I dont think there is an exact time that you should check... just maybe when you fill your car up, or on a boring sunday afternoon, etc etc....

 

I'm looking for something more specific then, "eh, whenever you feel like it" - a real non-answer.

While everyone is welcome to answer this, I'd most like to see Mazurfer's answer.

 

Here's specific , if the sensor is working correctly check it when you check the oil,if its not working correctly check it each time before you drive it.

 

Checking every time you check the oil level is a good rule of thumb. Basically anytime you pull in to fill up your gas tank, pop the hood. Check the oil level, check the coolant level, and give a quick visual inspection of the engine bay. You're standing there anyway waiting for the tank to fill up so this doesn't use up any of your time.

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Invest in a good quality air pressure gauge, they don't cost much. I so a visual inspection of my tires almost daily. Giving them a quick look for odd wear patterns takes a few seconds per wheel. I check their pressure level every other fill up.

 

I check my coolant, oil, and tire pressure every time I gas up, which happens to be once a week.

Also, it would be wise to buy a ScanGaugeII (or similar device) and monitor your temps, especially if you are going to disconnect the "dummy light".


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k... approx 5 minutes after you pull into the gas station to fill up

I suppose i can understand if you want to wait for mazurfer's answer, but i have a hard time believing that he is going to be more specific then me and others have been.

 

Not sure why you wanna see my answer unless I irritated you or you thought I was singling you out to "f" with you.......which I wasn't.
Anyway, I'd have to agree with the guys above.

For the record, I bought a new bottle as I'm not funds limited, but even so.............. I usually check the oil, coolant, brake fluid level, and tire pressure on the weekend at home........once a week. This usually is because I only fill up about once a week and add pre-mix at that time, so while I'm doing that, I give the engine bay the once over. It wasn't that long ago when cars didn't have things like TPMS or coolant level sensors, and somehow most survived...............that was my only real point.

I have gauges and monitor quite a few things such as oil temp, oil pressure, coolant temp, etc. etc. but I still check the stuff visually, and truth be known.....after my drive home in the late afternoon and parked in the garage, I usually pop the hood for awhile to let all the heat escape, so at that time I usually glance at the coolant level and brake fluid level.

Yes, I go a little overboard. Oil and actual tire pressure only once a week however.

 

^.....that'll work!

 

Hell I do mechanic work for a living and I check fluid levels whem I remember to.
I do check the parking spot for strange fluids under the car. Tire pressure is covered by TPMS lamp when she is on time to air em up.HaHa!!!

 

Just changed out my bottle yesterday. Everything went smoothly and have no more annoying coolant light. Surprised no one has done a detailed diy for this yet since it's a common problem.
Yay for being too cheap to pay the stealership ~300 to get this done lol

 

This started happening to me for the last couple months. Seems to only happen on hot days and when I'm pushing the car hard. I added some distilled water a while back to top off the reservoir, no leaks I think. If I drive slower and turn off the AC, the light comes off.

What does the low-fluid warning have to do with engine temp? They're totally separate things, right? Just want to know if I'm overheating or the sensor is just bad. Not sure if the temp gauge on the dash is a good indicator of temp or not... Thanks.

 

All your answers in red above.

 

Thank god for the search function, lead me straight to this thread. Mine has been going off when I am in 6th gear @ 4 - 5000rpm and its bugs me. I usually put it in neutral for 10 seconds or so and it will go away. Glad to know I am not the only one with this problem. =)

 

Thanks for all your answers. I'm gonna book an appointment this week and try to get it fixed before my 3yr warranty expires.

Guess I need to start looking into adding a temp gauge... BTW, if anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it... finding a bunch of 2006/2007 threads about a ScanGauge II...

 

Scangauge II is actually a good entry level choice.
Mine is in my daughters three now, as I have gone another route. I like the scangauge as you can monitor four(I think) things at once, it reads and clears codes......which is a godsend.
I would recommend it for starters......for ease of use and functionality.

 

Although it's the same basic information, you might wanna check out my thread at https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...oolant+secrets as I eventually put all the needed info in the first post. The rest is there as I went through the whole process, but the first was constantly updated with the latest info.

 

Just installed mine this morning, pretty easy to use and gives me the info I've always wanted to know

 

I second that!

Nice. I have one in my truck, and I've been using it for years with great results. Was thinking about using it in the RX-8, but decided to wait a little longer and go with "real" racing gauges instead. I am hoping to install the Racing Beat gauge cluster.

Anyway, for what it costs and what it does, the Scangauge II is a super great deal.

I have a question though: since mine is an older version, how did you set it up to work with a rotary engine? My version specifically asks me for how many "cylinders" I have in my engine, engine displacement, etc.

Just curious....

 

just noticed this today too, seems after 12 pages the only solution is to replace the bottle or unplug. if the bottle if the bottle is sub £100 il just get that, no point cutting corners with these cars.

 

There's a third solution. Enjoy the light. It looks like a carousel. Brings back memories of happy childhood days at carnivals.

Ken

 

I just put in an extended reservoir tank and new sensor. no more light. I had to get a new radiator and it it at the same time.

 

"Extended reservoir tank"?
If by this you mean you extended the overflow hose down and away from the power steering connectors, then good!
If not, go do it and save some trouble later on.

 

Just happened to me the first time this morning. Scared the hell out of me. I'm glad this thread was here, lol.

 

techster, wondered what outcome you had with your engine/coolant/vibration issues.

I have an '04 with 47k miles and, having power issues, took it to dealer and was diagnosed with compression issues, so Mazda replaced the engine under warranty. The day after I picked the car up, I noticed the vibration continued, then worsened over the next couple of weeks, and then my coolant light started blinking on.

I've read many forums here so I understand what's going on with these issues, found the related TSBs, and am currently in the middle of a bare-knuckle UFC-style fight with Mazda and the dealership over what they'll cover (so far, nothing).

I just found your situation particularly curious because you dealt with EXACTLY the same issues as me in EXACTLY the same order and time frame. I know you had the problems several months ago, so I wondered if you had any advice or light at the end of the tunnel for a frustrated 8 owner.

(Anyone else, feel free to chime in! These forums have been INVALUABLE to helping me learn about my "baby".)

 

Sigh. Alright I'll be the retard who has to ask...

If the coolant sensor is inside the coolant bottle, what's the procedure for "disconnect the sensor"? Is this a simple plug I overlooked? The service manual doesn't go into more detail than the coolant tank assembly and mount and I don't want to go in yanking cable that look like candidates...