Car Detailing and Show & Shine Prep sponsored by Autogeek.Car Audio & Electronics sponsored by Bavsound When the coolant warning light is on in your car, it typically indicates that the engines coolant level is low or there may be an issue with the cooling system.Tire & Wheel Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack.Suspension Tech and Handling sponsored by.Professional Motorsports sponsored by Bimmerworld.Track, Auto-X & Drag Racing sponsored by.General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines.Quick Navigation 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36) Go Top And then when the temperature drops at the beginning of winter a few things happen that could make the coolant level go from just above the sensor mark to just below: 1) Some air was trapped in the heater core and you use the heater for the first time in months releasing this air and/or 2) at lower temperatures both the liquid and any air in the system contract, i.e. So over a long time the level of liquid gradually decreases. Although the system has an expansion tank, in many old cars over time some coolant mix is lost, including to evaporation. In some cases, it can also be a stuck thermostat causing the engine not to heat up properly. It can also be caused by bad wiring between the cluster and the sensor. The most common reason why your car’s temperature gauge stays on cold is a faulty coolant temperature sensor. If I didnt enjoy driving the thing so much I would be bitchy about it.It is probably a combo of both. 7 Reasons Why Your Car Temperature Gauge Stays on Cold. So does this have to do with low outside temps, or the fact that we are a few inches down on anti-freeze, or a combo of both? Seems to be always something. Checked under the hood and the coolant level is maybe two inches below the cold line. Shut the car off and got the message again. Since levels looked fine a week ago, and that I drove home last nite and the temp guage was normal, and I didnt have a pool of anti freeze under the car, I figured it was just another bullshit memo and drove to work. Ive never heard of the high coolant temperature light coming on in a Toyota Hybrid Ive had 6 Prius in nearly 14 years and covered over 260,000 miles.Also, I managed a fleet of over 200 Prius for a while. Started the car and got the low coolant level message on the OBC. then, on the dash, seeing a green light turn on, reminding me that it was "COLD".Woke up this morning to find the first snow of the season on the ground. I recall getting into a '61 Oldsmobile when it was 25 below zero, shivering on the vinyl seat that was as hard as a brick -and cold!- sitting there, freezing, turning the key to hear the starter slowly grinding away on the monstrous 391 cubic inch V-8 trying to get it to start. Only in America: in the early 60s, "idiot lights" became quite the fashion. If you're getting a "LOW COOLANT" light when starting, either it really is a bit low, or as Dennis mentioned you may really have a flaky sensor in the overflow tank. Ambient temps recently got colder and my coolant light starting flashing. So yes, it's somewhat akin to -and indicative of- "cold" and "hot" on other vehicles, but is strictly a volume situation. As it expands, coolant will flow into the reservoir, then be drawn back into the engine as it cools off and its volume is reduced. Ideally, it should never fall below the "MIN" mark nor ever rise above the "MAX" mark on the reservoir, but it WILL rise and fall as its temp rises and falls. If you have gone through all the other steps to checking how to get low coolant light off or after attempting a fix your low coolant light comes on and off intermittently, it may be time to take your vehicle to a mechanic. At the risk of sounding too much like a know-it-all teacher (yeah, I was one, sorry).Īs far as I know, all cars these days (and most, since the 1960s) have coolant overflow reservoirs, as coolant will expand when it's heated up as the engine runs.
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