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Temp. light comes on--but only at highway speeds

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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 08:02 PM
  #1  
BaronVonBigmeat's Avatar
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Senor Carnegrande
 
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Temp. light comes on--but only at highway speeds

So I've been having this problem where the red temperature icon lights up. But the odd thing is, it only comes on once I get above say...45 mph or so. And once I hit a stoplight, it goes off. Then when I get up to speed again, there it goes.

I don't know what to think, every time I've ever had an overheating car it was when I was stuck in traffic usually. For what it's worth, the actual temperature gauge doesn't move. Just the red light comes on. The RPM of the engine doesn't matter in the slightest, only the actual speed of the car. I checked the coolant, it was slightly low and I topped it off, but that didn't do anything.

Anyone ever had this problem?
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 06:19 AM
  #2  
Go48's Avatar
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From: Fayetteville, PA
Are you referring to the Engine Coolant Level Warning Light? If so, owners have reported problems with the low coolant level sensor that is integral with the plastic coolant bottle.
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 10:36 AM
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BaronVonBigmeat's Avatar
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Senor Carnegrande
 
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I guess so (?).

It's a red light/icon, drawn like a radiator. It's above the check engine light.

I thought it meant high temperature. Come to think of it though, my temp guage on the upper left isn't showing anything unusual. So maybe my car's not actually running hot.
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 12:31 PM
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dillsrotary's Avatar
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From: Boston, MA
Same thing happened to me, its the coolant level, just fill the resivour (sp?) with coolant and it'll disappear. Mine only appeared when at +65 mph and the rpm's at 3500. Once I added coolant the problem was solved.
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 12:56 PM
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BaronVonBigmeat's Avatar
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Senor Carnegrande
 
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Okay so apparently the only fix is either $160 for a new bottle/sensor combo, or just unplug the sensor and check coolant levels when checking your oil. Hmm I think I know what I'll be doing!
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 02:34 PM
  #6  
LionZoo's Avatar
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From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
I've learned to just ignore the level sensor. My light only comes on at high rpms though.
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 02:43 PM
  #7  
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From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by BaronVonBigmeat
Okay so apparently the only fix is either $160 for a new bottle/sensor combo, or just unplug the sensor and check coolant levels when checking your oil. Hmm I think I know what I'll be doing!
If u want a new bottle, I have one I dont even use it, brand new, for 130 + a few bux shipping.
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