When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The light is not there to remind you that your coolant level is getting low. Its sole purpose is to alert you to a SUDDEN and potentially catastrophic loss of coolant. Like when a flying rock or debris suddenly punctures a cooling hose or your radiator.
Disable or ignore it at your own risk.
You would see steam and pressurized coolant coming out of what ever leak unless it was internal and then you would see smoke from the exhaust.
Supra1jz, by that time, your rotary engine would already be toast fella. These things are not like piston engines that might survive that. Keep on tempting fate and watch it rear up and bite you.
BTW been driving rotaries for 44 years. If you won't take the advice of the experienced rotary folks here, then go your own way and take any consequences. That is always your choice. Good luck.
Last edited by gwilliams6; May 31, 2017 at 04:43 AM.
Supra1jz, by that time, your rotary engine would already be toast fella. These things are not like piston engines that might survive that. Keep on tempting fate and watch it rear up and bite you.
BTW been driving rotaries for 44 years. If you won't take the advice of the experienced rotary folks here, then go your own way and take any consequences. That is always your choice. Good luck.
Sounds like u have a feather tickling your ***. If you steam out the same time the light comes on because of a failure in your cooling system Your in equal standing don't be argumentive to prove your stupid and an old fart. As well as in the 70s their was very limited sensors for you to rely on pops so what the hell are you talking about anyways. Engine failure is imminent in any build its something to anticipate not fear kity cats, prevention is better than cure but you can't prevent decomposition of metals in a range of an ever changing environment and still drive it. So don't forget to spread butter before you drive since ultimately it'll one day be "toast"
My 06 started throwing the occasional false positive with 27k miles on the clock. I am most likely going to move to an aftermarket aluminum tank with a replaceable sensor.
My 06 started throwing the occasional false positive with 27k miles on the clock. I am most likely going to move to an aftermarket aluminum tank with a replaceable sensor.
it starts off with the light on occasionally , becomming more frequent over time then one day it just stays on -
Coolant sensor not working. ..
This is an old thread but just thought I'd add my findings. ..
Im an electrician. ..During my rebuild had the same problem. ..i checked the switch with a continuity test /multimeter..when turned upside down the switch float triggers fine...fault is not the switch. .
Put it on a bench. .plugged up holes. ..While multimeter hooked up. .float wouldn't raise with coolant. .coolant /water. ..or cold/hot water. ..and i mean boiling.hot.
I used a terminal screwdriver to raise the float manually. ..magnetc reed switch triggers. ..float is not floating .its obviously the bouyant material no longer is bouyant ..thought about attaching a new piece of bouyant material to the float. ..but if it becomes dislodged it will get sucked into the cooling system. ..engine failure. ..like the other lads said live with it...check the coolant regularly. ..ive already replaced one radiator snapping off the infamous nipple...not touching it again. ..just something to think about while replacing the expansion tank...word from the specialists...cut all hoses from the tank..then gently slice remaing hose down the centew to over flow on radiator *(small hose on bottom right of tank)sacrifice the hoses. ..you will break the radiator otherwise. ..you may even still break it. ..personally im not going to do it again
Coolant sensor not working. ..
This is an old thread but just thought I'd add my findings. ..
Im an electrician. ..During my rebuild had the same problem. ..i checked the switch with a continuity test /multimeter..when turned upside down the switch float triggers fine...fault is not the switch. .
Put it on a bench. .plugged up holes. ..While multimeter hooked up. .float wouldn't raise with coolant. .coolant /water. ..or cold/hot water. ..and i mean boiling.hot.
I used a terminal screwdriver to raise the float manually. ..magnetc reed switch triggers. ..float is not floating .its obviously the bouyant material no longer is bouyant ..thought about attaching a new piece of bouyant material to the float. ..but if it becomes dislodged it will get sucked into the cooling system. ..engine failure. ..like the other lads said live with it...check the coolant regularly. ..ive already replaced one radiator snapping off the infamous nipple...not touching it again. ..just something to think about while replacing the expansion tank...word from the specialists...cut all hoses from the tank..then gently slice remaing hose down the centew to over flow on radiator *(small hose on bottom right of tank)sacrifice the hoses. ..you will break the radiator otherwise. ..you may even still break it. ..personally im not going to do it again
when i say gentle i mean GENTLE i mean as gentle as you would be with any other nipple
Okay, so I keep getting a random coolant light on the dash every now and then. It gets more frequent everyday. I have checked the coolant and everything is fine? Does anyone know where this sensor is? I want to check the sensor before I go all the way to the dealer. Thanks.
I sawed my original tank in half to see how it worked. Trust me on the. The float desolved so the magnet sensor is laying on the bottom of the tank. If you can build a ship in a bottle? Maybe you can attach a cork under the magnet but personally I just bought a new tank. Just getting rid of a part that is stained that ugly worn out plastic color made it worth while.
I sawed my original tank in half to see how it worked. Trust me on the. The float desolved so the magnet sensor is laying on the bottom of the tank. If you can build a ship in a bottle? Maybe you can attach a cork under the magnet but personally I just bought a new tank. Just getting rid of a part that is stained that ugly worn out plastic color made it worth while.
..
if the 'cork' comes loose and manages to go down the coolant pipe will block thr the system and blow the engine. ...bad idea...i thought of it decided definitely not...
as i pointed out the nipple on the radiator can break off installing the new over flow tank...
costing a heap of money ...For what? ...a light on the dash that this forum has more than once pointed to the fact is very inaccurate.
Americans call those lights idiot lights. ..because if they are on...and something really has gone wrong ..its usually too late...
unplug the sensor and check the car for oil and coolant on a regular basis... neccesary care on a rotary engined car anyway
..watch your temperature and oil pressure and engine check guages instead. .far more important. ..
I've had my RX8 since 24 Nov 2019, had the front brake calipers, disks, and pads replaced on 14 Apr 2020. It has 51500 miles on the clock. The second time I drove it after the replacement of the front brakes, I noticed the engine coolant light came on, and stays on indefinitely each time I drive it now. I drive conservatively. I tried to see if the coolant was low, but not sure how to check as I couldn't see any level marks on the reservoir. Can anyone advise please? I also saw a comment on this thread where someone saw the warning light after they had their brakes bedded in.
In my case the light just came on and wouldn't go away. Research round here showed that it was something to do with the level switch in the Engine coolant fluid tank. I just pulled the plug connected to the tank because I don't want any lights on my dash that are not supposed to be lit up. The theory behind that apparently was to let you know when you had coolant leak because the level will go down in the reservoir. In my opinion that is a dumb engineering choice. It would've been better to monitor the pressure of the coolant system.
Anyway my light is off and when I plug it back in and it goes on again. I've left it unplugged for years not to worry.
Okay, so I keep getting a random coolant light on the dash every now and then. It gets more frequent everyday. I have checked the coolant and everything is fine? Does anyone know where this sensor is? I want to check the sensor before I go all the way to the dealer. Thanks.
Every RX8 gets this problem after a certain time. The float in the float switch is just a ball that degrades over time until it sinks and sets off the warning. As several people have mentioned, just changing or topping up the fluid helps...briefly! That is until the float degrades a shade more, or the fluid gets less supportive. Replacing the whole assembly can end up an expensive operation as easy to damage connected items. Detaching sensor cable easiest fix but risky as you may run out of coolant and blow the engine. Adding more buoyancy to the ball float is probably the cheap fix but you need to avoid leaving debris or anything that could detach and block your tubes. Anybody done this?
Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
Okay, so I keep getting a random coolant light on the dash every now and then. It gets more frequent everyday. I have checked the coolant and everything is fine? Does anyone know where this sensor is? I want to check the sensor before I go all the way to the dealer. Thanks.
you replied though
