Low Coolant Light - 1991 MTX SHO

[Lurch]

My Low Coolant light is malfunctioning, I believe. We just recently purchased the car, and while surveying the engine compartment, I noticed a loose plug hanging beside the coolant overflow. Now that it has been plugged in, the Low Coolant light comes on regularly. Today, after driving for about 20 minutes in 60 degree weather, the temp. was at the "a" in normal, yet the coolant light was on. The coolant was filled up to right beneath the sticker on the back of the overflow bottle. My question is can I clean this sensor, or is the coolant filled to the wrong level, or is this a common malfunction and I need a new sensor?

 

[edmontonsho]

very common problem. Try a SEARCH

 

[Bizzy]

It is a common problem. Mine has been unplugged ever since I've owned my car. I never knew it was unplugged until last summer when I was cleaning the engine bay.

The sensor can be cleaned, as should the recepticle where the sensor plugs in. If that doesn't help the situation it's relatively easy to replace. I believe you can find them on Ford Parts Network, perhaps Josh at SHO Nut carries them and Rock Auto might as well.

 

[qiksho]

I cleaned mine and it works now...There was so much sludgy shit in my overflow bottle it was unbelievable...now I just have to do a full coolant flush...damn I wish I had more time

 

[Lurch]

Thanks guys, while waiting for some replies I performed a search and found a vast quantity of information supporting the "common problem" theory. Thanks.

 

[skippie]

A few days after I bought my car, I noticed that my low coolent sensor wasn't pluged in, well not thinking anyhing I plugged it in, and started the car, and it started smoking alot! Almost caught on fire, so be careful!

 

[Lurch]

Ackk! Almost caught on fire? What caught on fire? The sensor or what?

 

[performancered]

Mine started going on the other day so i added some coolant to the resevoir. It went out then a day or so later came back on. I cleaned the resevoir and the sensor. One note though I had it completely filled with distilled and flushed it with the distilled a few times the whole time I had the distilled only in there it was on. After I filled it with 60/40 or so mix of coolant/distilled it was out. My conclusion is that it checks the checks coolant concentration not level which is why there are 2 prongs about an inch apart on the end of the sensor. It has a paramater of resistance with enough colant/water that it looks for if it falls below what it considers enough i.e. too much water it says low coolant.

 

[SHOZ123]

Distilled water is a very poor conductor of electricity especially with a low voltage 12V system. There are enough free ions in antifreeze to conduct the juice. These free ions are what transfer the aluminum of your heads to your radiator if the pH of the antifreeze gets too low.

<small>[ November 11, 2002, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>