low coolant light when cold

recently my low coolant light has been going on when i first start the car and the engine is cold. after it warms up the light goes off and sometimes goes on and off while warm intermittantly. i added more coolant and there appears to be plenty in the resevoir... any ideas?

A bad, or contaminated coolant level sensor.

where is it located and how can i check...

and might it have anything to do with the hose that should be attached to the cap fell into the resevoir?

Sorry! my http://www.alldata.com expired.

Sensor is gummed up or bad. What year is your car?

Mine did this once too about 2 weeks ago. No clue why. It was -15 with -30 windchill and car started just fine without being plugged in, but the low coolant light came on. About 5 miles down the road when the car was warm the light shut off and I havn't see in since. The design of the low coolant sensor on these car's isn't the greatest. I was having a lot of issues with it for a while.

yeah, these coolant sensors are real flaky. horrible design IMO

97. where is the the sensor and can it be cleaned? or does it have to be replaced

97. where is the the sensor and can it be cleaned? or does it have to be replaced

the sensor is located towards the bottom of the coolandt reservoir. in the '97 it can be a little tougher since its in a $hitty spot. you'll need to remove the brace to get the reservoir out if I'm remembering right.

you can try cleaning it first. i got sick of replacing mine so i just disconnected it.

I thought they were located on the passenger side of the radiator, about half way down.

I was having an issue with mine, I removed it, cleand it good, and put it back in along with replacing the radiator cap. Its been good since except for that once staying on when its really cold.

I thought they were located on the passenger side of the radiator, about half way down.

you might be right Tim, I'll have to double check. i know on some cars its in the radiator not far under the radiator cap, and some it is in the reservoir

The sensor on the radiator is for the coolant electric fan, the Temp sensor on engine is for the temp guage.

Getting a little cold up there Tblake. It is still above zero down here.

yep, -5 on the HVAC in the GTP on my way home from work and its actually the warmest night in a week.

the tube attached to the resevoir cap fell into the resevoir and i cant seem to get it out... is this a big deal?

the tube attached to the resevoir cap fell into the resevoir and i cant seem to get it out... is this a big deal?

Everyone has sorta glossed over the tube falling into the overflow tank issue. I think this is your problem. Without that, the coolant you add to the tank cannot be sucked into the coolant system. You are probably low on coolant and by reattaching the coolant hose, your issues will go away all by themselves, IMO.

ya i wasnt sure if that tube is how coolant enters or exits the resevoir. i figured if thats how it enters the resevoir, and it leaves through the bottom then it was no big deal. but if it enters and leaves through the tube, then i see the problem. so basically is the tube where the coolant goes in AND out of ?

ya i wasnt sure if that tube is how coolant enters or exits the resevoir. i figured if thats how it enters the resevoir, and it leaves through the bottom then it was no big deal. but if it enters and leaves through the tube, then i see the problem. so basically is the tube where the coolant goes in AND out of ?

yes it is. the low coolant causes it to pull the fluid through the tube. usually its not going to go "back into the reservoir" unless your overheating.

if you look inside your radiator, right beneath the radiator cap inside is a little hole...that goes to the reservoir in case you didnt know that.

oo alright. well thanks

now the problem is getting the tube out of the resevoir... is the opening on the top of the resevoir the only opening? i think the only way to get the tube is to remove the resevoir and empty it, but i dont know how difficult that would be... any tips?

oo alright. well thanks

now the problem is getting the tube out of the resevoir... is the opening on the top of the resevoir the only opening? i think the only way to get the tube is to remove the resevoir and empty it, but i dont know how difficult that would be... any tips?

uh...yeah use a screwdriver. I've dropped it in there before, no biggy.

i cant even find it in there though...i dropped it once before and got it out. this time it must have fallen just right to where i cant see it

2000 gp locate the coolant level module in the right rad tank near the top. it is a 2 wire sensor with a yel/blk power feed and blk/white grd wire.

to remove, partial drain the rad. disconnect the electrical connector, lift one leg of the snap clip and pull outward with a twisting motion.

it is powered by the ip ign fuse to the cluster and is hot in run, bulb test or start. the sensor grd's the circuit when coolant is low and turns on the light in the dash. So what ever could case the circuit to grd (faulty sensor or short to grd) will cause the light to go on.

If it were to stay on all the time, turn ign to run...disconnet it...if the light goes out replace the sensor.

who ever said clean it...I like it...worth a shot as I'm cheap