Coolant Level Light Blinking

[Dff Moriarty]

2002 Boxster S Manual Tranny
Cracked Coolant Tank set off low coolant warning light. I replaced the tank and bled the system but light continues to blink. Does anyone know the secret to re-setting the light? Soppose I could just pull the fuse but maybe another way?

[JFP in PA]

Do a search; a blinking coolant light can mean one of four things, depending upon how fast it is blinking. Once the problem is corrected, the light will go out by itself; there is no way to "re-set" it.

[ghtaboma]

On my 2001 S, a careful coolant system bleed did the trick. No shortcuts!

[Dff Moriarty]

Coolant light still blinking slowly. Bled system 2 times. Is there any way to test the sensor ??? Any ideas. Car has 87k miles. Wondering is sensor quit when we swapped it over to the new tank. Was not rough with it though. Took a little bit of a twist to install. Help! Frustrated. That tank swap was a ****** and I'm hoping it doesn't need to come back out.

[ghtaboma]

I feel your pain! Took me a week to r & r that thing. Three hands and that sears remote clamp tool worked. I would replace that tank sensor, but you may have to pull tank again to get at it!

[JFP in PA]

Well, as no one took my clue and searched for the reasons why the light might be blinking, I'll do it for you:

Four functions of the coolant warning light:

1. Engine coolant level too low

— light flashes slowly (0.5 Hz)

2. Engine compartment temperature too high

— light flashes slowly (0.5 Hz) (engine compartment blower might be faulty)

3. Engine coolant temperature too high

— light is lit; pointer on the right

4. Temperature sensor at water outlet faulty

— light flashes rapidly (1 Hz); pointer on the right

Note

The temperature warning in point three is indicated if the conditions "engine coolant temperature too high" and "engine coolant level too low" are present simultaneously

(1Hz = 1 flash per second. 0.5Hz = 2 seconds per flash)

So it might be the coolant level sensor is faulty (if the light is slowly flashing). If it is, you do not need to remove the tank to replace it:



"Search" is always your best friend in these cases..........

[Dff Moriarty]

Thank You.

[Dff Moriarty]

Replaced coolant level sense tonight and topped off coolant. STILL BLINKING!
Any ideas? Appreciate the help! A bit frustrated though.

[Cajundaddy]

1hz or .5hz? Where is the temp pointer?

[Dff Moriarty]

.5hz. Pointer to cold, never even got warmed up,fans on at about 195- 200 last time I warmed it up when bleeding.

[Cajundaddy]

Process of elimination. It is one of these:
1. Engine coolant level too low

— light flashes slowly (0.5 Hz)

2. Engine compartment temperature too high

— light flashes slowly (0.5 Hz) (engine compartment blower might be faulty)

Carefully re-check your connections at the coolant level sensor.

[Dff Moriarty]

Not familiar w/engine compartment blower and don't see anything in the tech articles. Can I prompt some additional info ?
Thanks

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Dff Moriarty

Not familiar w/engine compartment blower and don't see anything in the tech articles. Can I prompt some additional info ?
Thanks

The car has a blower fan in the engine bay that pushes air over the engine when the engine compartment gets too hot. It is controlled by a small sensor that is held in between two intake runners by a small rubber gromit. If the sensor fails, or falls off the intake and rests on something hot, your coolant light will flash. If the fan motor fails, your light will also fash.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Dff Moriarty

Not familiar w/engine compartment blower and don't see anything in the tech articles. Can I prompt some additional info ?
Thanks

The car has a blower fan in the engine bay that pushes air over the engine when the engine compartment gets too hot. It is controlled by a small sensor that is held in between two intake runners by a small rubber gromit. If the sensor fails, or falls off the intake and rests on something hot, your coolant light will flash. If the fan motor fails, your light will also flash.

[Dff Moriarty]

Here we go again. Light still flashing slowly. Replaced low coolant sensor twice now. Checked wiring. Engine compartment fan works properly. So I am assuming the temp sensor is functioning. I also checked to make sure the temp sensor in the engine compartment was not displaced and appears to be mounted securely between the 2 intake runners. Coolant reads in between max and min whne COLD. Low coolant light blinks slowly even when car is COLD.
The new expansion tank I purchased is aftermarket and wondering if this is the issue. If you peak down the fill spout there is a slight difference between the new and old tank. The old tank has a cap on the area that I would assume is the float for thew level sensor. The new tank is slightly different and does not appear to have the same cap on it.
Thoughts- Maybe a faulty tank?
If I drop a wire down into the tank and pull up on the "Float" should the blinking light go out- assuming a running engine?
Could I take the old tank and plug the hole(s) so it retains water, set it next to the new tank and plug in the to the sensor could I "test the Tank?
Other option is to try replacing the engine compartment temp sensor but all appears to be functioning in there.
Any help is greatly appreciated, I just don't like driving around with this stupid light flashing although there does not seem to be any temperature issues at this time.

Thanks again!

[ghtaboma]

Replaced tank. Light went off, then came back on 2 months later. No rise in temp, or any leaks. This is the good part: Replaced headlight switch, and light
quit .blinking! This switch, and the ignition switch cause many anomalies!