View Full Version : Low Engine Coolant Light Comes On?


TheKDog
05-21-2008, 12:45 AM
I took a road trip last weekend in Texas, when it was really hot. During certain stretches, when I was driving 85-90 mph, the coolant light would come on. I would slow down, and then it would turn off.

It kept coming on when I went up to 90mph for stretches. So, I decided just to drive slow the whole way, and it never came on again.

I checked the coolant and it wasn't low. Is this normal? Was it just the heat causing this?

nycgps
05-21-2008, 12:58 AM
check ur coolant when its cold, meaning your engine has not been on for at least 5 hours.

then come back.

TheKDog
05-21-2008, 08:53 PM
Ok, I drove my car again today, and the light has not come on.

I guess that means it's ok.

Old Rotor
05-21-2008, 09:54 PM
Ok, I drove my car again today, and the light has not come on.

I guess that means it's ok.




When you look at the level cold in the morning it will be close to the low mark so add some distilled water(to the full mark) to your coolant reservoir and the lite will not come on again. This is the first question most come on here with, search is your friend.

paulmasoner
05-21-2008, 10:02 PM
ITs becoming more and more documented that there is an issue with the coolant level sensor. It is molded into the resevoir tank and replacing the whole unit is required to get a new sensor. MazdaManiac reported somewhere that they are "dropping like flies" out in his area.

Simplest solution is to disconnect the sensor and just keep and eye on your coolant(when you check oil) and temps(preferably with a REAL gauge, like scangauge2 or something)

TheKDog
05-24-2008, 09:18 PM
Thanks for the help.

I did try a search but got a lot of stuff that wasnt relevant.

Bumble_Bee
05-24-2008, 10:37 PM
Here you go:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=118947

TheKDog
05-25-2008, 07:25 PM
Nice, thanks for the link.

Easy_E1
05-25-2008, 09:25 PM
Here you go:

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=118947

Nice link BB. Hey I'm on that link. Imagine that.:eyetwitch

Bumble_Bee
05-27-2008, 01:16 PM
^LOL!!! So am I...

Roger Sambrano
11-02-2009, 06:28 PM
I live in the caribbean. Recently got my rx8. It works great but the coolant light keeps coming on. First it used to come on every time i went over 90km. Now it comes on every time i drive more than 5 minutes. I always check the coolant and it is fine but the light keeps coming on. Would also really appreciate some advice

Roger

Jedi54
11-02-2009, 06:31 PM
Roger:
not to sound like a broken record but make sure you are absolutely certain that the system is full.

If it is, you probably are experiencing a bad sensor in the overflow tank. Unfortunately once that sensor goes bad, the light will keep coming on even when the tank is full.
you could try cleaning it (very few have had success with this), you could replace the tank, or you could simply disconnect it.

mrtkarabatur
02-13-2010, 08:17 AM
It is like the replay of the questions but I have the similar problem with my rx-8. I have the same problem, the coolant level warning comes back som etimes and goes. There is no problem with the level I checked too many times. I completely refilled new coolant, after sometime still the same problem. Then I changed the bottle itself, my service tought it may be because of the sensor or bottle...Now 2 days ı have the same problem continuously....Any suggestions? I'd appreciate your help. Thank you.

nycgps
02-13-2010, 08:24 AM
God,

GO SEARCH THE SITE FOR @#$@#%)*'s sake!!!!

rx8james89
02-14-2010, 05:45 AM
I'm going to apologize for my ignorance here but I can just put some distilled water in and it will be ok ??

StealthTL
02-14-2010, 05:49 AM
I can just put some distilled water in and it.....

Not if it's the sensor.

Just unplug it, and keep an eye on the level yourself.

S

Mazurfer
02-14-2010, 08:38 AM
^................Slight modification Stealth.

Yes, you can use distilled water in your coolant tank.
You probably don't want much more than a 50/50 mix of water/coolant.
This will not clear the light or help the sensor at all, so as Stealth said, unplug the sensor connector close to the bottle and then you will have to keep an eye on the level yourself. Much in the same way you should be checking your oil.

mrtkarabatur
02-14-2010, 04:00 PM
I have already checked the @#$@#% site , but this is a step beyond the other problems cause I also changed the sensor and bottle as I said, can't you read !! Please first read think and work your mind than answer, if not please do not!

And thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate...

Best.

Bighurk
08-02-2011, 04:02 PM
Thanks guys, searched on google and this thread is the first that popped up.

Lancifer
08-07-2011, 07:49 AM
Just another thing to add for you guys, yes old thread but still relevant for those searching. If you get the coolant light but your coolant is full check your oil. The car also uses oil for coolant. I had this happen after a 5 hour trip. My coolant light came on, engine was cold, coolant wasn't low. Checked the oil and it was low. I added oil, the coolant light went off. Just something to check.

spacecoast
08-07-2011, 08:28 AM
Same problem with my S 2. Guess I'll try to get it fixed before warranty runs out.

yiksing
08-09-2011, 11:50 PM
Just another thing to add for you guys, yes old thread but still relevant for those searching. If you get the coolant light but your coolant is full check your oil. The car also uses oil for coolant. I had this happen after a 5 hour trip. My coolant light came on, engine was cold, coolant wasn't low. Checked the oil and it was low. I added oil, the coolant light went off. Just something to check.

So your coolant sensor transformed into a dipstick?

Grace_Excel
08-10-2011, 01:28 AM
^:lol:

Stars25
08-10-2011, 02:01 AM
^^that made me laugh!

Lancifer
08-10-2011, 07:23 AM
So your coolant sensor transformed into a dipstick?

In the mystical ways of Mazda it must have!

I was just as shocked.

What will really bake your noodle later on is this... Coolant light came on, coolant level was not low but my oil was. A few days later no coolant light but while taking off the throttle body we saw my coolant was low. Topped it all off and no lights and back to normal oil consumption. Gonna take it on another long drive to see if it was a fluke or really an issue. No obd codes or anything. Go fig.

EightCostsMoney
08-10-2011, 07:48 AM
My sensor went with my coolant reservoir bottle due to the intense heat we have been having lately. I also lost alternator as well. The Tech at the dealership told me they are replacing a ton reservoir bottles and alternators of all Mazda models right now.

costello
08-21-2011, 09:46 PM
Just replaced the coolant bottle on my2007. Not hard to do, but I would recommend taking the air intake out as well as the lower tray for the intake. It will give you more room to connect the hoses back on the new bottle.

Basically there's a magnet (float) in the bottle that seems to get stuck due to gunk and grim buildup. I don't think that rinsing the bottle will clean it out much since the float is in a sub-chamber in the bottle. When I compared the old bottle and new bottle, it was obvious that the float slides much smoother in the new bottle. You can feel it getting stuck in the old bottle.

Mazurfer
08-22-2011, 02:19 PM
^...........wrong, but close!

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=182793

At least in 99% of the cases. 1% chance if you had mud in there.

Hutch27
12-03-2011, 04:33 AM
My 2004's light always comes on I've gotten it checked and all is normal so Ive come to a conclusion That this faulty coolant sensor issue is a commen and harmless one unless you really do need coolant because those bad boys get hotter than hell!!