F-Body Europe

For the last three days the lamp "Low coolant level" has been warning, but the dipstick shows full level. Engine temperature is fine.
One mechanic suggested an electronic fault, so it might go away when switching off the ignition but it comes back time again.

Where is the sensor located that is giving this message?
If it is a simple floatgauge in the expansion tank maybe it got stuck?

Seeking for advice!

Gunnar

Did you also check the coolant in the radiator or just in the overflow bottle (by the dipstick)?

But I guess the sensor is dirty. From what I've heard it can also be a bad radiator cap.

Ben

Hi Ben,
yesterday I removed the overflow bottle (dipstick showed too much actually!) underneath the battery, because I was looking for the sensor which gives the trouble message. This was all pointless, because the sensor is located somewhere else.

DO YOU KNOW, WHERE?? In Haynes manual there was no help.

Funny, but I cannot remove the radiator cap!! I can rotate it by 90 degrees (so its loose), but cannot take it off, because underneath there is a plastic pin on the neck of the hose, which blocks further rotation of the radiator cap.

Needless to say that the Opel/GM dealer had no clue where the sensor is.

Gunnar

When you remove the radiator cap, the sensor is under it (don't misunderstand me, it's not on the cap itself ).



Really??? Well, what would they do if your car was still under warranty and they had to replace the sensor?

Anyway, the cap can be removed if you turn it until the stop, then press it down and turn it further. The engine should be cold!

Ben

Okay Ben,
I think I did not press hard enough on the radiator cap to remove it.
Mr Kikenberg advised me to fill in there with clear water for the moment.

I had filled blue coolant liquid from DEA in the overflow bottle, which was not such a good idea, as it should have been orange GM-coolant and mixing is not recommended.

I will do this during lunch break. Actually there is no leakage and it seems that the engine has not sucked in blue-orange mix yet.

More after lunch!

Gunnar

Okay, I removed the cap: the intercooler was full, no need to refill.
I found the sensor underneath. Maybe its a fotocell, which needs some cleaning. I will use a bottle brush tonight...

Gunnar

Did it work?

AFAIK the sensors aren't very reliable that's why they were removed in the (2001 and) 2002 models...(?)

Ben