1996 Pontiac Grand Am SE coolant light?

Question

My "low coolant" light came on yesterday. I tried to add antifreeze but had a problem -- the reservoir jug wouldn't take it.

The jug may have been full when I started the process -- it's a cloudy plastic, and dirty on the outside so it's hard to see in, and it's angled in such a way that you can't see when you remove the cap. (Lovely design.) I don't know if the antifreeze won't go down because of an air bubble or some other obstruction, or because it's already full. The light is still on, and I haven't noticed any puddles or leaks, though the antifreeze level seems to have gone down ever so slightly over night. (my imagination?)

Also, the fan doesn't seem to be running. When I turn the heat or AC on w/ the fan on high nothing happens.

Could the coolant light be on because the fan is inoperable, or are they two separate problems? Any ideas on what's going on? I'm going to take it to a mechanic Monday morning, but I'd like to be able to talk intelligently so I don't get swindl

CORRECTION: I typed that wrong. The AC and heat don't work when the fan is on at ANY speed, not just on the highest speed. No air ever blows through the vents.

Answer 1

i own a repair shop,,and you have 2 separate problems with it the first one may just be a sensor for the coolant it mounts in the coolant tank on it,,the second problem ,,may be a bad relay on it causing the fan not to work properly on it,the two problems although they seem to be together are different,,the fan speed in side the car is controlled by the switch which has a voltage limiter on it,,this may be bad ,this will cause it not to run on high speed,good luck i hope this help,s.

Answer 2

The blower fan sounds like it might either be a bad fan motor or a blown fuse. You might try turning on the A/C to see if the A/C compressor engages, you'll be able to hear it click if it does. If the A/C compressor doesn't engage, check the heater-A/C fuse. If the fuse is good, it's probably the motor, but could also be wiring or a bad A/C control head.

The coolant leak may just be a small air pocket in the coolant sensor, common problem if the coolant got low and was topped off. Try smacking the top of the overflow bottle firmly with your fist. If the light doesn't go out, try filling the jug almost to the top and doing it again. If the light still doesn't go out, just replace the overflow jug, it comes with a new sensor and you'll be able to see the coolant level again..

As for the possibility of a coolant leak, there were two engine options for the Grand Am. If you have a six cylinder engine, you probably need an intake gasket. They crack and leak coolant into the oil. Sometimes when it gets bad the oil gets a brown "milkshake" look and collects on the underside of the oil cap. Pretty easy to check, just take the oil cap off and look. Water pumps sometimes leak on the six cylinder, but it should be leaving a puddle.

If it's a four cylinder engine, your water pump is a good candidate, although it should've left a little puddle under the right side of the car. Not too many head gasket problems on the later DOHC four cylinder engines, but it's always a possibility.

It also could be a leaking heater core, check the passenger floor in front under the glovebox, to see if it's wet and slimy.

Answer 3

1996 Pontiac Grand Am Se

Answer 4

These coolant lights are a common problem with this car. There is a sensor in the bottom of the reservoir that fails all the time. No it is not related to A/C. The fan switch may have to be replaced on that one.

Answer 5

heres the answer-90% sure you have a blown head gasket-i have a 99 grand am with the same problem-your light coming on because theres no coolant in the line-this is also why your fan does not turn on-theres a sensor in the coolant line that tells your car when its hot and makes it turn on the fan-if theres no hot water in the hose it will not tell the car to turn on the fan because no hot liquid hits the sensor because its not in the line-basically your sensor is tellin your car that its running cool and no need for the fan to come on-same thing with your temperature gauge-if theres no hot fluid by ther sensor it will read like when you first start the car-completely cold-your heater dont work because once again theres no fluid in the lines-a heaters heat comes from hot coolant running through a heater core in your car with a fan on it-thats how you have a heater-so once again no fluid=no heat-so if ya take it to a shop have them check the heads and head gaskets-also quit wasting antifreeze because honestly its just goin strait to your oil pan-check your oil its probably overfull and runny as hell-hope this helps ya out

Answer 6

The coolant level sensor is probably stuck like mine was. Tap on the resevoir where the wire connector attaches and the light might go out. Otherwise, the sensor is faulty and needs replaced.

Answer 7

When my 1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE did this, after all of the diagnosing was done, and problems fixed...it ended up being a cracked head that was the problem all along.

I hope that's not the case with you, but it's a big problem in this car, from what I learned back then.

Answer 8

could be 2 seperate related problems. Its good to task it to a mechanic and check it out
cracked upper intake manifolds are a common problem and they will leak coolant inside the engine and intermix with the oil letting you believe you blew a head gasket.
Check your oil and see if it looks normal or like a chocolate milkshake. If it looks like a chocolate milkshake, tow your car to your mechanic.