lilhomieb07

Ok 4-5 days ago i topped my coolant off and level is at the line. Well everyday since that my coolant light pops on while im driving random times. Coolant level is still where it was when i filled it.

I did notice the coolant tank is bubbling alot and moving at idle. I took the cap off turn the car on and squeezed the hose to see if i could get some air out. Well today it seemed to be fine until i was goin up a hill and my temps were climbing to bout mid to upper 194-199 then DING DING, COOLANT light pops on, i get home and park and the cooalnt kept goin up, got to 201 b4 i turned it off.

I was told i either have a bad cap or bad HG. Im not putting out any white or non-normal exhaust and i cant smell coolant in the exhaust. Me personally thinks its a bad sensor or bad thermostat. Idk why all the sudden it comes on everyday, last time i topped off my coolant was when the light came on 3 months ago.

Malaclypse

iTrader: (1)

More than likely a bad coolant level sensor. 201 is NOT overheating. Anything up to 215 shouldn't worry you.

The engine starts overheating around 225 - 230.

lilhomieb07

I hope so man. If it were something worse like a HG or leak i would notice white smoke, car running shitty, coolant in my oil or smell from the cap or milkyness, coolant loss alot more than every 2-3 months.

I usually drive with defrost or defrost/feet on, level 1 or 2 and bout halfway in the red for heat. My cars seen low 200's be4 coulda got an air bubble when i poured coolant in the tank and got an air pocket trapped in the tank and caused the sensor to get stuck or created and pocket over the sensor.

I hope its ok, i got some leak stop for the cooling system in case there is a small leak somewhere and i plan on flushing the system soon anyways so mine as well order and new sensor that way if the light comes on again i can further diagnose.

tpete763

iTrader: (2)

Mine gets this high sometimes in the summer, when im sitting in traffic. The cooling mode comes on and runs the fans constant when this happens. I did notice this last summer that my air conditioner was acting funny, It would click on and then off after a few seconds when sitting in traffic. Does anyone think these may be related?

lilhomieb07

I unplugged the coolant temp sensor then started my car and no CEL or COOLANT light. I turned the car off then unplugged the level sensor and the fans kicked on without the car being on, wierd.

Oh btw today the COOLANT light came on 5 times within 20min. Level is still the same and goin up hills teh temp rises and when i got home it was 204 sitting at idle. I turned the A/C on bout 1 minute later the temp went down to 188. Idk if this is normal or not or if theres a serious air bubble in my cooling system somewhere.

koch1ar

217*< is overheating. if u cruise the highway amd get off and sit and idle for 15min, ur temps will go to 217* then drop to 198-202*

Malaclypse

iTrader: (1)

Normal... You just need a new sensor... which is part of the resevoir.

tpete763

iTrader: (2)

Mine drops to 189-190 when I'm cruising. only when I sit in traffic does it go up to 204-206. ONLY in the summer time does it get hotter than that, do you think my AC might have something to do with this, I notice that it doesn't turn on when it gets really hot out. It will click on and off

ben_gary

iTrader: (9)

any check engine light?

lilhomieb07

Thank you sir. Looks like ill be ordering an entire tank with the sensor in it. Good thing i planned on flushing my coolant anways itll make it easier to do the tank then.

insylem

So if it gets to 232 your good again and no longer overheating?

tpete763

iTrader: (2)

I think he means its beginning to overheat at these temperatures?

lilhomieb07

I think im due for a coolant flush....

I hit 219* today. granted i was in a drive thru, stop lights and city driving. I had fans off and on at times. Once i got on the freeway they went from 219 down to 186. So im thinkin 1 of 2 things...

1.) I have to much water in the coolant system so it heats up faster regardless if the fans are on OR

2.) I have an air pocket in the engine cooling system.

B4 today ive seen 205* then i let it sit for like 2min and then they decrease. But the only times ive seen over 200* are stop and go then idling for awhile or if im goin up a hill in gear where the engine is on a load with no air to the radiator. Im not leaking, losing or getting a code/CEL. I have 75k on the car and hasnt been flushed yet, it makes me nervous sometimes when i see over 200* but when they go down it makes me think it cant me the thermostat or headgasket.

Phil424

219 is normal for stop and go traffic. Once it hits 219 the cooling fan should come on and bring the temp down, or if you start moving fast the temp will drop. Your overreacting to nothing.

lilhomieb07

Yah buy ive never seen 219 ever in my car let alone low 200's even when it was 90-100 degrees outside. I ordered a new coolant tank for my sensor anyways so im gonna flush it out and maybe clean the t-stat off while im doin it. Coolant should not be bubbling at all in the surge tank means too much water or an air pocket stuck somewhere in there.

Phil424

Your wasting your money replacing the expansion tank. I can't believe no one pointed this out yet, you have air in the cooling system. You gottha run the car with the cap off the tank at about 2500 RPM until the cooling fans turn on. Once the fans turn on check the level and keep bleeding the system. You can't just open the system and add coolant without bleeding the system.

lilhomieb07

No you didnt read it fully.... I need a new sensor mine is bad thats why i ordered a new tank man. Along with this fact that i do probably have air in the system, but this way is easier since i need to flush it out anyways so mine as well add a new tank and drain all the coolant at once.

Phil424

How do you know that sensor is bad? You said the coolant was making bubbles. When this happens the level in the tank changes, and as soon as the coolant bubbles in such a way that it doesn't touch the sensor, you get the dummy light saying the level is low. I'd really have to be there in person trouble shooting this but I'm just trying to get you to try things you may have not tryed yet to save you the trouble. And BTW i just re-read your post and non of the temps that you mentioned are overheating temps. The bubbles your seeing in the tank is most likely trapped air. A coolant flush ain't really going to drop your temps. The reason you flush your coolant is to keep the system clean and keep the freezing level as low as possible. Just go out to your car and run it with the cap off the tank until the cooling fan turns on. I bet you you will see bubbles come up, and the level in the tank will drop. When this happens add more coolant until the rad stops sucking coolant in.