Low Engine Coolant Light

I have a 99SL2 that has recently started having the Low Coolant/Auto
Transaxle Fluid Temp warning light flash for the first few minutes of
operation after starting. Just does it now and then and stops after about
half a mile. The coolant level is normal. Do you think the sensor is going
bad ?

 

I just started having the same problem with a 94SL1... The resevoir seems
full, but the hoses seem quite soft.. Now I'm no mechanic, and I don't get
how I am supposed to add fluid to the rad when there is no rad cap!! Any
ideas?? What am I missing?? Thanks, M.

 

You fill the resevoir to the max line.

 

The reservoir is the plastic tank that has the words engine coolant
only on the cap. There are levels marked on the side of the tank.

Ken

 

I've had a similar problem with my 2000 Saturn wagon, the 'fill resevoir'
light
has been on, I took it to a garage, they tested it, said the coolant was
full, must be
a defective warning light. This car only has 40K on it, but I suppose
anything is possible.
I've noticed some coolant on the garage floor, though the overflow resevoir
stays full-- what else could be going on?

Thanks,

Terry M.

2000 Saturn L-Series Wagon (wife)
1968 Chevy Camaro 383 stroker (me)
1998 Chevy Malibu (daughter

 

I'm not sure how pressurized overflow bottles on S series Saturns work
and I forget off hand what the L series uses. Typically what happens is
when the engine is warm fluids are pushed into the bottle past the
radiator cap. As the engine cools it draws the fluids past the radiator
cap and back into the engine. If there is a leak, often its easier for
the engine push fluids through the leak and suck air in through the leak
because its less restrictive and easier to go through the leak than
through the radiator cap. This is where a lot of people run into
trouble. They never de-cap their radiator to notice its low because the
overflow bottle is always full.

 

The biggest problem I have is... there is no rad cap, so all I have to go on
is the overflow jug... If the car is not pulling fluid out of the jug, how
do I know..

Also, if this is the only way to fill the car with coolant, it must take
hours to change the engine coolant... M.

 

If there is a leak, often its easier for

Yeah - and an air pocket is very bad news - a quick way to melt stuff.

 

I just ahad a look at the radiator, there's no cap, no way to visibly
inspect
the radiator--

Terry M.


2000 Saturn L-Series Wagon (wife)

 

The bottle is the top of your radiator (should have a hose going to
your radiator or to a high point in the system). The highest point of
your cooling system is where all the air will go. Sometimes they add
bleed screws at other high points to help purge air out if the air cant
make it to the bottle.

 

Yeah that's what I had always assumed...someone on this ng though
said their Saturn had a radiator cap.
The past couple days I've had more radiator fluid on my garage floor,
I think I'm going to have to crawl under the car & see where it's coming
from--

 

....my 97 used to throw up from the reservoir after I shut the car off. I
was thinking the worst and it was just a bad reservoir cap that needed
replacing.

 

No radiator cap on the '96 SL2 here, yes on the reservoir cap.

Ken

 

Geez let's hope my wife's saturn isn't throwing, up could be a symptom
of something serious! There's no 'saturn doctor' in my area either...I
might have to
do some home 'surgery.'

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll watch for overflow at the res. cap.

Terry

 

Check the gasket on raditor cap and on over fill. If the gasket leaks, it
might be running out the cap before it goes to over flow.

 

I have the same problem with my lights, but there is no fluid leaking. Will
flushing the radiator help?