Thread: Low Coolant Light - NOT COOL!

Second time this week I am getting the low coolant light (arrow pointing down in the coolant symbol) and now I am panicking. I checked oil, regular oil colour (unless I have turned colour blind now, but with my luck my problems don't end with my GP), coolant reserve is at the HOT mark after I turn her off and at COLD when I come back to the car and hour later.

PS: Basically I made this thread so you guys can reassure me that I don't have a leaky LIM(yet, because it is inevitable). Please tell me what I want to hear but don't protect me from the truth!

coolant level sensor is dirty.

you should do a coolant flush and replace the coolant.

Also good idea to do a pressure test, but if you never have to add any, its not leaking.

Originally Posted by matt5112

coolant level sensor is dirty.

you should do a coolant flush and replace the coolant.

Also good idea to do a pressure test, but if you never have to add any, its not leaking.

matt, call me an uber n00b but how do I flush the coolant,(should I on my own driveway?) and how to conduct a pressure test. I only know of the way where I drive it to a shop and say "take my money".

You can skip the test because your coolant levels aren't getting mysteriously lower.

Flush is drain system, fill with water and some additive that says rad flush or rad super clean on it, then run for a couple days then drain and fill back up with coolant.

Or drain and use rad flush tee that installs in heater hose. I suggest buying a foot of 5/8ths heater hose so you dont have to cut your factory lines. Those hookup to the garden hose and will push all of the coolant out and leave behind water.

You'd typically fill it back up with full strength coolant then check with a coolant strength tester to make sure you have the right mixture. at least 50% coolant, but no more than 60 or 70%.

Easier method would be pay shop. They'll pressure flush the system with new coolant.

matt, I have a seemingly unrelated issue but since you mentioned "heater core" i figured that might be it. I have gotten sloshing sounds every now and then from behind the dash, everyone here screamed "air in heater core". Could this be related?

And god bless you for typing all that but I will take it to the shop.

BUT Nixon has just confirmed with me that the substance known as DEXCOOL smells like dirty gym socks....the EXACT smell that permeates throught my interior fan....PLUS I hear sloshing...