How would i do my own coolant flush?

Question

i have a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT and the low coolant light keeps coming on and off. i've had the car a year and dont know when the last time the coolant has been flushed. i want to do it myself so i dont have to pay $100. im hoping that will make the light stop coming on and off. how would i do it and where would i dispose of it when i was done?? thanks..

Answer 1

You can go to your local Canadian Tire, maybe Walmart or auto parts store and they sell kits with instructions.

All you need is the $14 kit, antifreeze and a garden hose.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It might not need new coolant if a light is coming on. Most common is the Temp sensor which could be on the water pump, the block, the radiator or the overflow tank. Not really sure where it is located on a grand prix. Before flushing see if you add some water to the system and see if it goes out. if it goes out you might have a blown gasket (worst case) or it just evaporated over time. If it goes out hen flush the system out and replace with new coolant. replace with same color coolant, yellow with yellow, orange with orange and so on.
What color is your coolant? Does it look like new or is it rusted out. If it is discolored then replace it.
You can get a kit to flush the system at any auto parts store. as for where to dispose of the old coolant, depends where you live and what the ordinances are on environment.
Also would recommend buying a Chilton repair manual (they can be expensive). If it is the sensor it will tell you exactly how to replace it along with alot of other info you might not ever want to know. they are very complete manuals for the non-mechanicaly inclined.

Answer 3

on that new of a car, i don't think you need a coolant flush on it right now,,and flushing it,,is not going to make the light go off on it,,it may have a bad coolant sensor on it,,i own a repair shop,,in Tennessee,,and i do this all the time for a living,,there is a sensor located in the coolant tank,,or on the radiator,,that goes bad,,and this is what makes the light come on,,,,you don't need to worry about a flush right now,,that's not what is making the light come on,,you need to have this little sensor replaced on it,,and this will fix the problem,,and its a cheap part to buy also,,good luck with it,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 4

First you need to find out why the light is coming on. Is it really low on coolant? If so look for the leak. If it is a v6, the intake gaskets are bad to leak. Flushing the coolant will not help that, it will need to be fixed.

Answer 5

the safe way for a rookie first timer. Drain the radiator by disconnecting your lower radiator hose. Let it all drain into a pan or bucket. Put the hose back on when done and make sure the clamp is on there tight. fill up the radiator with a premixed antifreeze you know the half and half stuff. Also fill the over flow too. Drive it to the store and back and let it cool for 2 hours. Check your coolent level and add if needed.

Answer 6

take note on the coolent color too. there is the 'green' stuff and there is the 'orange' (dex-cool) stuff. use that same color when adding or flushing. (adding water to either is alright) bad things could gum up the engine block and radiator if you happen to mix those.

now if its dex-cool (orange) you dont flush that for 5 years, all depending on how it was taken care of.

But flushing wouldnt fix that light, just make sure its full of coolent and your cooling system might need to be bled as well.

Answer 7

More than likely, you have a malfunctioning coolant sensor. Coolant flush won't take care of it.

Answer 8

Don't bother unless you want to risk damage to the engine. You don't have to flush it unless it's contaminated, and then you have bigger problems to consider. Top it up if it's low, or have the faulty sensor replaced.