Gran Prix Low Coolant Light - Blinking

[GP-Alan]

I am new to this forum. Looks like a lot of great support. I have a GP 3800 with a recurring problem - low coolant light blinking. Coolant is full at radiator cap and overflow tank. Using red coolant. Temp gauge reads 150 - 160. Can someone give me an idea of where to start with this problem? Thanks

[Ripn12s]

Alan,

What Tstat r u using?? Stock - 180 - 160??

Also, what is this red coolant?? Do you mean the orange Dexacool??

[GP-Alan]

Right... Orange Dex Cool. Also the T stat is stock.

[blknyt07]

Dexcool is what you should be using, it is the orange red coolant specially made for GM's. I would have the thermistor checked by a dealer and make sure that the gauge that checks fluid level is working. Could be something in car computer failing as well. Have dealer check for codes

[Ripn12s]

Well w/ a 195deg tsat the car is running way too cool.

According to the GM manaul for my 98 you might have a tstat that is stuck open. Sounds like a good time to put in a 180.

[GP-Alan]

Agree with your assessment. Would this somehow be causing the low coolant light to blink though?

[Ripn12s]

One other thing to check after you replace the tstat would be the Coolan Level Module.

Removal Procedure:

1. Partially drain the rad.
2. Disconnect battery ground
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the low coolant module
4. Remove the low coolant module
5. To unlock the Low Coolant Mod, lift one leg of the snap clip from its locked position and pull outward w/ a slight twisting motion
6. Check condition of O-ring seal

This module looks like a square with the wire clip on the bottom of it

[JTikkanen]

Originally Posted by GP-Alan

I am new to this forum. Looks like a lot of great support. I have a GP 3800 with a recurring problem - low coolant light blinking. Coolant is full at radiator cap and overflow tank. Using red coolant. Temp gauge reads 150 - 160. Can someone give me an idea of where to start with this problem? Thanks

I had a major problem with my '99 Grand Prix V6 3.8 engine that began with just the low coolant light blinking. It ended up being that my upper plenum was cracked and leaking antifreeze into the engine, which will cost me at least $2000 in repairs. Like you, I had coolant full at radiator cap and overflow tank too. You might want to get it looked over carefully. After my radiator light light up, then my service engine light came one and the problem was finally discovered. I am pursueing my complaint with Pontiac to see if they will do anything for me. Hope my story helps.

[GTPKLR]

when i bought my 2001 gt the dealer told that i would need to bring it in to the shop becuase there was a faulty sensor that could cause the low coolant light to blink. take it to the dealer and have them check the sensor. for the 2001 it was a factory recall im not sure if it is for your year. hope this helps.

[GP-Alan]

thanks for the tip. I will look into the crack issue. I haven't seen the SES but would like to head this off.

[kilroypr]

Well in my case, was on a 3.4 Z-34. It happened because the low coolant sensor was blunt. Full reservoir and radiator and the low coolant intermitently would come on. If you do not have a SES on then low coolant sensor is not that expensive and relative easly to install, replace it...
It would not hurt

[95gpse]

Hi, I have a 95 Gran Prix SE and my coolant light keeps flashing and sometimes stays on. The car is also running hotter than it should be. I'm assuming it is the thermostat but not sure. Please let me know what you think...

I am also in the process of flushing the radiator and not sure what kind of coolant as I have no manual. When I emptied radiator, it was green.

Any help is very thankful. I have only had this car for 1 month and am kind of bummed out about this.

Oh yea, if any help 130K

[Ripn12s]

Easiest and cheapest thing to try first would def. be a new tstat and a flush.

If it had green in it before, then I would replace w/ green.

[kilroypr]

Well if you car is running hotter than normal and your radiator and reservoir are full then make sure that the tstat is ok(replace it, just cost 7 bucks). Also open the radiator cap with car cool and start the car to check if the coolant flows. Usually when you get a intermitent low coolant light is that the low coolant sensor is blunt.

[stan_5150]

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here. I've got a 2000 GP with about 50K on it. Recently the Low Coolant Level light comes on at engine start and turns off at about 180-200 degrees. I took it to the shop and they said that they traced the problem a faulty coolant level module. I've read the comments on this thread about it but I'm not exactly sure where it's located. Also, I've gotten the dreaded SES light and it throws me a P0141 code for the O2 sensor (Bank 1 sensor 2). I read somewhere that temp problems may affect the o2 sensors. Is this correct? And if so do you think that changing this module could help solve both problems? Like I said, I'm a newbie at this stuff so any and all guidance would be helpful. Thanks.