cooling system refill problem.....

plum_sc2 · 10-23-2004, 09:48 PM

........drained the rad and block, about 6 qts came out.....did a flush with the prestone stull but didn't seem to take the 7 qt capacity....... and the high coolant temp ligh now flashes...........did a second flush and same results...................

my question is.........is there a trick to making sure the system is full?

Tiger · 10-23-2004, 11:04 PM

Did you get the air out of the system? Wolfman has some nice instructions here for flushing and filling. Is this what you did?

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...threadid=38845

plum_sc2 · 10-23-2004, 11:38 PM

third time is a charm.......all 7 qts went in

only problem now is the hi coolant temp light still blinks

LATEMODELRACING · 10-24-2004, 08:39 PM

is the car overheating??

plum_sc2 · 10-24-2004, 08:48 PM

no................. and i started it this morning and no light

soooooooo we'll drive it to work monday and see what happens

lukecp · 10-24-2004, 09:27 PM

My light has been on since i bought my car. When i bought it the car had a bad radiator and was low on coolant. The dealer replaced the radiator for free, light still blinked even though coolant was full. The light is still on, and the car is full of coolant and dosen't over heat. I'm contemplating pulling the clear cover over the guages and putting a piece of electrical tape over it so i don't have to look at it anymore.

amazinghl · 10-24-2004, 11:22 PM

Check your tranny fluid.

madpogue · 10-25-2004, 11:06 AM

Luke, did you (or the dealer when they replaced the rad) pull the PCM fuses for a few seconds? Might be worth a try. Wolfman could obviously answer this more intelligently, but I'd bet that once that hi-temp light is "set", it doesn't reset simply by fixing the coolant sitch.

lukecp · 10-25-2004, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by madpogue
Luke, did you (or the dealer when they replaced the rad) pull the PCM fuses for a few seconds? Might be worth a try. Wolfman could obviously answer this more intelligently, but I'd bet that once that hi-temp light is "set", it doesn't reset simply by fixing the coolant sitch.

Humm.....i don't know. The repair was done at an independent shop (got the car from a run-of-the-mill used dealer), and my parents picked it up for me so i didn't get a chance to talk to the mechanic.

So....just remove the fusebox cover, and pull the PCM fuse for maybe 30 seconds? Should i do it with the ignition on? I've also heard of removing the negative battery cable to reset the computer. Would be nice to get rid of that pesky light.

eljefino · 10-26-2004, 06:38 AM

Should be an electrical connector on the surge tank (thing with "radiator" cap) that runs the "low coolant" light. Unplugging this should turn off the light.

The floats for low coolant level get sticky and either need extra coolant above the "full" line, cleaning, or disabling... depending on your ambition and tolerance for having less warning info.

plum_sc2 · 10-28-2004, 11:17 PM

hmmmmmmmmmm......... i'm still getting the light and the resivoir has needed filling twice now.........

sierrap615 · 10-28-2004, 11:53 PM

if it blinks you may need a new ECT

wolfman · 10-29-2004, 03:33 AM

IF the light FLASHES, (at a regular on/off/on/off pace) it is an indicator that the PCM is getting NO DATA from either the ECTS, TTS (automatics only) or a combination of very different readings from both. Odds are good this is a ECTS or connector issue or a TSS (Transaxle temperature sensor) issue. IF it is NOT a "regular" pulsing flash, the coolant level sensor in the resevoir tank may just be gunked up. DO NOT "disable it" it is EASY and FREE usually to fix. Just drain enough coolant out to make the tank run dry, remove the tank and rince it out with a strong soap and water or Castrol Super Clean and water solution followed by several clean water rinces. That is all that is usually needed to free up the stuck float in the tank that causes this problem basicaly permanently.

plum_sc2 · 10-31-2004, 08:50 PM

when it flashes, the coolant is low...........but i don't leave a puddle

maybe it's just cause its halloween??!!

Chris101 · 10-31-2004, 09:24 PM

Is your head gasket cracked? Does the exaust smell kinda sweet?

plum_sc2 · 10-31-2004, 09:29 PM

not that i am aware of, wouldn't i be getting excessive smoke out the tailpipe? or a fluid drip from the tailpipe?

i gotta change the oil this week, i'll run a blacklight over the old oil for traces of coolant..............

sierrap615 · 11-01-2004, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by plum_sc2
when it flashes, the coolant is low...........but i don't leave a puddle

maybe it's just cause its halloween??!!

sorry but no. if its steady, then the coolent is low(trust me, i had two coolent leaks in three weeks)

MBman · 11-01-2004, 10:08 AM

Sounds like a head gasket to me. Does your oil cap have "froth" on the underside?
Also make sure your radiator cap is making good seal.
I had a leak in my radiator one time (not on my saturn) that leaked and blew directly onto the exhaust, never had signs of a puddle.
Good luck.

plum_sc2 · 11-01-2004, 10:26 AM

no froth on the oil cap, NO cap on the radiator........... you must be talking about the resevoir cap, seal look good and i cleaned that tank out when i flushed the system.............

gonna take a GOOD look around when i do the oil change............

plum_sc2 · 11-01-2004, 10:07 PM

resevoir has needed filling AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

10-23-2004, 09:48 PM	#1
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	cooling system refill problem..... ........drained the rad and block, about 6 qts came out.....did a flush with the prestone stull but didn't seem to take the 7 qt capacity....... and the high coolant temp ligh now flashes...........did a second flush and same results................... my question is.........is there a trick to making sure the system is full? ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

10-23-2004, 11:04 PM	#2
Tiger Master Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,471 Tiger's Photos 1999 SL2	Did you get the air out of the system? Wolfman has some nice instructions here for flushing and filling. Is this what you did? http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...threadid=38845 ... Truth alone triumphs, not untruth.

10-23-2004, 11:38 PM	#3
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	third time is a charm.......all 7 qts went in only problem now is the hi coolant temp light still blinks ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

10-24-2004, 08:48 PM	#5
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	no................. and i started it this morning and no light soooooooo we'll drive it to work monday and see what happens ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

10-24-2004, 09:27 PM	#6
lukecp Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 221 lukecp's Photos 1997	My light has been on since i bought my car. When i bought it the car had a bad radiator and was low on coolant. The dealer replaced the radiator for free, light still blinked even though coolant was full. The light is still on, and the car is full of coolant and dosen't over heat. I'm contemplating pulling the clear cover over the guages and putting a piece of electrical tape over it so i don't have to look at it anymore. ... 2000 Subaru Forester L, 5MT FORMER: 1997 SL, 5MT

10-24-2004, 08:39 PM	#4
LATEMODELRACING Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: BUFFALO Posts: 410	is the car overheating??

10-24-2004, 11:22 PM	#7
amazinghl Master Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,990	Check your tranny fluid. ... 85 GLH 367whp. http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2261629#post2261629 00 Insight 72mpg

10-25-2004, 11:06 AM	#8
madpogue Super Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Madison, WI USA Posts: 25,714 madpogue's Photos 1996 SW2	Luke, did you (or the dealer when they replaced the rad) pull the PCM fuses for a few seconds? Might be worth a try. Wolfman could obviously answer this more intelligently, but I'd bet that once that hi-temp light is "set", it doesn't reset simply by fixing the coolant sitch.

10-26-2004, 06:38 AM	#10
eljefino Master Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Standish Maine Posts: 5,788 eljefino's Photos 1995 SW1 2000 SL1	Should be an electrical connector on the surge tank (thing with "radiator" cap) that runs the "low coolant" light. Unplugging this should turn off the light. The floats for low coolant level get sticky and either need extra coolant above the "full" line, cleaning, or disabling... depending on your ambition and tolerance for having less warning info.

10-28-2004, 11:17 PM	#11
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	hmmmmmmmmmm......... i'm still getting the light and the resivoir has needed filling twice now......... ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

10-28-2004, 11:53 PM	#12
sierrap615 Master Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Downers Grove, Illinois Posts: 2,538 sierrap615's Photos	if it blinks you may need a new ECT ... Formerly - Saturn of Downers Grove Parts Department Current - Castle Chevy in Villa Park Parts Department EPA 608 Certification EPA 609 Certification

10-29-2004, 03:33 AM	#13
wolfman Super Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 12,066 wolfman's Photos	IF the light FLASHES, (at a regular on/off/on/off pace) it is an indicator that the PCM is getting NO DATA from either the ECTS, TTS (automatics only) or a combination of very different readings from both. Odds are good this is a ECTS or connector issue or a TSS (Transaxle temperature sensor) issue. IF it is NOT a "regular" pulsing flash, the coolant level sensor in the resevoir tank may just be gunked up. DO NOT "disable it" it is EASY and FREE usually to fix. Just drain enough coolant out to make the tank run dry, remove the tank and rince it out with a strong soap and water or Castrol Super Clean and water solution followed by several clean water rinces. That is all that is usually needed to free up the stuck float in the tank that causes this problem basicaly permanently. ... Old Saturns never die, people KILL them, so check your damn oil! "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein

10-31-2004, 08:50 PM	#14
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	when it flashes, the coolant is low...........but i don't leave a puddle maybe it's just cause its halloween??!! ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

10-31-2004, 09:24 PM	#15
Chris101 Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Stuyvesant Falls, NY Posts: 156 1995 SL1	Is your head gasket cracked? Does the exaust smell kinda sweet?

10-31-2004, 09:29 PM	#16
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	not that i am aware of, wouldn't i be getting excessive smoke out the tailpipe? or a fluid drip from the tailpipe? i gotta change the oil this week, i'll run a blacklight over the old oil for traces of coolant.............. ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

11-01-2004, 10:08 AM	#18
MBman Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 115 MBman's Photos	Sounds like a head gasket to me. Does your oil cap have "froth" on the underside? Also make sure your radiator cap is making good seal. I had a leak in my radiator one time (not on my saturn) that leaked and blew directly onto the exhaust, never had signs of a puddle. Good luck.

11-01-2004, 10:26 AM	#19
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	no froth on the oil cap, NO cap on the radiator........... you must be talking about the resevoir cap, seal look good and i cleaned that tank out when i flushed the system............. gonna take a GOOD look around when i do the oil change............ ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

11-01-2004, 10:07 PM	#20
plum_sc2 Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 100 1993 SC2 2003 VUE 3.0L	resevoir has needed filling AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! ... 1993 SC2 - 168,000 miles 2003 Vue - 104,000 miles

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