coolant light on

[2000softtail]

The coolant light will not claer on the overhead display. Everything else is OK. I suspect the sending unit in the recovery bottle is the problem. How does one test its operation?

Does Pelican stock them? $$?

"92" 325i Cabrio

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Before you go replacing things, Check that there is no air in the cooling system. Have you bled it out? This can cause the light to trigger sometimes. As for the sensor, we do indeed carry these. $15.48 each.

[2000softtail]

I checked the bleed about a month ago an got no air. The problem was intermittant till I pulled the sensor out of the bottle last week end to check it. Since then the light stays on. Do you know how much resistance I should read across the pins on the sensor?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Lemme look this up.

[bertible]

The sensor inside the tank does go, mine did so recently. It still looks okay, even if the float still "floats", but obviously the internals stop connecting.

If the light really bugs you while wating for the replacement, simply short the connector. When the two pins are shorted, it simulates the coolant level being okay, so the light won't come on.

Regards,
Gary
87 'bertible

PS, there are two types of connectors, I had to rewire the car-side wiring to fit the newer style.

[hleitner]

My coolant light comes on after about 15 minutes of driving. I have topped off the tank. The temperature gage also only goes up about 3mm past the blue region. Is this normal?

I will flush the coolant system and bleed the system to see if this cures the problem.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I would maybe take a look at the conector on the coolant light. My light came on the other day and it just turned out to be a little oxidation on the contacts. Some cleaner and the sender works fine now.

[BMWCowboy]

hleitner>>ur thermostat may be stuck open>>the temp guage should read in the middle of the guage>>does your heater heat up fast????

[hleitner]

hmmm...no the heater seems normal. It does not get particularly hot ( I only rarely use it at night since I live in SoCal). The AC blows ice cold (I thought I'd mention that, even though its probably unrelated.

The temp gauge needle jumps sometimes too, but never goes past the quarter point.

SHould I bleed the system again?. Also, is it possible there is too much coolant in the reservoir? When I unscrew the coolant sensor (the black nut), coolant is all the way to the top and almost pours out

Thanx...This forum is great

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

If the coolant almost spills out of the tank, you have plenty of coolant. Try cleaning the elctrical contacts where the sender plugs in. Temp sounds normal. My car never gets over 1/4 on the gauge, even in 100+ degree CA summers with the A/C on..

[hleitner]

o.k...Thanks. I'll spray some WD-40 on the connector, even though it doesnt look like there is any corrosion on the 2 pin connectors.

Thanx