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Radiator coolant warning light

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Old 05-20-2011 | 12:30 AM
  #26  
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hakuna matata!
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Hopefully that goes without saying!!
Old 05-20-2011 | 12:35 AM
  #27  
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Lol I doubt he would have
Old 05-20-2011 | 12:55 AM
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I think I'd disconnect and install some real gauges.
Old 05-20-2011 | 03:39 AM
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Originally Posted by monchie
Thread bump...2 years!
He searched....found his answer and now is asking a question instead of people telling him to search if he would have made a new topic.....

Both my 2007s had the coolant light on when i was at high revs but would turn off once i let go of the gas.

My 2005 doesn't do it.
Old 05-20-2011 | 07:05 AM
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Mine comes on while cruising along...not correlated with high rpm. But it does tend to come on along the same stretch of road.

BTW - in these threads we should talk about the float going bad, not about the sensor going bad.

Ken
Old 06-12-2011 | 12:25 AM
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Bugger. I've had my 2003 RX8 now for 29 hrs, and had this light show up on a trip out to take the family to the pool. Oil gauge normal, engine temp just under half on the gauge and steady. Watched it carefully for a minute, slowed for some traffic lights and it went out. Then came on again on the way home, then went out. Car only ha 38000K on the clock. Have to contact the car yard tomorrow and see what they'll do about it if anything. 8(
Old 06-12-2011 | 08:31 AM
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...Oil gauge normal, engine temp just under half on the gauge and steady...
Oil gauge is a dummy - it's either down at zero of there's no oil pressure, or up two tics to the right of middle when pressure is in the normal range. Pretty much like an idiot light. Temp gauge isn't quite a dummy, but will will sit at its usual position (couple of tics left of center) as long as temp is within normal range.

Don't panic about the coolant light. You can check the level by looking at the tank under the hood - the way everyone did for the first several decades of cooling systems having catch tanks. But if your car has a warranty from the dealer you bought from, by all means see if they'll replace the tank. Bring a copy of the TSB with you.

Ken
Old 06-12-2011 | 01:32 PM
  #33  
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My low coolant light used to be triggered pretty randomly once the coolant warmed up, even though the coolant level was more than adequate. I ended up just disconnecting the sensor so the light would turn off; I figure if it's on when the coolant level is fine it's useless anyways. If you don't want to replace the whole overflow tank, just check the coolant when you check your oil and all should be well.
Old 11-05-2011 | 06:45 PM
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Engine wont start

Today i was driving and the engine coolant light came on i was close to home so i stoped at my house and waited for the car to cool down then i checked the the engine coolant and added more inside. when i drove again the coolant light went off but the engine light came on and started flashing so i parked the car and it just turned off. I would keep turing it on and it would start then shut off!! can any one help with this problem idk what to do??!! my rx8 wont start now it wants to but doesnt!!
Old 11-05-2011 | 07:03 PM
  #35  
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maybe it over heated. get the code checked
Old 11-07-2011 | 07:30 PM
  #36  
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Having the same problem recently. Not too concerned, the light goes off by simply taking the car out of gear for a second. If it was a real problem with the coolant, it would be constant.

I saw one estimate on page 1 of $250 for the cost of replacing the system....anyone else experience any prices at the shop?
Old 11-07-2011 | 08:46 PM
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I bought a coolant bottle last week from my local steelership for $107.
Old 11-07-2011 | 09:43 PM
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Took mine to the local dealer.

Was told it would cost me big bucks.

Was told most of the time the radiator line (plastic I think) would be broken and a new radiator would be required. Something about not enough space where the tank connects to the radiator.

I talked to the tech and he was very honest. Told me it would be more cost effective if I just lived with it but that he could fix it\ if I was willing to pay big bucks.
Old 11-08-2011 | 12:46 AM
  #39  
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Charles Bundy
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Need an easy solution but unwilling to fork out the cash to the dealership?

Take Bullitt's advice and disconnect it... Constantly monitor the fluid level as you would with your oil, you're already there!

Originally Posted by Bullitt
I think I'd disconnect and install some real gauges.

Last edited by Grace_Excel; 11-08-2011 at 12:49 AM.
Old 11-08-2011 | 12:55 AM
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Yeah I was quoted nearly $1000 for everything from my local dealership. They wanted to replace the coolant reservoir as well as installing an aftermarket radiator because mine would most likely get broken in the process as stated above.

Went to a local mechanic my family has always used for nearly 10 years and he quoted me less than $400 to install everything (that included a new radiator and I already have a new reservoir sitting around).
Old 11-08-2011 | 01:38 AM
  #41  
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Charles Bundy
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Seriously!!! I wonder, at what lengths you guys would go to with the dealer if common problems such as the faulty power steering, a break on upper nipple of the radiator or the driver side visor, heater **** or key FOB stopped working... Or, or, or a flooded engine appears? There's a lot of ways and solutions for these common problems in this forum, all it takes is to utilize the SEARCH option. I'm sure most of those, who bought and replaced their OEM coolant overflow tank with a new OEM tank because of this problem, didn't bother reading the other much discussed thread about this.

Why spend $107 or $400 for something that will take you back to the same problem? Just like the OEM Clutch Bracket, sure if it breaks you can have it replaced due to the recall. After that, why not buy the bracket support offered by RaceRoots and call it a day, because the newer design isn't much different than what came out of the factory eights year ago. Ignition Coils? BHR has a set and now RaceRoots offers one, as well, both are better than OEMs!

Anyway, enough rant for one night.

Last edited by Grace_Excel; 11-08-2011 at 01:41 AM.
Old 11-08-2011 | 07:04 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by Grace_Excel
...Why spend $107 or $400 for something that will take you back to the same problem? ...
My understanding is that the new tank assembly has a float that won't eventually sink.

But why spend all that money to fix something that wasn't needed in the first place? Pulling the plug turns the light off, and reverts to technology (i.e., look under the hood every now and then) that served us well for decades.

Ken
Old 11-08-2011 | 08:01 AM
  #43  
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Charles Bundy
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Originally Posted by ken-x8
My understanding is that the new tank assembly has a float that won't eventually sink.

But why spend all that money to fix something that wasn't needed in the first place? Pulling the plug turns the light off, and reverts to technology (i.e., look under the hood every now and then) that served us well for decades.

Ken
Old 11-16-2011 | 08:51 AM
  #44  
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My RX8 has been running fine since the light came on about 15k miles ago. I just got it serviced where i get my oil changes and they did a radiator system flush which replaces all the coolants and checks pressure on the radiator system in case it leaks or anything. Light still came on after so still not worried about it.

Anyone have complications when they disconnected the sensor?
Old 11-16-2011 | 09:20 AM
  #45  
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I had the same issue, sensor started to light up after I flushed my coolant. I took the reservoir out filled it with some simple green and shook it up. It cleaned off some of the debris on the sensor, so it was able to "float" again and the light turned off. I started to have a leak on my radiator drain valve, replaced it filled it up again and the sensor would not go back up (light remained). I unplugged the sensor and called it a day... as long as you check your cool as you do with your oil/premix, I don't think you should have an issue.
Old 11-16-2011 | 01:40 PM
  #46  
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Charles Bundy
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Yep, that's true. It won't do any harm to your cooling system or the ECU, for that matter. As long as you monitor your fluid level, just make it part of your routine to check with the oil level when filling up.
Old 11-16-2011 | 01:46 PM
  #47  
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Old thread and I even posted previously.
Old 01-26-2012 | 12:23 PM
  #48  
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Mine too

I love the search function!

My coolant light is doing the same thing now.

Rosenthal has the tank for $105, your local Mazda dealership will probably be similar.
Old 01-26-2012 | 01:08 PM
  #49  
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just disconnect it and make life easy for yourself.
Old 01-26-2012 | 10:22 PM
  #50  
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Mine is doing the same thing for a couple of days now. I've checked the coolant level and its all good, no leaks or anything, and it really sucks.


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