Folks,

Started the car this morning (-11c) and then a red thermoter warning light appeard on the dash. I switiched off the car and I checked the coolant expansion bottle and all the hoses and none seem to be frozen. ( the cooolant sensor has been changed previously) Any advice on whether I should drive away, leave the car tick over and see does the thermostat open or what? HELP! Thanks in advance.

Folks,

Started the car this morning (-11c) and then a red thermoter warning light appeard on the dash. I switiched off the car and I checked the coolant expansion bottle and all the hoses and none seem to be frozen. ( the cooolant sensor has been changed previously) Any advice on whether I should drive away, leave the car tick over and see does the thermostat open or what? HELP! Thanks in advance.

If you drive the car it will soon overheat as the coolant cannot circulate around the engine. The only safe way is to let the coolant thaw out naturally. If you have a garage then park it in there, if not somehow slowly warm the engine bay, sphere and hoses by whatever means you have then drain the cooling system and refill with new G12 at the recommended dilution. If the coolant is frozen up the water pump you're in deeper trouble.

The G12 coolant mixed with water should give the following protection:

-25 C at 40%

-35 C at 50 %

So it's unlikely to be frozen. If the hoses feel OK and the bottle contains liquid, it should be fine.

The G12 coolant mixed with water should give the following protection:

-25 C at 40%

-35 C at 50 %

So it's unlikely to be frozen. If the hoses feel OK and the bottle contains liquid, it should be fine.

Cheers lads,

Unfortunately I did lose some coolant when I changed the temp sensor and so dilution is weakened to some degree. If I started the engine and let it tick over for a while and see do the hoses heat and see if the thermostat opens would that be a reasonable chance to take. I need the car to go and get new coolant!

Cheers lads,

Unfortunately I did lose some coolant when I changed the temp sensor and so dilution is weakened to some degree. If I started the engine and let it tick over for a while and see do the hoses heat and see if the thermostat opens would that be a reasonable chance to take. I need the car to go and get new coolant!

Another thought--- Your new Temp. sensor is faulty? In that case I would start it up and let it idle, but stay with the car and see if the heater warms up.

It's probably just the sensor in the bottle on the fritz, give it a scrap with something then switch on again, in fact if you switch on now it probably won't come on again

Have a search theres loads of threads about this issue

HTH

Thanks for the advice guys.

As suggested I started the car and watched till heater came on while checking the hoses. I then took the car for a spin and the thermostat opened at the normal time and all seems fine for now. Guess it may have been the sensor t as temp reading stayed at -11c until the thermostat opened then dropped back to -5c quickly. Any ideas o this welcome. I now have some new coolant and will add tonight / tomorrow all going well. Where is the best place to drain some out without causing airlock probs etc. ? Thanks again for the herlp. This site is a godsend.

It's probably just the sensor in the bottle on the fritz, give it a scrap with something then switch on again, in fact if you switch on now it probably won't come on again

Have a search theres loads of threads about this issue

HTH

+1

i had the same warning light in the recent cold weather (with the beeps) and a scrape with borrowd diamond tipped pencil (i think thats what mate called them) to the two prongs in the reservoir bottle has stopped the warning ever since

the drain plug is on the right bottom of the rad. you need to remove the front undertray and the right hand plastic to get to it.

had exactly the same experiance, but not checked the levels yet, although last week they were all fine. good posts