I have a 97 Cavy 2.2, 4spd auto, 227,000 miles. Bought the car used(!) but no owner's manual. I don't have one for the Sunfire, either... I have a Haynes manual, but no explanation of dashboard lights in there.
What the heck is this? It's red when illuminated. It doesn't come on when the car is first started (cold or warm start) but comes on after 2-3 minutes, stays on for about 4-5 minutes, then goes off. Sometimes (if I'm driving long enough) it will come on again, and then turn off again. The car seems to run OK while this is happening and I have checked the major fluids (oil, antifreeze, trans oil), nothing unusual or low.
Thanks in advance
George (geozinger)
'95 Sunfire GT-my second Pontiac from Hell!
'97 Cavy Beater-still running like a champ!
'04 Sunfire - my kid's car, but I get the bills...
'09 Pontiac G6 - Sport Package 1
acidburn wrote:low coolant
My car may run 18s, but I can do your taxes in 10 seconds flat.
JBO lube - they would never have enough in stock and we'd never see RodimusPrime again
Thanks for the answers, guys.
What's strange, is that my coolant tank is not especially low, i.e. it's not dry, but when cold, the level is where it should be when hot, as per the marks on the tank.
I will top off and see if that takes care of the issue.
George (geozinger)
'95 Sunfire GT-my second Pontiac from Hell!
'97 Cavy Beater-still running like a champ!
'04 Sunfire - my kid's car, but I get the bills...
'09 Pontiac G6 - Sport Package 1
sensor could be bad or dirty
had the same problem. topped it off (and filled it to the highest i could get it) check your hoses for a leak. could be helping the coolant get low.
My car started showing me that light after head-gasket leak developed. Now I choose to believe that light actually means "please drive me off a bridge".
Shop Manuals, Brochures:
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Re: Redhot, and Geeky: I will fill 'er up this evening when I get home. I don't see any obvious evidence of leaks, but I haven't had the system pressure tested in several years, so maybe one of those tests are in order. I do check the oil when I get gasoline, but no normal tell-tale signs of head gasket leaks, i.e., antifreeze smell in the oil, no foaming, no overheating. I think I'm OK there...
George (geozinger)
'95 Sunfire GT-my second Pontiac from Hell!
'97 Cavy Beater-still running like a champ!
'04 Sunfire - my kid's car, but I get the bills...
'09 Pontiac G6 - Sport Package 1
There is no need to "top it off" as long as the coolant is at the proper level at hot and cold your fine. All you'll do by "topping it off" is push coolant out the overflow tube. More than likely the sensor is bad.
Yeah, that coolant probably was never changed either. I would flush it out and clean the coolant sensor really good (dunno if you can part it from the tank.) I bet its crustier than an old mans foot.
Re: Tinkles & Greg: Thanks for the input. I noted in one of my earlier posts that it's a little low, so I will try topping off first. I want to see what happens after I fill it up again, to see if the level drops. I may have a slow leak somewhere... Either way, it's due for a pressure test and flush & fill. That's 3.5 years on the same antifreeze... Man, time flies...
George (geozinger)
'95 Sunfire GT-my second Pontiac from Hell!
'97 Cavy Beater-still running like a champ!
'04 Sunfire - my kid's car, but I get the bills...
'09 Pontiac G6 - Sport Package 1
