Hi Guys! Saw the last thread about the warning light: have had this a few times, car has been in and out of dealership: sensors replaced. coolant header replaced, hoses replaced, head gasket replaced..... I should point out that the level has, in fact, always dropped, leading to a need for about 1-11/2 litres of water. This has meant travelling with water bottles in the boot for the last year and a half while all this has been going on (I know, I know, but it's a company car, and it's all been under warranty, and it gives a chance to try out all sorts of other marques while mine has been off the road!!!). To cut a long story short, the leasing company authorised some other tests which resolved that there was a crack in the block......... luckily, NOT a write-off, as a new short engine is less than the "BER" criterion on cost. PHEW!!!!

So this is just a warning to take the little red light seriously: most of the time it seems to be an electronic sensor poblem, but not always!!!!!

BTW, all the other cars have just gone to prove to me how very enjoyable the Octavia II is to drive by comparison......... involving, quick, responsive and generally pleasurable!!!!

See ya.....

You're right, I should perhaps qualify what I said in the other thread about ignoring the light at first and only checking after driving a few hundred yards and switching the ignition off and back on again by saying it happens fairly often to me these days ( ), and I know that the engine won't get warm enough to open thermostat in that short a time so the coolant circuit isn't doing anything anyway. I certainly wouldn't drive any serious distance with it on, and if it stayed on, I'd stop and check it straightaway. This is, of course, in addition to a visual check every week or so when I check the oil...

How did we cope when the only warning lights on the dash were low current and low oil pressure?!

Thanks...but now that post has me a little worried...I think I'll ask her to leave it sitting until I get back?

Thanks...but now that post has me a little worried...I think I'll ask her to leave it sitting until I get back?

'Tis up to you. All the sensor is doing is checking the level in the expansion tank, which as I say, can be checked by eye. There won't be a temperature issue with a cold engine so you wouldn't get that warning until the engine was warm anyway.

But it's better to be safe than sorry so if it's not essential to use the car, you may be best off leaving it on the drive like you say...

She has checked the handbook & it is the Coolant Light (red thermometer accompanied by three beeps & it flashes)

Interestingly when she restarted the car tonight it didn't happen. The car is parked on a slightly angled drive & the passenger side is therefore lower than the drivers side. I am thinking maybe the side of the bottle with the lower level has just dropped under the sensor?

I checked it just before I left (10 days ago) & all was ok, but I've asked her to leave it (she can use her own car) & I can check it when I get back.

Presumably I can just top up the tank with some coolant of the right spec if that is the problem? Frustratingly the car has not long had a service, so I am surprised if it has dropped that quickly (unless it is the sensor fault).

Thanks again for your help guys...any further suggestions/comments gratefully received.

Presumably I can just top up the tank with some coolant of the right spec if that is the problem?

Yep, and that may act as a work-around for the sensor issue too if that's the problem... G12+ is what you need - you can get it almost anywhere.

Agreed, switching off will often cure it....... that happened a few times with the AA when called, having pulled off the Mway into a service station..... baffelement all round, as NO error codes in system......Watch for a rapid "glug" and rise in level if you remove the filler cap when hot......... coupled with a gurgling. as it comes back up........ but this will only work when hot!!!! If this happens, you may have a problem with something like my issue, rather than just an electronic sensor problem. As it happens, my car is going to go off-lease in 5 months with a new engine and entire coolant system: strange that the leasing company did not terminate, but good news for my friend who is buying it (and yes, I shall be pointing her to this site!!!)..... it's only done 70K miles as well........