Help! Low Coolant Indicator
#1
10-06-2009, 01:04 PM
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Help! Low Coolant Indicator
I have a 2001 XK8 with 55,000 miles. During a recent long-distance trip, the "Engine Coolant Low" indicator light came on. The temperature gauge never went past normal, but the fan would run after I shut off the engine.
To get home during that trip, I added regular (i.e., not the special Jaguar coolant). There were no visible leaks.
A few weeks later, the problem did not abate. After I started to smell coolant, I took it in to a mechanic who changed a couple hoses and the temperature sensor.
While the leaks and smell subsided, the "Engine Coolant Low" indicator light stills comes on, like clockwork, after the engine warms up. The fan still runs, usually, after I shut off the engine.
I took it back to said mechanic, who suspected a faulty temperature sensor switch. He changed the switch.
The "Engine Coolant Low" indicator light stills comes on, like clockwork, after the engine warms up. And the fan still runs, usually, after I shut off the engine.
As of the last two times I checked, however, the coolant reservoir was NOT diminishing, i.e., I don't think there is a significant leak.
I do see some crusties around my water pump, and I do hear what I think to be bearing noise in the water pump. But other XK8 owners on the Internet have replaced the water pump to no avail. I cannot be sure it is the water pump, since I have an untrained ear, and because there is no visible leak and the crust could have been from a previous leak.
Thoughts? Ideas? Guidance?
To get home during that trip, I added regular (i.e., not the special Jaguar coolant). There were no visible leaks.
A few weeks later, the problem did not abate. After I started to smell coolant, I took it in to a mechanic who changed a couple hoses and the temperature sensor.
While the leaks and smell subsided, the "Engine Coolant Low" indicator light stills comes on, like clockwork, after the engine warms up. The fan still runs, usually, after I shut off the engine.
I took it back to said mechanic, who suspected a faulty temperature sensor switch. He changed the switch.
The "Engine Coolant Low" indicator light stills comes on, like clockwork, after the engine warms up. And the fan still runs, usually, after I shut off the engine.
As of the last two times I checked, however, the coolant reservoir was NOT diminishing, i.e., I don't think there is a significant leak.
I do see some crusties around my water pump, and I do hear what I think to be bearing noise in the water pump. But other XK8 owners on the Internet have replaced the water pump to no avail. I cannot be sure it is the water pump, since I have an untrained ear, and because there is no visible leak and the crust could have been from a previous leak.
Thoughts? Ideas? Guidance?
#2
10-06-2009, 07:11 PM
Veteran Member
1. Quite simply, you, or somebody, must decide if the coolant is low when the light comes on.
2. It is highly unlikely that a bad water pump causes the light, except if the pump is leaking and lowering the level.
By the way, be aware that there is an "overflow tank" that the coolant can move into, then be sucked back to the tank. That can confound your diagnostics from #1.
2. It is highly unlikely that a bad water pump causes the light, except if the pump is leaking and lowering the level.
By the way, be aware that there is an "overflow tank" that the coolant can move into, then be sucked back to the tank. That can confound your diagnostics from #1.
#3
10-06-2009, 08:03 PM
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Mike, here is a quick check that you can do. Locate the low coolant switch on the side of the coolant reservoir. Unplug the 2 wire plug associated with it. You will note a orange/green wire and a blue/pink wire. By disconnecting the plug, you should force the low coolant light out. If the light does not go out, insert a small piece of wire between the two pins. By doing these two checks, this will confirm if your low coolant light issue is a switch related problem (easy fix, replace the low coolant switch) or if you have a bigger wiring issue. With the plug disconnected, the orange/green wire should have 12 VDC on it (roughly). When the low coolant switch is activated, it grounds this voltage, tripping the computer to light the light.
As for the fan running after the car is turned off, I doubt this is tied with the low coolant light problem. But, it may be a good time to do a flush of the coolant system since if you do have to replace the switch, you will need to drain the coolant system atleast part way. Doing a good flush on the system may clear a possible blockage in the radiator which is causing the car to run a little bit warmer than normal.
Hope this helps.
As for the fan running after the car is turned off, I doubt this is tied with the low coolant light problem. But, it may be a good time to do a flush of the coolant system since if you do have to replace the switch, you will need to drain the coolant system atleast part way. Doing a good flush on the system may clear a possible blockage in the radiator which is causing the car to run a little bit warmer than normal.
Hope this helps.
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