this is on a 97 Buick Century. the temp gauge goes up and down somewhat, never really that much over 1/2 way. was told it could be a gasket or header or something severe. any chance its the sensor. i put almost a gallon in the reservoir, not sure what else.
2007-09-03 10:20:39 · 8 answers · asked by Datsyukian_Style 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Well, if you're somewhat low on coolant, the coolant in there will heat up more and cool down more noticably when the fan kicks on.
If you had to add a GALLON, the coolant isnt burning off, its going somewhere, unless the last time you check it was well over a year ago. There's a leak in the radiator, the hoses, the radiator lines, or in a head gasket. Check your motor oil, if it's white and bubbly, get this fixed now or your engine will seize.
If its leaking elsewhere, you may or may not notice it.
If your coolant system requires Dexcool (and I think that model of car does) and you put in the regular green fluid, from what I've seen, that light comes on and stays on after that happens, until you flush the system and replace the sensor.
2007-09-03 10:28:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could be a head gasket, which is severe, but if it's leaking (if you put almost a gallon in the reservoir, its leaking) it's probably something simple like a hose or a radiator. Any good mechanic can pressure test your cooling system and find the leak in very little time. If you feel a mechanic is messing with you, get a second opinion. It never hurts. If you let the leak go and the car overheats, you can cause a head gasket to leak, or worse. Fix it soon-trust me, its cheaper this way.
2007-09-03 10:32:19 · answer #2 · answered by Chris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The temp guage seems to stay about half way. I have had quite a few G.M. cars like that. My 1995 olds is the same way. If you do not fill the resavoir all the way up, it will not leak coolant if thre in no gaskets leaking . sometimes changing the radiator cap fixes the problem.
2007-09-03 10:41:54 · answer #3 · answered by frankm1412@yahoo.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are not losing coolant over time, then it isn't the coolant level. Do you mean LOW coolant or just coolant light??? Most of the time, coolant light means coolant temperature too high.
It could be that your coolant SENSOR is failing. There's not many ways to test this. Some site says to measure the voltage while submersed in hot water. In my experience, at $15 on my Audi it was just cheaper to replace.
Good Luck.
2007-09-03 10:29:04 · answer #4 · answered by Lover not a Fighter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are actually not any leaks i could propose having the stress cap examined. If this is undesirable you should be pumping severe coolant into the overflow catchment the place this is evaporating over the years.
2016-11-14 02:37:44 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's an article on the coolant sensor problem with GM vehicles
http://free-auto-repair-advice.blogspot.com/search/label/coolant%20sensor
Rick
I'm a retired ASE Master/L-1 Technician. I still keep current with the latest automotive technology. Visit my blog for cool articles and TSB's: http://free-auto-repair-advice.blogspot.com
2007-09-03 10:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
water pump, intake, bad or leaky hose....either way don't screw around. when my low coolant light came on it was a leaky water pump...but the intake was bad as well (really common in my car, 98 Malibu) a bad sensor won't make you lose coolant, it will only make the light come on for no reason or not come on at all when you do get low.
2007-09-04 02:37:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do a pressure test it will show where the leak is>?cooling system>
2007-09-03 10:36:28 · answer #8 · answered by 45 auto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋