Low Coolant

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

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17

Northern VA / VT

Dec 3, 2004

#1

• Dec 3, 2004

• #1

This morning, the "Low Coolant" light came up in my car so I popped the hood. Well when I get under there it turns out the coolant is full. What's wrong, defective sensor? coolant?

 

W

wytstang

Mustang Master

Mar 14, 2004

4,988

4

78

Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(

Dec 3, 2004

#2

• Dec 3, 2004

• #2

Check the overflow tank when mine is low the light comes on.

 

'94ChickStang

Member

Sep 27, 2004

301

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17

northern ca

Dec 3, 2004

#3

• Dec 3, 2004

• #3

funny enough, Ford decided our coolant sensors belong in the overflow tank rather than screwing or popping directly into the tanks of the radiator....

 

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

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17

Northern VA / VT

Dec 3, 2004

#4

• Dec 3, 2004

• #4

I knew something was fishy, thanks for the help, I'll check the overflow tank.

 

Venom351R

Founding Member

Apr 27, 2002

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MAINE

Dec 3, 2004

#5

• Dec 3, 2004

• #5

wytstang said:

Check the overflow tank when mine is low the light comes on.

Click to expand...

same w/ mine, when my light has come on my radiator has been full but my overflow tank need some H2O

 

nmcgrawj

Advanced Member

Sep 28, 2003

3,651

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68

Indianapolis, IN

Dec 3, 2004

#6

• Dec 3, 2004

• #6

Striped5.0 said:

same w/ mine, when my light has come on my radiator has been full but my overflow tank need some H2O

Click to expand...

I think its better being in the overflow bottle....that alerts you earlier that its low. If it was in the radiator then it would be too late. Its better to be too early and have time to do something about it rather than being too late

 

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

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Northern VA / VT

Dec 3, 2004

#7

• Dec 3, 2004

• #7

I agree

 

'94ChickStang

Member

Sep 27, 2004

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northern ca

Dec 3, 2004

#8

• Dec 3, 2004

• #8

nmcgrawj said:

I think its better being in the overflow bottle....that alerts you earlier that its low. If it was in the radiator then it would be too late. Its better to be too early and have time to do something about it rather than being too late

Click to expand...

However, this is an oddball setup. Completely understand where you're coming from, but if you have a clog in your engine block or radiator, you may have coolant in your overflow right up to the point the head gasket takes a shi**er ...

 

mustang95gt

New Member

May 7, 2004

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1

Dec 3, 2004

#9

• Dec 3, 2004

• #9

Hey, Just wanted to let you know I had the same problem. You have to put off the black cap off that has the coolant sensors. The coolant sensors looks like a black hose going down from the cap. Clean the two prongs on the end of the coolant sensors with some sand paper and you well be ready to put it back together.

 

mustang95gt

New Member

May 7, 2004

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Dec 3, 2004

#10

• Dec 3, 2004

• #10

Sorry, I was typing to fast.
You have to PULL off the black cap off that has the coolant sensors.

 

95WhiteVenom

Founding Member

Oct 27, 2002

624

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Alabama

Dec 3, 2004

#11

• Dec 3, 2004

• #11

yea clean off those prongs it worked for me and it dont even take 5 minutes to do correctly. Its worth it to get rid of that annoying light.

 

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

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Northern VA / VT

Dec 3, 2004

#12

• Dec 3, 2004

• #12

You know whats wierd, I didn't do anything and the light is gone, lol.

 

mustang95gt

New Member

May 7, 2004

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Dec 3, 2004

#13

• Dec 3, 2004

• #13

My light use to come on and off. I found out that if I ran the car and got the coolant or if it was hot out the light would stay off. what till you start up the car when it has not been running. What ever you do if the light comes on dont take the car to be fixed for it till you try cleaning the prongs off. Ford wanted me to buy a new one and have them put it on at $130. I dont think so.....lol

 

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

465

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17

Northern VA / VT

Dec 3, 2004

#14

• Dec 3, 2004

• #14

Yeah, Ford can be real jews.

 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my

15 Year Member

May 7, 2002

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Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"

Dec 3, 2004

#15

• Dec 3, 2004

• #15

OK GUYS, READ THIS CAREFULLY!!!!!

Every year, when the weather gets cold, this happens. (this is where my age/experience comes in over my "mechanical" knowledge )

There are numerous posts where people say their low coolant lights come on, and the rad. is full. This is normal (or should I say "a regular occurance) in our cars in cold weather. Coolant is more prone to leak out with the shrinking of the seals etc. You just have to fill the reservoir so that the sensor detects the fluid.

Wait and see...there will be MORE posts like this this winter by guys who didnt read this thread.

RC

 

WhiteStallionGT

Member

Aug 19, 2004

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Northern VA / VT

Dec 3, 2004

#16

• Dec 3, 2004

• #16

It was cold outside maybe in the 30s but my car was in the garage which is insulated. When I turned it on in the garage, that's when the light turned on.

 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter

Aug 26, 2003

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Tucson, AZ

Dec 3, 2004

#17

• Dec 3, 2004

• #17

If the current cannot pass between the two prongs at the end of the black tube, the light will come on. If they have calcium buildup, you need to remove it.

If for some reason you needed to fill the overflow bottle, you need to turn the car off, and back on again to reset the light.
Scott

 

MisterCMK

20+ Year Stangneter

Oct 2, 2004

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Fargo, ND

Dec 4, 2004

#18

• Dec 4, 2004

• #18

Pull off your overflow tank when you clean the sensor, and clean it out. I had the same problem, and after I cleaned out the sludge in the overflow tank, and the deposits on the end of the sensor, I havn't have a problem since then.

 

mustang95gt

New Member

May 7, 2004

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Dec 4, 2004

#19

• Dec 4, 2004

• #19

Cleaning the overflow bottle would be good to clean out. My car was not leaking any coolant at all. Also my light would come on on a cool night. Just clean the two prongs on the sensor and you will be good to go. This is not a mechanical problem at all this is a electronic issue with just a calcium buildup as noted by mo_dingo.

 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my

15 Year Member

May 7, 2002

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Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"

Dec 4, 2004

#20

• Dec 4, 2004

• #20

mustang95gt said:

Cleaning the overflow bottle would be good to clean out. My car was not leaking any coolant at all. Also my light would come on on a cool night. Just clean the two prongs on the sensor and you will be good to go. This is not a mechanical problem at all this is a electronic issue with just a calcium buildup as noted by mo_dingo.

Click to expand...

Some cooland DOES come out, you just cant see it because it is so minute.

How do I know? Because when it happens to me, I just ADD water, I dont clean anything, it the light goes off. When it happens weeks later, the level in the bottle is lower than before.

RC