low coolant light

I own a 96 chevy lumina ls. A week ago last wednesday I replaced the water pump cause the low coolant light came on. I saw the water spraying out by the belts. Took it to the shop,and its been fine.
This morning I go out to the car and that light comes on. I checked all fluids,and everything is fine,eve with the car on,the radiator is full.
What is wrong with my car??
(all hoses are good,and nothing is leaking)

Follow this thread from a few months ago. Hope it helps.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t664027.html

Follow this thread from a few months ago. Hope it helps.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t664027.html
I checked out that link you sent me,,,I"m not losing water anywhere.
Maybe its a plugged sensor thing at the radiator. Who knows. I know I hate being a Female at times...lol

There is a sensor in the passenger side radiator tank for the coolant level. These sensors get clogged up with sludge and malfunction. It is located about 1/3 the way down, just under the top trans line. It will look like a little black box about 1-1/4" square with a harness that comes in from the bottom. many times, all you need to do is remove the sensor, clean out the sludge, and reinstall.

For reference, the sensor is GM part# 10096163

There is a sensor in the passenger side radiator tank for the coolant level. These sensors get clogged up with sludge and malfunction. It is located about 1/3 the way down, just under the top trans line. It will look like a little black box about 1-1/4" square with a harness that comes in from the bottom. many times, all you need to do is remove the sensor, clean out the sludge, and reinstall.

For reference, the sensor is GM part# 10096163

I"ve been home for 3hours now,I want to wait at least another hour til I touch the car(i live in Las Vegas,its 104 today). But I dont know what you mean by "just under the top trans line"?? Are you saying it is on the radiator? Gosh,where is the picture...lol
Well,I will have to check it all out in a hour,hopefully I can find it.
If I cant find it,I'll take it to the shop where I had the waterpump replaced,and ask them why the light is on.
Thanks, Trisha7025

Trish: After I had my intake gasket replaced last year that same light was blinking.. Everything was ok, so I just giggled the wire that atches to it on the right side of radiator, about 1/2 way down.
Nick

Trish: After I had my intake gasket replaced last year that same light was blinking.. Everything was ok, so I just giggled the wire that atches to it on the right side of radiator, about 1/2 way down.
Nick
Hey Nick, I wiggled it yesterday,it turned off. But it came on again. This morning it was blinking,didnt know what it wants to do. Its not easy to get at,,,but I"M not gonna worry about it,unless my gage gets to hot. Wich its been below the half(boat thing):) in this Las Vegas Heat even. Tomorrow and the weekend is suppose to be cooler. Maybe by Saturday,I can go fiddle with it. Thanks :)

the coolant level sensor is on the passenger side of the radiator 4 inches down from the top. popping it off to clean it is a good idea, but you will lose a little coolant in the process. after you put it back on, dont forget to properly bleed the radiator. if you need a new one, they run $38...

the coolant level sensor is on the passenger side of the radiator 4 inches down from the top. popping it off to clean it is a good idea, but you will lose a little coolant in the process. after you put it back on, dont forget to properly bleed the radiator. if you need a new one, they run $38...


Whats 38dallors? the sensor? I know where it is,I saw it,that little black box thingey. I also know there are two bleeders,one on the thermostate,but I cant seem to find the other one, where is it,,on the radiator? (or you just wanna come over,and show me) ;)

this site will help you better understand what yer doing:
http://www.radiators.com/radiator_how_to_maintain.html

this site will help you better understand what yer doing:
http://www.radiators.com/radiator_how_to_maintain.html


that link helped,but it didnt show me the other bleeder. I dont have a owners manual or a haynes,I may have to go to the library. Thanks for the help.
Talk to you later.Maybe,or maybe not....lol

heres a update on my cooling light. I went to the library friday, that didnt have any books to really help me. Saturday,I popped the hood took the radiator cap off,and turned the car on. I bled the thermostate again for like 10minutes. I stuck my finger in the water,it was hot,lol so I put the cap back on. A few drives over the weekend,and for some wierd strange reason the coolant light hasnt been back on. The airbag light is wanting to stay on longer after I start the car,but owell. I think I probably have some kind of fuse problems going on. and I'm not into electrical work at all.
Anyways, this site is really cool.and I"m glad I found it. Keep in touch everybody. Trisha in Las Vegas

I believe (and I don't have my shop manual handy right now) most sensors such as this require three to ten drive cycles to clear. A drive cycle is typically considered:

coolant temp < 125°F upon key-on
coolant temp > 175°F for x minutes
speed > y MPH

Or something similar. Basically, when the car thinks you have driven it enough in an all-clear state, it kills the light. I'm fairly sure the Coolant Level sensor is tied into the PCM, rather than just a straight path to the light on the dash.

Might shed some light.

I believe (and I don't have my shop manual handy right now) most sensors such as this require three to ten drive cycles to clear. A drive cycle is typically considered:

coolant temp < 125°F upon key-on
coolant temp > 175°F for x minutes
speed > y MPH

Or something similar. Basically, when the car thinks you have driven it enough in an all-clear state, it kills the light. I'm fairly sure the Coolant Level sensor is tied into the PCM, rather than just a straight path to the light on the dash.

Might shed some light.

Thanks Caggear,,,but what is a PCM?? Well,those lights can become annoying except when something is really wrong. It sure did work when the waterpump went out,and Iam so thankful for that. So I guess driving after the waterpump got fixed,the light fixed itself. I hope. Thanks again for the response, Trisha

Glad you light went off Tina, mine has not went on for about 8 months now...
My car has been idling perfect since I sprayed that can of Gumout Carb Cleaner in the PVC hose, I also put a couple tanks of Preimum gas and 2 cans of fuel injector cleaner, its been about 2 weeks now....
I can't belive I did it, and the dealer wanted to take the Throttle Body off and clean it by hand!...Gotta love that carb cleaner!

Glad you light went off Tina, mine has not went on for about 8 months now...
My car has been idling perfect since I sprayed that can of Gumout Carb Cleaner in the PVC hose, I also put a couple tanks of Preimum gas and 2 cans of fuel injector cleaner, its been about 2 weeks now....
I can't belive I did it, and the dealer wanted to take the Throttle Body off and clean it by hand!...Gotta love that carb cleaner!
Who is Tina,I"m Trisha, My cousin Tina isnt on here...lol
Well,If I was you,I'd watch the O rings now that you added them fuel injector cleaner can stuff. They tend to make them leak. Dealers are rip offs. I go on the craigslist.com and look up a mechanic on that. they are reasonable,and okay to work with,as long as you get a honest person that is. Wich I did. A year ago. IT saved me 500 bucks on my rack n pinion but thats another whole story in itself. Take care,and Buckle up...lol Trisha

So, again another update,and Oh Great,its like WT without the F word..lol
yesterday I was driving a friend somewhere,and my low coolant came on again blinking off and on,now what,I say. But the tempature gage didnt go over the half mark,so I felt safe. He the friend told me its the thermostate.
Anyways,Today its off again. Its not comeing on. LMAO. I dont know what to do or what to say about it. I guess we were wrong cadgear!!!

Glad you light went off Tina, mine has not went on for about 8 months now...
My car has been idling perfect since I sprayed that can of Gumout Carb Cleaner in the PVC hose, I also put a couple tanks of Preimum gas and 2 cans of fuel injector cleaner, its been about 2 weeks now....
I can't belive I did it, and the dealer wanted to take the Throttle Body off and clean it by hand!...Gotta love that carb cleaner!

My damn light is coming on again. it stays on ,or it will blink on and off.
It hasnt gotten to hot either,and all the fluid levels are full. I check the oil.,and that is fine too. :banghead: Now I dont know what to do

Could very well be the sensor. Finicky buggers, most times it's the actual level sensor that dies but I've seen one or two where the connection point at the plug gets loose and makes intermittent contact.

Problem is the sensor is fifty some odd dollars from a discount auto parts store. Dealer price is like one seventy or so, last I checked.

Could very well be the sensor. Finicky buggers, most times it's the actual level sensor that dies but I've seen one or two where the connection point at the plug gets loose and makes intermittent contact.

Problem is the sensor is fifty some odd dollars from a discount auto parts store. Dealer price is like one seventy or so, last I checked.
DAMNNNNNNNNNNNNN,I'm not sure I can just throw money away for a sensor
But thanks for all the help :)

Mine just started doing the same thing. Going to pull the sensor and clean it since my system recently had major sludge.

Mine just started doing the same thing. Going to pull the sensor and clean it since my system recently had major sludge.

For me,I cant get at it. its underneath the headlight,and something else,its to hard for me to take everything apart,and put back together,and If I pay someone else to do it,it will cost me as much as the part. I'll just live with the light on,or blinking,it dont matter.

For me,I cant get at it. its underneath the headlight,and something else,its to hard for me to take everything apart,and put back together,and If I pay someone else to do it,it will cost me as much as the part. I'll just live with the light on,or blinking,it dont matter.

I believe ours is the same.

It was a PITA to get to it. I have big fat hands. 2 flat heads helped with it. It was clogged with muck and I cleaned it out and its still acting up. I did a coolant flush while I was at it and the dang thing blinks until I have been driving for 20-30 min in which it then stays on.

Im guessing a bad sensor?

Where you located trisha? If your local ill clean yours out and see if it works, didnt on mine though.

I believe ours is the same.

It was a PITA to get to it. I have big fat hands. 2 flat heads helped with it. It was clogged with muck and I cleaned it out and its still acting up. I did a coolant flush while I was at it and the dang thing blinks until I have been driving for 20-30 min in which it then stays on.

Im guessing a bad sensor?

Where you located trisha? If your local ill clean yours out and see if it works, didnt on mine though.

You wanna come visit Las Vegas?? lol...This is where Iam,far far away from anyone else on here(it seems)I think by you offereing that to me is wonderful. You're such a gentleman,thanks :)xoxox

my car is a lumina ls,but a 96 with 86,000,how come you have so many miles on your car?

1998 lumina(base model) about 90,000 miles. same problem. it is great as an aid to help you know when and if the water pump springs a leak. other then that it,s just a pain in the neck to have it shining on the dash all the time when it,s malfunctioning. i,ll try to clean it and if that don,t work is it possible to disconnect it without confusing the main computer ?? i don,t want to pay $100. or whatever to fix it . i check fluids regular as a precaution .

1998 lumina(base model) about 90,000 miles. same problem. it is great as an aid to help you know when and if the water pump springs a leak. other then that it,s just a pain in the neck to have it shining on the dash all the time when it,s malfunctioning. i,ll try to clean it and if that don,t work is it possible to disconnect it without confusing the main computer ?? i don,t want to pay $100. or whatever to fix it . i check fluids regular as a precaution .

My Ex said you CAN disconnect it...but I dont want to. I wanna fix mine!!

1998 lumina(base model) about 90,000 miles. same problem. it is great as an aid to help you know when and if the water pump springs a leak. other then that it,s just a pain in the neck to have it shining on the dash all the time when it,s malfunctioning. i,ll try to clean it and if that don,t work is it possible to disconnect it without confusing the main computer ?? i don,t want to pay $100. or whatever to fix it . i check fluids regular as a precaution .
Just want to let everyone know that cleaning out my unit has worked. The light went off shortly after the post I made on here about cleaning not working. Its stayed off since. I ran it through a couple cycles of heating and cooling down and it seems to have cleared it.

Just want to let everyone know that cleaning out my unit has worked. The light went off shortly after the post I made on here about cleaning not working. Its stayed off since. I ran it through a couple cycles of heating and cooling down and it seems to have cleared it.

What does that mean heating and cooling down. you ran the heater or you let it get real hot? I"m glad yours is fixed,mine isnt :(

What does that mean heating and cooling down. you ran the heater or you let it get real hot? I"m glad yours is fixed,mine isnt :(I meant engine wise.

I let it heat up and then let it settle and cool off a couple times. I think it was mentioned a couple posts back too.

Cleaning the sensor does work in some cases obviously.

I meant engine wise.

I let it heat up and then let it settle and cool off a couple times. I think it was mentioned a couple posts back too.

Cleaning the sensor does work in some cases obviously.

I tried that, Mine is tempermental just like me lol