linderpat

While leaving the parking garage after work yesterday, the central warning light (the "I" light on the dash and on the instrument cluster) came on, non-blinking, and the coolant warning light came on in the cluster. I pushed the cancel button, the warning lights went out, and I drove slowly to the nearest place to buy coolant, checking the temp guage the whole way. No warning lights ever came back on, and the guage never went higher than the top of the lower quadrant (typical for my car). The coolant level in the expansion tank was also fine, and there were no indications of coolant leaks anywhere. I also checked the "V" belts, and all are in place (relatively new too - this spring), and appear to be tensioned correctly, at least to the "feel". I then took the car for a spirited drive, and no further warnings appeared. Any thoughts? I'm stumped, and plan to drive it to Montana from Pittsburgh in a month, so I am worried.

Mike Frye

Hey Ed,

If the level was fine, it may be a sender or wiring issue. Have you done any work in the area of the reservoir?

As long as your temp gauge is working OK and you know you have no leaks and plenty of coolant, I wouldn't worry about it, but you may need to pull the tank and replace the sender/meter the wiring and find the problem.

M. Requin

Does the coolant pressure switch activate the same warning light? I'm wondering because it appears that the PO replaced the hose its fitted to in my car, but didn't install the switch in the hose - it's just held on with a cable tie. I had assumed the PO was just being lazy (just like yours truly) but now I wonder if it was acting up.

linderpat

According to the manual, it could be a v-belt too. Everything felt fine in there though. Also, my rad fan is working fine too. I drove it to work this morning without incident. I hate it when these little glitches occur, then you don't know for sure what it is, and confidence sags in the car

papatuki

That happened to my 84 928S about a month ago. Same sort of thing. It happened a 2nd and 3rd time. Then fluid on floor.
Now I'm trying to change my WB/TB, and I'm gettin nervioso.

a lousy voice from the darkness under my car.

linderpat

hmmm. My water pump was just replaced this past spring, and the seals and gaskets at the water bridge were all replaced too. The hoses are all fine and the car is dry underneath. Wonder why yours did what it did? Why would there have been a warning light a few times with no leak, then suddenly a big leak?

papatuki

I wish I knew. But there are alot of things about this car that I cant figure out. I did replace the A/C compressor and hoses and etc. So the belts were loosened then. The warning light came on the first time shortly after the job. I assumed it was just low fluid charge. Over the next 100mi. or so for the others. I don't get to drive him much. I'm concerned it may be a result of poor mechanical work.

But in your case, it's hard to fix something that wont brake.

dr bob

"... as I left the parking garage...) Steep driveway? Cold engine? Level is lowest when the engine is cold, and the sometimes-steep ramps between leves in parking garages may be just enough to trigger the low-coolant light. As others mention, there's a pressure switch in the loop, located just forward of the reservoir under the lip of the fender.

The last time I got that dash alarm, it was followed fairly quickly by a spray of coolant, some steam, and a temp gauge racing towards high. Tripped the ignition, coasted to the side, found the Big Hose had come loose from the top radiator nozzle. bit of tape made the clamp a little tighter, a few gallons of distilled water from a nearby market, and it went home for cleaning and a more substantial fix. And coolant.

Mongo

The terminals on my sender completely disintegrated. No coolant light until I replace the thing. No worries either as I religiously check both coolant, oil and brake fluid all the time once a week.

linderpat

Thanks Dr Bob - that's what I'm thinking - cold engine, car parked at an angle in the parking garage all day. It hasn't happened before tho, and when I drive in, that is where I normally park. Probably just the way it happened this day.

Tom928

Just and FYI - I reseated the connectors to the central warning system (under the left foot pedal housing) and several warning lights (brake pad and tail lamp specically) stopped coming on.