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Brakes 1990, low coolant light riddle

  • Thread starter Thread starter bdemat
  • Start date Start date Dec 22, 2018
B

bdemat

Member
Sep 22, 2018
20
1
13
Acworth ga
Dec 22, 2018
#1
  • Dec 22, 2018
  • #1
Hello everyone, riddle me this, I have a 1990 5.0. Low coolant light always coming on. Coolant is fine, constantly checked it to make sure. Replaced the low coolant sensor twice with new lmr one. Replaced the connector, still on. When I unplug the sensor light goes out. It's not usually on when I just start the car but it will come after a mile or so
 

nickyb

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever
15 Year Member
Apr 3, 2009
2,979
1,623
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nevada
Dec 22, 2018
#2
  • Dec 22, 2018
  • #2
i just unpluged mine and check it with all my fluids once a week.i mean do we really need an idiot light?whats next sensors telling us to check our air in the tires?another one to tell us to change our oil?,put our seatbelts on?At this rate the cars will be driving themselves!
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Massachusetts
Dec 22, 2018
#3
  • Dec 22, 2018
  • #3
Unplug it. They are notorious for false readings. They only read the level in the bottle so if you see coolant in the bottle you are fine.
 
B

bdemat

Member
Sep 22, 2018
20
1
13
Acworth ga
Dec 23, 2018
#4
  • Dec 23, 2018
  • #4
Thanks guys for the advice but I am the type of person that has to have everything work the way it's supposed to. I know it's not that big a deal but I will mess with it a little longer to figure it out.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,216
17,899
224
Massachusetts
Dec 23, 2018
#5
  • Dec 23, 2018
  • #5
bdemat said:
Thanks guys for the advice but I am the type of person that has to have everything work the way it's supposed to. I know it's not that big a deal but I will mess with it a little longer to figure it out.
Click to expand...

I'm the same way so I understand your plight. Usually it is the sensors but as a check you can check the wiring to make sure it's in good shape. Red will be your power and black is the ground. With engine on make sure you have a consistent 12v here. The blue wire is your return to cluster. Closing the sensor (low coolant) will trip the light which is why unplugging it will keep light permanently off
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
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polk county florida
Dec 23, 2018
#6
  • Dec 23, 2018
  • #6

This for an 89 and may be hard to read, it shows how to test the circuit, wire colors ma be different but it will give you an idea of what to look for, hope this helps
i like stuff to work right too!
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,216
17,899
224
Massachusetts
Dec 23, 2018
#7
  • Dec 23, 2018
  • #7
Wiring for reference. Pretty basic

 
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B

bdemat

Member
Sep 22, 2018
20
1
13
Acworth ga
Dec 23, 2018
#8
  • Dec 23, 2018
  • #8
Mustang5L5 said:
I'm the same way so I understand your plight. Usually it is the sensors but as a check you can check the wiring to make sure it's in good shape. Red will be your power and black is the ground. With engine on make sure you have a consistent 12v here. The blue wire is your return to cluster. Closing the sensor (low coolant) will trip the light which is why unplugging it will keep light permanently off[/QU
Mustang5L5 said:
I'm the same way so I understand your plight. Usually it is the sensors but as a check you can check the wiring to make sure it's in good shape. Red will be your power and black is the ground. With engine on make sure you have a consistent 12v here. The blue wire is your return to cluster. Closing the sensor (low coolant) will trip the light which is why unplugging it will keep light permanently off[/QUO
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited: Dec 23, 2018
B

bdemat

Member
Sep 22, 2018
20
1
13
Acworth ga
Dec 23, 2018
#9
  • Dec 23, 2018
  • #9
I will test that and see what happens, Thanks for the help and the pics!
 
4

4ever91

New Member
May 4, 2019
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1
Valencia, CA
May 4, 2019
#10
  • May 4, 2019
  • #10
bdemat said:
I will test that and see what happens, Thanks for the help and the pics!
Click to expand...
Did you resolve the low coolant light yet? My 91 LX exact same. New radiator. New sensor and pigtail connector from LMR. Coolant levels in both the XS bottle and radiator look fine. No leaks. Not overheating. But low coolant idiot light is on and stays on. I’m tempted to disconnect the sensor and live free. How much more nonsense does Ford want us to go through ?
 
B

bdemat

Member
Sep 22, 2018
20
1
13
Acworth ga
May 17, 2019
#11
  • May 17, 2019
  • #11
4ever91 said:
Did you resolve the low coolant light yet? My 91 LX exact same. New radiator. New sensor and pigtail connector from LMR. Coolant levels in both the XS bottle and radiator look fine. No leaks. Not overheating. But low coolant idiot light is on and stays on. I’m tempted to disconnect the sensor and live free. How much more nonsense does Ford want us to go through ?
Click to expand...
Yes and
4ever91 said:
Did you resolve the low coolant light yet? My 91 LX exact same. New radiator. New sensor and pigtail connector from LMR. Coolant levels in both the XS bottle and radiator look fine. No leaks. Not overheating. But low coolant idiot light is on and stays on. I’m tempted to disconnect the sensor and live free. How much more nonsense does Ford want us to go through ?
Click to expand...
Yes and no. I found the ground wire coming off the connector plug and grounded it to the frame. The light stayed on for about two or three days after that and then I haven't seen it since. Don't actually know if that fixed it or if it's just went out. Either way it's gone.
 
L

LATT5133

Member
May 8, 2020
51
20
18
Tampa, Florida
Sep 4, 2020
#12
  • Sep 4, 2020
  • #12
bdemat said:
Yes and

Yes and no. I found the ground wire coming off the connector plug and grounded it to the frame. The light stayed on for about two or three days after that and then I haven't seen it since. Don't actually know if that fixed it or if it's just went out. Either way it's gone.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this post! I followed the ground route and wal lah fixed as well!!
 
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