[Megan N]

My moms car is a bit old and has 86,000, Her Low Coolent Level light has been on for a while and I think she might have a leak saying when I fill up her resevors the light never goes away even after trying to reset it. I have also fluched the lines and everything seemed ok. What else is there i can do with out spending big bucks on a mechanic? I was also told there could be a leak near the engine compartment, he told me to jack the car up and turn the wheels to the left and look near the compartment lift up a flap and the leak should be there? any other sugestions?
I dont have to refill alot, just when the light went off I filled it back up and when we flushed it. I check to make sure everything is level and where its sopose to be. but this morning I left and noticed a rather large area in my driveway was wet.

 

[cottagstan]

You might simply have a bad sensor in the coolant reservoir that doesn't want to shut off. If you have a leak, you would notice coolant under the car every morning. If you are not constantly losing coolant and not having to refill, there's probably nothing wrong.
One other thing to check might be a bad radiator cap allowing coolant to leak out when you're driving.

 

[eva diane]

Do you have to fill it a lot? If not it might just be that the light is malfunctioning. I would think that it would be this if you are not having to fill it often, and if you don't see it leaking when you turn the wheels.

 

[TonynNC]

Depending on which engine you have, there are 2 places that GM v-6's leak coolant that you may not see a leak on the ground. A 3.4 will leak from the lower intake gaskets. They normally leak more when cold. It may leak outside or internally. Remove the oil fill cap and look inside the valve cover. If it is milky looking, it is leaking internally.

A 3.8 will leak at the upper intake plenum and will burn it through the cylinders.

Filling the resv. will not turn light out because the low coolant sensor is in the radiator. When cold add coolant to the radiator and the light should go out. If not you may still have a bad sensor, but that does not explain coolant loss.

 

[brp_13]

It could be several different things, but it is most likely a "air lock", this is where air has gotten into the upper radiator hose, the air needs to be evacuated. This needs to be remedied by someone who understands fluid dynamics and or hydraulics.
the second is a fluid sensor located in the reservoir, a person with basic electrical knowledge can check this. This may just be unplugged or corroded.
the third maybe a malfunction in the ECC, engine control computer. if the others are not the problem, then a trip to the dealer is called for.

 

[xcessjw2000]

If you fill the resevoir and the light stays on it could be as simple as the low coolant sensor being bad. Is there any evidence of an active leak? You could have a reputable shop pressure test the system for you..it is a fairly simple procedure and relatively inexpensive.

 

[Mose]

What is the 'special procedure' here?

http://networkserviceandsupport.com/Impala/04_DexCool.jpg

 

[pbNJ]

What is the 'special procedure' here?

http://networkserviceandsupport.com/Impala/04_DexCool.jpg

Open the radiator cap an start the car.. if coolant goes down, just fill it up to the top again while its still running.. once full, close the cap and check the coolant jug.. fill if needed

Then while car is still running and up to temp, bleed any air out of the system

 

[Mose]

Open the radiator cap an start the car.. if coolant goes down, just fill it up to the top again while its still running.. once full, close the cap and check the coolant jug.. fill if needed

Then while car is still running and up to temp, bleed any air out of the system

Thanks. my daughter's 2000 Camaro has a bleed valve on the thermostat housing but I don't see such an item on this Impala.

 

[TSS]

Holy FIVE year thread revival...Last post before yesterday was on September 3, 2007!

 

[Ag71]

can some one please help me out I have a 2001 impala 3.8 and i have changed the EGR valve and deleted the codes that I was giving (P0404 and P1404) so far the engine light is still coming on after driving it a few miles what else I need to look at or replace to pass smoge

 

[zerialz]

http://www.impalaforums.com/7th-gen-engine-performance/496073-upper-plenum-cleaning.html#post1218201