Coolant light

Kars · 05-23-2005, 03:15 PM

Hi all,

I have a 1999 Saturn SC2.

Since my 60k maintenance including a coolant flush, ever time I drive my car over 60 mph the low/hot coolant lights came on but the temperature gauge reads normal. the same trip at 60mph or lower and I have no problem.
At 65 mph I can go about 80 miles before the light turns on.
At 70 mph the light comes on in about 50 miles.

I have check the coolant and had it back to the shop for them to check it out. The temprature guage does seem to be working.

One of my friends mentioned that it could be the catalytic converter backing up.

Any thoughts?

Edit: I forgot to mention that if I drive the car for a few miles after the light comes on, some coolant does leak.

my99sl1 · 05-23-2005, 06:14 PM

could be a cracked radiator or you may have a hole in the hoses

hvactech77 · 05-24-2005, 04:01 AM

where is it leaking from though? more details man... Could be a bad cap, or your running low in your container causing the light to come on.

Kars · 05-25-2005, 02:20 AM

The only time it leaked was the one time I drove the car about 10 miles after the lights came on. It was dripping out the bottom of the car but it stopped very quickly after I shut off the car.

The only indication that it leaked before was the smell of burning coolant, and I think that was just leaft over from the first leak. There was no leaking at the radiator cap.

Kars · 05-27-2005, 01:35 PM

Took it in yesterday and they did another coolant flush and did a preasure check. I will find out this weekend if they found the problem.

Sleeper SL2 · 05-28-2005, 05:19 AM

also your coolant level light is your trans, fluid level/temp so u may want to check that too.

Kars · 06-02-2005, 08:56 PM

Dang the light came back on.

I did check trans fluid and (assuming I correctly followed the directions in my owners manual) it is way overfilled. Like half way up the dipstick.

PurdueGuy · 06-02-2005, 09:02 PM

did you wipe it off and re-dip when you checked it? I assume the car was running?

Overfilling fluids can be a problem. I know it is for oil, and wouldn't be suprised if it is for trannys.

Kars · 06-06-2005, 08:14 PM

Yep, I followed all the steps in the owners manual.

Made sure the car was at operational temperatures
Parked on a level surface
Shifted through all the gears
Car was running
Dipped it several times, at least 4 each time

I repeted the whole processe twice, once early in the day one about 3 hours later.

I mentioned this to the mechanics and they are looking at it today.

Kars · 06-20-2005, 01:55 PM

Well, it looks like the problem was too much transition fluid. I have taken three trips without light coming on.