1batt4u

Hi all,

I just replaced my stock thermostat, It went bad, I put in a Hypertech 160.

While the original thermostat was bad my coolant went real low. I just realized after reading online that the instrument cluster has a indicator for "Low Coolant". Mine does not light up, but you can notice that it is there on the dash cluster.
I also looked at the car's manual, it doesn't show anything on the low coolant indicator.

What's the story on that?

I was reading the sensor has to be cleaned?

If the indicator doesn't light up with the rest of them light up on start up, I guess it needs a new bulb? Or were these optional or something? Kinda confused.

Thank you!

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

What kind of car are we talking about?

Where in Queens are you?

1batt4u

Oops, forgot to mention. 2000 Trans Am LS1.

I am in Kew Gardens. What part are u in?

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Bellerose Manor (Queens Village).

When you first put the key to "on" without starting the engine, the cluster lamp test comes on. It lights every bulb. If the low coolant lamp doesn't light, the bulb is burned out.

The coolant level sensor is located in the radiator tank just in front of the battery. Kind of a bitch to work on it.

How did the thermostat go bad? Stuck open or stuck closed? A bad thermostat won't be the cause of low or lost coolant. How does your oil look? I it too high? Is it brown and milky?

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

LS1MCSS

iTrader: (18)

Consider yourself lucky. Most people have trouble getting them to go off, even when the radiator is full.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

If I recall, 00+ does not have a low coolant sensor. Therefore, it would not light up. It may still be there on the cluster, but will never light up.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Rock Auto and GM Parts both list the sensor for this year.

This is from the GM parts catalog for the 2000 MY. Part 19:

1batt4u

Thanks for the update!

1batt4u

I'm not sure how the thermostat went bad. Not sure if it were stuck on open or closed, I changed it real quick and it was getting dark outside.
My oil looked good, and it was over due for a change. Came out good/clean when draining.
Could it be possible when my car was over heating was burning the coolant due to high temperatures? My coolant temp gauge showed 200-210. In the beginning, after parking and turning my car off I started to hear the coolant in the radiator bubbling and was really really hot, and the gauge would show 210 the most. I drove around for the few days like that, keeping an eye on the gauge at 210. One day driving at night, after 25 minutes driving, the needle went from 210 to the red zone, moved quick to high temperature. My car then started driving real slow with low power. Weird.

PhoneniX

my temp gauge jumped around fast after i changed my coolant. air pockets will mess with the temp as the sensor is submerged and then exposed, and with air in the system it does not properly pressurize allowing it to reach higher temps.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Sounds like you have air in the system. When the engine gets that hot, the PCM might go to a "low power" mode to reduce damage. Also, the fans will be on high speed, it should run rich and the SES light will be on.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

How many miles are on this car? Original radiator?

Did you confirm that there's a coolant level sensor in the radiator?

1batt4u

How does air get into the cooling system if it has been untouched?

1batt4u

I have 140,000 miles, original radiator. I actually haven't checked yet to see if there's a coolant level sensor.