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koopstaknicca
03-17-2005, 11:55 AM
I was driving my car yesterday and the low coolant light went on..then turned off. Then turned on again...then turned off.

They turned on while I was making sharp turns.

Anyway, if the problem really is the low coolant, then can I just add more pre- mixed coolant without doing a flush? What if I buy another brand of pre-mixed coolant and just added that in? I'm too busy to do a flush.
rabidpanda69
03-17-2005, 12:23 PM
adding coolant will be fine.
2K SE
03-17-2005, 12:24 PM
is your GA a 99+? cause the coolant level sensor is in the coolant reservoir. just add 1/2 dexcool and 1/2 water to bring the level up to full (either hot or cold) and your light should stay off. I would NOT mix dexcool with the green stuff.
RocketFast321
03-17-2005, 12:27 PM
Just top it off :) Also if your car has green in it put green back in. If it has orange put orange back in.
koopstaknicca
03-17-2005, 12:32 PM
I got 97 grand am GT. Yep, I got green.

Thanks for the help, guys!
Loopy
03-17-2005, 01:08 PM
Originally posted by koopstaknicca
I got 97 grand am GT. Yep, I got green.

Thanks for the help, guys!


Interesting. I also have a '97 GT, and I have orange...
BigDawg66Vet
06-12-2005, 07:12 PM
I, too, have a 97 GT (3.1) and am also having problems with the darned coolant light. It will remain lit until it gets up to operating temperature, and will ONLY turn off if I hit a REALLY big pothole--which isn't that tough in Michigan! :) My mechanic tells me that the sensors in the 3.1's are notorious for sticking, and can be easily replaced. So, this might be the issue causing your light to come on--especially if it's intermittent and your engine isn't running hotter than normal.

As far as the color of the coolant, the 97 3.1's originally came with the long-lasting orange stuff (what GM calls DexCool), which is supposed to last for 150K miles. If the cooling system was ever completely flushed--and I mean having the t'stat taken out and flushed through with a hose--chances are the orange stuff was replaced with the green--and MUCH cheaper--coolant.

If you find out any other causes for that light, let me know, because it's driving me nuts!

Loren
RocketFast321
06-12-2005, 07:20 PM
Their might be an air bubble above the sensor. Tap on the side of the tank with a screw driver.