What is that dash light furthest to the right (98 GT)?

[topless98gt]

I know this is a newbie question, but over the past few days my right furthermost light has been coming on and going over. It is a 98 GT. I figured it was coolant, but didn't really do anything about it as it went off.

Today I was driving my car on the highway on my break from class, pulled off to get some Sonic and when I pulled into Sonic, my A/C just died and got hot. I noticed my thermostat gauge went almost all the way to hot, but was still within the normal range. I then turned the car off, ordered, got my food, turned it back on, went to Wal-Mart next door and got some ORANGE coolant (GM, but "compatible with newer model fords and chryslers"). I didn't know it was orange until I poured it after class. Anywho...so I got that, and put it in my trunk and went ahead and went to class, careful as I drove. My A/C started working great when I got on the highway. The thermostat gauge as well went back to the middle. After class I went out to my car and popped the hood and noticed the coolant was low so I added some. I filled it up, shut the hood, and put the leftovers back in the trunk. I got back in the car and started it up, and turned the A/C on...nothing but hot air. I sat there a second and let it warm up and it never got cold. I figured I'd just go ahead and go home, so I took off to the house and when I got going a little, so would the A/C. Then I came to a stop, the A/C would get warm again. As soon as I got on the highway everything was good and now I'm home posting this.

Was the only problem it being low on coolant, or could there be something else wrong? Thanks all in advance.

 

[tomustang]

it's the low coolant light, looks more like a trach can with an X.

you should look at the coolant crossover since you losing alot of fluid

 

[topless98gt]

Where's the coolant crossover at?

 

[DropTopPony]

any puddles of coolant under the car? what tom is saying is check your intake manifold for cracks around the thermostat housing etc...you could have cracked your plastic intake causing a coolant leak.

 

[tomustang]

or you can wait like i did and blow it up and watch a BIG buff of white smoke flow from the hood

 

[topless98gt]

any puddles of coolant under the car? what tom is saying is check your intake manifold for cracks around the thermostat housing etc...you could have cracked your plastic intake causing a coolant leak.

The intake was replaced at like 180,000 miles I think. All I know is that it's metal now. I didn't replace it, the previous owner did. **** him. He's one of those guys that makes you want to be racist. My odometer says 83,960. No, I didn't leave off the 1.

 

[ACSPONY]

I think the coolant crossover is on the front of the intake, coming out from the thermostat housing. Check for leaks elsewhere also. The intakes are prone to cracking on the 96-98s.
~A.C.

 

[blackink00]

hwo would the coolant make the ac run like crap. also haveing the orange coolant mixed with the green is a very bad idea. itlll start to sludge up and clog your radiator up.

 

[topless98gt]

hwo would the coolant make the ac run like crap. also haveing the orange coolant mixed with the green is a very bad idea. itlll start to sludge up and clog your radiator up.

Well, I imagine when the engine overheats, the AC stops cooling.

Also -- how can I drain the fluid out of the engine? And how do you know that it will sludge up and clog the radiator? Person experience?

 

[DropTopPony]

Well, I imagine when the engine overheats, the AC stops cooling.

Also -- how can I drain the fluid out of the engine? And how do you know that it will sludge up and clog the radiator? Person experience?

that orange stuff blows, in my blazer it would cake up around the radiator cap etc, figure out your problem then fluch your system of the stuff asap...

 

[GDawg]

First of all, if you mixed Orange with Green flush your coolant system as soon as possible (I mean RIGHT away) before you mess things up. Buy a coolant flush and put back in green. The drain is on the passenger side of the radiator at the bottom. It's a white plastic plug that you can unscrew till the coolant starts to drain. (It shouldn't come out completely, just open it enough for the coolant to drain.)

After that, monitor your levels and add as needed till it's back up to spec level. Most likely you have the infamous "intake coolant runner leak" that everyone with our cars eventually gets. There are tons of "Class Action" law suits against Ford for this piece of crap plastic intake with the plastic coolant runner. You can find a non-PI intake for a '98 that has an aluminum coolant runner. Mine went at 40K.

PM me if you want any other info from someone that's been there.

You can actually do the replacement yourself and save tons of money. Just ask, there are lots of us that had to do it. That's what these boards are for, to help you out.

Gary