Coolant light stays on
Asked by MATT Nov 11, 2019 at 06:19 PM about the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Car is 2002 Sunfire. This is time of year driving conditions are ideal in Southwest deserts. Yet after hot summer driving, now the light stays on. I have changed reservoir cap OEM 15 PSI, fluid level is topped off properly. I disconnected the coolant temperature sensor, yet light stays on. The water pump was replaced about 18 months ago. Car can be cold or hot, yet light goes on regardless. Any suggestions appreciated.
6 Answers
lincolnscott49 answered 5 years ago
replace the temperature sending unit
I'm assuming you're talking about the "low coolant" light. Unplug the coolant level sensor. It's on the plastic coolant recovery tank. If the light goes off, the sensor is bad. Replace it. Hope that helps! Jim
I already tried disconnecting sensor. The light stays on so I believe it is not sensor.
Not the coolant temperature sensor, the coolant level sensor. They're two different things. The coolant level sensor is in the plastic coolant recovery tank, not the engine. Now if you unplugged the correct sensor and the light remains on you have a short in the wiring going to the coolant level sensor or the instrument cluster is bad. Hope that helps! Jim
Thank you! The light went off when disconnected. Expect sensor to come in tomorrow to replace.
Awesome! Very glad to hear that!! Thanks for letting us know! With the new sensor the light may come back on for a few days then go out like it's supposed to. This is normal. Now would be a good time to remove and clean the coolant recovery tank too, if you haven't done so already. You're welcome. Glad to help! Jim