Low engine coolant light on???

88Tsupra · 05-03-2007, 03:45 AM

I've notice for the past two weeks everytime i make a turn the low engine coolant light comes on buh i check the radiator and its full and the container that full too. took it to my friends dads machanic shop and they said prolly a bad sensor so dont worry. but ive been smelling somewhat of burnt rubber or something
Thanks for the help

D_Train · 05-03-2007, 04:36 AM

Where is the smell coming from? Your vents? Is there white smoke coming from the exhaust?

supramacist · 05-03-2007, 05:20 AM

The low coolant or "birdcage" light is coming on because you have an air pocket in your coolant system. Are you hearing a water fall??

None the less..., get a pair of ramps or park on a steep incline.
Pop the hood and let the engine cool a bit. Take off the radiator cap.
Start the car. Top it off. With distilled water and or coolant depending upon your mix.

Check it every few minutes. keep topping it off. If you stand there and watch you will probably see small bubbles every little bit.

Just keep topping it off, keep the nose elevated. This could take 15 minutes or two hours depends on you and your coolant system.

This method is referred to as " burping " .

Hope this helps.

88Tsupra · 05-03-2007, 08:11 AM

thanx...i get white smoke wen startin the car in the morning buh i let it warm up for about 10 mins

thanx supramacist ima try that with the help of my uncle maybe i can get the damn thing to stop it never did it before though

as for hearing a water fall im not sure ima have to check and get back to that..i do hear somewhat of what can be called water splashing when it idles/sit still

supramacist · 05-03-2007, 08:47 AM

The water fall noise kind of reminds me of a rain stick that you would see at coach house in the mall.

But if you hear liquid sloshing and it's from under the hood..., burping will solve it.
I would seriously do mine and keep it on ramps in the morning till night fall and do some night driving.

Let it run while it's elevated and check it every 15 minutes or so. The steeper the incline the shorter the process and the better results. If it doesn't stop it..., repeat the process until it does. I did mine like 3 times after I got it,

I worked it 2 hours at a time. It finally filled up and emptied the air. I know one cat that spent 15 hours burping and finally achieved his goal.

Don't overheat it while you are driving it with the warning light coming off and on. Doing that could lead to overheating, wich in turn will lead to a blown head gasket or BHG.

ddmcse · 05-03-2007, 10:07 AM

the low coolant light is not pointing towards the radiator

it's indicating that the coolant overflow bottle is low

it's located in front by the driver side headlight

looks like a windsheild washer bottle

the light comes on because the fuild level is too low

your coolant system is using/leaking water

IHateHacks · 05-03-2007, 01:57 PM

Yes, ddmcse is right. The sensor is in the bottom of the overflow bottle. Your radiator can be completely empty, as long as the overflow has coolant in it, the light will not go on.

Let me guess, only when you take left hand turns it flickers, am I correct? Same thing was happening to me, oh, about 2 weeks before my head gasket finally let go. It happens because you are losing coolant from "somewhere" and the cooling system is compensating by drawing more coolant from the overflow bottle. Then, when you take that hard turn, what little coolant is left in the overflow sloshes to the side of the bottle that doesn't have the sensor. Then the sensor is not covered with coolant and the light comes on or flickers. Take your overflow bottle off, 2 10mm bolts, see where the sensor is? On the drivers side of the bottle. If you don't see any coolant leaking on the ground, you have an internal leak.

I don't see a new head gasket in your sig. Every single MK3 supra has a leaking head gasket straight from the factory. If you have a stock, factory, 20 year old head gasket, I'd bet a large sum of money its leaking. DO A BLOCK TEST.

dcrusupra · 05-03-2007, 02:42 PM

turn the heat on full blast while you burp the coolant.

supramacist · 05-03-2007, 04:40 PM

Well hell that makes it easier than I ever thought it could be.

ebang · 05-03-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88Tsupra

thanx...i get white smoke wen startin the car in the morning buh i let it warm up for about 10 mins

thanx supramacist ima try that with the help of my uncle maybe i can get the damn thing to stop it never did it before though

as for hearing a water fall im not sure ima have to check and get back to that..i do hear somewhat of what can be called water splashing when it idles/sit still

I get that white smoke as well only when starting in the mornings and the rest of the day it is fine...I need to top up the resivour a bit every few weeks...I do not see coolant leaking anywhere though and I do get the burning coolant smell too.

05-03-2007, 03:45 AM	#1
88Tsupra 12psi boost Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long beach, CA Posts: 252	Low engine coolant light on??? I've notice for the past two weeks everytime i make a turn the low engine coolant light comes on buh i check the radiator and its full and the container that full too. took it to my friends dads machanic shop and they said prolly a bad sensor so dont worry. but ive been smelling somewhat of burnt rubber or something Thanks for the help __________________ 88turbo targa-white original Pin Stripe custom intake-Tenzo filter.....Momo racing seats and steering wheel... apexi exhaust tip-custom 3" piping. Replaced with RSR GT II NGK plug and wires HID conversion head lights HKS Turbo Timer Type-1 (in black) Tial BOV BIC DDP Last edited by 88Tsupra; 05-03-2007 at 04:02 AM.

05-03-2007, 08:11 AM	#4
88Tsupra 12psi boost Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long beach, CA Posts: 252	thanx...i get white smoke wen startin the car in the morning buh i let it warm up for about 10 mins thanx supramacist ima try that with the help of my uncle maybe i can get the damn thing to stop it never did it before though as for hearing a water fall im not sure ima have to check and get back to that..i do hear somewhat of what can be called water splashing when it idles/sit still __________________ 88turbo targa-white original Pin Stripe custom intake-Tenzo filter.....Momo racing seats and steering wheel... apexi exhaust tip-custom 3" piping. Replaced with RSR GT II NGK plug and wires HID conversion head lights HKS Turbo Timer Type-1 (in black) Tial BOV BIC DDP

05-03-2007, 10:07 AM	#6
ddmcse 500whp yet? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT U.S.A. Posts: 966	the low coolant light is not pointing towards the radiator it's indicating that the coolant overflow bottle is low it's located in front by the driver side headlight looks like a windsheild washer bottle the light comes on because the fuild level is too low your coolant system is using/leaking water __________________ 300+ RW HP Dyno run, jdm,mod turbo,3"exh,electfan,greddyboost Blown HeadGasket info My Supra KiXGaS

05-03-2007, 02:42 PM	#8
dcrusupra 500whp yet? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Plantation, Fl. Posts: 1,052	turn the heat on full blast while you burp the coolant. __________________ New Rebuild My CarDomain

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05-03-2007, 04:36 AM	#2
D_Train 3" Exhaust Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 214	Where is the smell coming from? Your vents? Is there white smoke coming from the exhaust?

05-03-2007, 05:20 AM	#3
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	The low coolant or "birdcage" light is coming on because you have an air pocket in your coolant system. Are you hearing a water fall?? None the less..., get a pair of ramps or park on a steep incline. Pop the hood and let the engine cool a bit. Take off the radiator cap. Start the car. Top it off. With distilled water and or coolant depending upon your mix. Check it every few minutes. keep topping it off. If you stand there and watch you will probably see small bubbles every little bit. Just keep topping it off, keep the nose elevated. This could take 15 minutes or two hours depends on you and your coolant system. This method is referred to as " burping " . Hope this helps.

05-03-2007, 08:47 AM	#5
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	The water fall noise kind of reminds me of a rain stick that you would see at coach house in the mall. But if you hear liquid sloshing and it's from under the hood..., burping will solve it. I would seriously do mine and keep it on ramps in the morning till night fall and do some night driving. Let it run while it's elevated and check it every 15 minutes or so. The steeper the incline the shorter the process and the better results. If it doesn't stop it..., repeat the process until it does. I did mine like 3 times after I got it, I worked it 2 hours at a time. It finally filled up and emptied the air. I know one cat that spent 15 hours burping and finally achieved his goal. Don't overheat it while you are driving it with the warning light coming off and on. Doing that could lead to overheating, wich in turn will lead to a blown head gasket or BHG.

05-03-2007, 01:57 PM	#7
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	Yes, ddmcse is right. The sensor is in the bottom of the overflow bottle. Your radiator can be completely empty, as long as the overflow has coolant in it, the light will not go on. Let me guess, only when you take left hand turns it flickers, am I correct? Same thing was happening to me, oh, about 2 weeks before my head gasket finally let go. It happens because you are losing coolant from "somewhere" and the cooling system is compensating by drawing more coolant from the overflow bottle. Then, when you take that hard turn, what little coolant is left in the overflow sloshes to the side of the bottle that doesn't have the sensor. Then the sensor is not covered with coolant and the light comes on or flickers. Take your overflow bottle off, 2 10mm bolts, see where the sensor is? On the drivers side of the bottle. If you don't see any coolant leaking on the ground, you have an internal leak. I don't see a new head gasket in your sig. Every single MK3 supra has a leaking head gasket straight from the factory. If you have a stock, factory, 20 year old head gasket, I'd bet a large sum of money its leaking. DO A BLOCK TEST.

05-03-2007, 04:40 PM	#9
supramacist 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Escape from the Prison Planet Posts: 1,356	Well hell that makes it easier than I ever thought it could be.