Low Coolant Sensor Help

[Me110]

Let me first start with my problem(s) to make sure I am going about this in the correct manner. Unfortunately, I know very little about cars so any and all help will be of value,

I drive a 2000 Grand Prix, 3.1L Engine, and I am having trouble with a the low coolant sensor in the car. When I first start up the engine, the light comes on, but after a period in time, the light will go off. The light will stay off until I turn the engine off, but reappear again when I start up the engine and stay on for a little longer than the last time. (Sometimes to the point that it won't shut off in the time it takes me to drive from one place to the other.) I am constantly checking the fluids and am not noticing any actually fluid loss. I am also not noticing any performance issues so I am thinking it is a bad sensor. Doing a search on this forum, a lot of people seem to be having this problem and the common fix is to clean and then replace the low coolant sensor in the car.

Following another thread's advice, I removed the sensor from the system and cleaned all the gel out of it. After the cleaning, the light stayed off for about a month and then started acting up again. I took the sensor out again for a good cleaning, but I then took the car to Jiffy Lube and had them flush the coolant thinking that there was gel in the system and it was accumulating in the sensor. The light again went away, but this time it only stayed away for a week before it started appearing again.

I am thinking that I am going to have to replace the part, but my main problem is that I can't seem to find the correct one. All of the part shops in town are convinced that it is coolant temperature sensor (the circular metal one) instead of the low coolant sensor (the gray square one in the radiator). Does anyone happen to know the correct part number that I should be ordering and where I could order the part from? For all of my internet usage, I can't seem to dig it up.

Given this part number issue, I have let this problem go on for about a month now and about a week ago, I noticed something else. Most of my driving is at fairly high speeds, but when I got stuck in a traffic jam going home, I sat there and watched my engine temperature go from about 190F to 220F. I was starting to become worried and I flipped the heat on full blast and proceeded to roast to death as I watched the temp drop to about 215F and stay steady. My question... is this normal? A couple of threads suggest that this is, but I would feel much better having someone actually say it.

Thanks for any help/advice you can give.

[BNaylor]

The part is called Coolant Level Module. GM part number is:

10096163

GM list price is $51.00.

It's the same for all Grand Prix Vin M (3.1) and Vins 1 (3800 SC) and K (3800 NA).







Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
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1/4 ET: 13.210 sec. @ 104.490 mph
0 - 60 ft: 1.945 sec.

[richtazz]

I work at an AC Delco distrubutor in Flint, Mi and can sell you that sensor for $30+ s/h. Let me know via private message and we can set up the specifics.

[Me110]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

The part is called Coolant Level Module. GM part number is:

10096163

GM list price is $51.00.

It's the same for all Grand Prix Vin M (3.1) and Vins 1 (3800 SC) and K (3800 NA).

Thank you. That is exactly the part I needed

Originally Posted by richtazz

I work at an AC Delco distrubutor in Flint, Mi and can sell you that sensor for $30+ s/h. Let me know via private message and we can set up the specifics.

Sadly, I ran to a dealer during my lunch break to pick one up. I wish I had known that thought, I spent $50 getting one.