The only retarded question is the one that's not asked.

When you open the hood and are looking into the engine bay from the front, there's a plug on the left side of the tank. (There may even be a picture in an earlier post in this thread...if not then in a similar thread.) It's vertical, with the wires coming out the top. Hard to miss when you're squinting at the level markers. Just push the little release latch partway down, and lift the connector up.

If you don't care to have a loose wire dangling, you can stick it back into the socket, just don't push it down far enough to engage.

Ken

 

Check out UPDATED TSB..
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...9&postcount=19

 

Thanks guys!

 

Great thread. Although I wish I had seen this post much sooner....I have been ignoring the light for the past few years.

Here's my question though. The Mazda dealer in FL replaced 3 water hoses and the thermostat back in August 2011. It seemed to fix the problem, hadn't seen the light come on until recently in much colder weather in MD. The engine was replaced by a Virginia Mazda dealership back in Nov/Dec timeframe.

Come Feb and I'm seeing the light come on again. It's progressed worse much quicker this time, but the sensor was never replaced (to my knowledge). I can't figure out if the sensor is bad, why the problem seemed to fix itself for 5 months.

I can't drive above 58 mph now without seeing the light come on, and it came on this morning as I backed it out of my driveway (for a second).

I went in for an oil change last week and the tech said he saw a coolant leak near the thermostat. I'm not sure how to check it for myself, but last time I looked at the level it was fine.

 

Ok I fibbed a little...I had my husband check the coolant level some weeks ago and I don't think it had been that long since I had gotten home.

Anyway I just looked at the level now (car has been off for around 4 hours) and it looks low. So I guess I might have the leak. Would I be able to see where the thermostat is without getting too dirty? I'm a little pregnant so its kinda hard getting in there.

 

what warranty would cover this?

 

It's already been posted a few pages back. See this post HERE.

Disconnect the grey plug that's been circled.

 

Ok, sorry to bump this but.....

It was very hot today, 96 degrees when my light came on. I was on the highway, 6th gear, A/C on, cruising around 70mph. Temp needle where it always is. Everything is all good.

Light came on for maybe 5 seconds. If I didn't happen to be looking at my guages I wouldn't have even seen it. Coolant level is fine. Car has 19k miles.

Anything to be concerned with? Any ideas as to what may have triggered it?

Thanks.

 

^ nah just monitor your coolant level and you'll be fine.

In short, there is a float attached to a sensor in the coolant bottle (detects coolant level). That float loses buoyancy over time, giving you false alerts.

 

where you rolling up a hill or on the flat?

mine tended to come on when going up a slight incline, at the same spot on the turnpike everyday, after 20 minutes of driving

dealer replaced my bottle 2 years ago and no problem since

 

Dead level. Was the bottle replaced under warranty?

 

yea. actually had to have 2 replaced

 

Having a similar issue. The coolant light comes on when i'm cruising on the freeway at a consistent engine speed. If I depress the clutch for a few seconds, the light usually turns right off and I can resume driving for a while before it pops back on. Bummer. Coolant level's fine and the engine temp never fluctuates.

 

this is how you know the sensor is whack. It's a false alarm if it went right off and all is good on the gauges and on visual inspection of the coolant level inside the tank. It is on its way out babe.

 

mine pops on and stays on for a while... i'm guessing that mine went bad a while ago. same symptoms, though - good coolant level, coolant needle on the low side of middle

 

I'm having the same light problem but usually only on the freeway between speeds of 70+. I'm going to replace the coolant since no one probably changed it in five years but I found some warranty info from mazda if you guys want to check this gem out.

http://parts.arlingtonmazda.com/docu...40-10-2375.pdf

 

Not a 'gem' mate, we are well aware of the Coolant Bottle issues, there were a few early Series II RX-8 which have the Coolant Bottle with the sinking Float, it appears you also have it with your R3.

Take a look at the S2 TSB Thread, I think I put up the colored pics TSB which is more graphic and detailed...Genuine Mazda from Japan, not the local Americanized ones that MNAO issue to Dealers, like the link you posted.

 

^^^ Yep, I have an 09 R3 and mine would come on and off. I just unplugged it.

 

Just a quick comment. I had the coolant light problem too every time I drove on the interstate. The coolant wasn't low and trying to add coolant didn't work. What did work was draining the coolant completely and replacing it. I haven't got a clue why this worked but it did.

 

probably messed with the float..

i recently got a coolant change and it did not remedy my coolant light issue.

i dont really care about it, im going to unplug the sensor soon. I got an obd2 monitor incase i start to overheat.

 

^...........yep, when he changed the coolant it probably cleaned the bottle(minimally). It will return soon enough as that float is going to lose buoyancy.

 

Looks like this is a common problem around the world cos even downunder I get the same Coolant Warning Light. Good to know its a False Positive tho. Only started happening to me since the Dealer did a Plug and Coil Change under warranty a few months back, prior to that it was fine.

 

I get this light occasionally when I'm on the highway doing about 85-95. Before I read this thread, I thought it was a serious issue and pulled over the car as soon as I saw it pop up. It only happens to me at high speeds. Should I just ignore it and keep driving? The coolant level is fine and engine temperature doesn't increase when it happens. It's good to know that a lot of people are having this issue. I've had one too many sensors go bad on my car, and am getting quite tired of it.

 

Just unplug it sweet heart, it is use less any way, a redundant piece ofjunk.

 

Well, your car is almost 10 years old, sensors don't last forever. Just replace the reservoir and be done with it. When it's working, it is a nice sensor to have. Low coolant and rotaries are a bad combo, you will want to know when coolant needs to be added. So, either fix it right or start checking your coolant all the time.