putting new front struts on my wife's Regal LS this past week. PITA but well worth it. It took 1.5 hours per strut.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/strut01.jpg

Nice! Yep....you gotta have some time to do struts....I had someone put monroes on the front last year....the sensatracks seem to be a good bet....over the years, I have put them on several cars

Nice! Yep....you gotta have some time to do struts....I had someone put monroes on the front last year....the sensatracks seem to be a good bet....over the years, I have put them on several cars

The Monroe Sensatracks are adequate but a little soft and cushy. The Monroe Reflex are better but more expensive. I went with KYB GR2s on my GTP. Need the stiffer ride. The ones you see in the pic are the Gabriel G-Force Ultras. $75.00 for a pair on EBay from a guy out of Wisconsin. Seems to work fine for me and might disspell some of the rumors you hear on the forum that Monroes and Gabriels are garbage.

Not tried the Reflex....but will do on next change out. I havent replaced the rear yet...may just try them there first

when my coolant was a little low (from moving the reservoir out of the way for a belt change and spilling some) i got a check engine light a few days later... had it scanned at AZ, and said it was just low coolant... so i guess i don't have a seperate Low Coolant light?

when my coolant was a little low (from moving the reservoir out of the way for a belt change and spilling some) i got a check engine light a few days later... had it scanned at AZ, and said it was just low coolant... so i guess i don't have a seperate Low Coolant light?

All '97 - '03 Grand Prixs have a low coolant light or coolant warning light at the Instrument Panel. The output of the level sensor depicted below feeds the coolant light directly. The PCM has nothing to do with the low coolant light and there are no odb-ii DTC error codes specifically to trigger a low coolant light.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/coolantsensor.jpg

All '97 - '03 Grand Prixs have a low coolant light or coolant warning light at the Instrument Panel. The output of the level sensor depicted below feeds the coolant light directly. The PCM has nothing to do with the low coolant light and there are no odb-ii DTC error codes specifically to trigger a low coolant light.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/coolantsensor.jpg

so if there are no OBDII codes for low coolant, i wonder why the guy said it was a low coolant code when he scanned?

so if there are no OBDII codes for low coolant, i wonder why the guy said it was a low coolant code when he scanned?

Wild guess, probably because the guy at AZ didn't know what he was talking about. I have the complete GM Mode 6 list of any possible generic or extended odb-ii DTC error codes that can be generated on a '97 up to '03 Grand Prix with the Series II 3800 NA and SC engines and I repeat there is no odb-ii DTC error code for low coolant. Also, there is no connection to the PCM module from the level sensor in the GM Grand Prix wiring diagrams.

They might have been referring the the engine coolant temperature sensor (ECT). Do you remember the error code?

Wild guess, probably because the guy at AZ didn't know what he was talking about. I have the complete GM Mode 6 list of any possible generic or extended odb-ii DTC error codes that can be generated on a '97 up to '03 Grand Prix with the Series II 3800 NA and SC engines and I repeat there is no odb-ii DTC error code for low coolant. Also, there is no connection to the PCM module from the level sensor in the GM Grand Prix wiring diagrams.

They might have been referring the the engine coolant temperature sensor (ECT). Do you remember the error code?

no he didn't show me the code or anything...usually they print out a little piece of paper w/ the error code and description...he just said maybe the coolant was low, and i remembered that i had spilled some, so it made sense...i bought some Dexcool, put some in, and he cleared the code...wish i'd gotten the code number from him...

It's nice that they scan your codes for free, but always have them print them out. You can't always trust their "parts monkeys" to decipher the information correctly.

It's nice that they scan your codes for free, but always have them print them out. You can't always trust their "parts monkeys" to decipher the information correctly.

I agree. AZ is in the busines of selling car parts and all that consumable stuff. They are not qualified mechanics. Anyone depending on what a parts guys at AZ tells them concerning corrective action is under a gross misconception.

BTW - There is only one parts guy I trust. His name is Richtazz.

But when it comes to DIY repair of any of my cars I only trust myself through proper documentation, proper diagnostics equipment, research and over 30 years experience (Over 8 years with Grand Prixs alone).

I appreciate that vote of confidence Bob. I've been doing this a long time, (20 years) and I work on cars on the side as well. I have found that even an ASE Parts Certification doesn't mean much. When I took the test, I answered 75 questions in under 15 minutes, and missed 2. I'm pretty sure I know which questions I missed, because they weren't worded clearly, and were open to interpretation according to how you read the question. It is always best to get a second opinion, because anyone can make a mistake on a bad day. I have dealt with many a "parts monkey", and I get frustrated because I know what I'm talking about and they think they do. If you find a parts store with a "go to" guy, stick with him, as good parts guys are few and far between. You are an amazingly knowledgeable guy yourself Bob, so I say to all who read this, you're in good hands with bnaylor as well.

Thank you two guys for all your responses, you have helped many people here including me. It is great that people like you take the time to responde to questions that are a lot of times hard to find out there, or it would cost a lot of money to find out (Bad for garage shops!!! :2cents: )

This is what a great automotive forum is all about!!!! :iceslolan

(Bad for garage shops!!! :2cents: )

This is what a great automotive forum is all about!!!! :iceslolan[/QUOTE]


Amen....and if the shops knew what they were doing.......I would not mind paying them either!!!!