[Steve Harriott]

The dashboard idiot light for engine coolant on my 1991 164S comes on and stays on after the car is warmed up (it was intermittent at first - didn't always do it). It doesn't seem to have anything to do with reality, as I keep checking my reservoir coolant level and it's fine - right up to the mark. The car still runs cool, as always.

Is there possibly something bad besides the level of coolant in the reservoir I could be missing? Is there an easy way to remedy this light staying on? Any advice would be appreciated!
Steve

 

[Alfisto Steve]

The dashboard idiot light for engine coolant on my 1991 164S comes on and stays on after the car is warmed up (it was intermittent at first - didn't always do it). It doesn't seem to have anything to do with reality, as I keep checking my reservoir coolant level and it's fine - right up to the mark. The car still runs cool, as always.

Is there possibly something bad besides the level of coolant in the reservoir I could be missing? Is there an easy way to remedy this light staying on? Any advice would be appreciated!
Steve

Which light - coolant level or red dot in temp gauge.

If level icon with fan blade in it tank float switch contacts or wire connectors need cleaning or float no longer floating. remove float and inspect and clean.

If wine cork style stuck on metal rod and cork bad you can replace with "plastic" style wine cork.

If hollow cork on plastic rod magnetic pole maybe bad and not to much you can do to it.

You can bypass float switch with jumper between wire connectors if needed.

New floats are available.

If red light dot in gauge you need to clean black wire ground pont at mid thermostat housing and small wire terminal at sender next to timing belt cover.

If hollow

 

[Steve Harriott]

Thanks Steve. It's the coolant level light. I'll pull the mechanism out (as soon as it stops raining around here!) and see what I've got.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

Thanks Steve. It's the coolant level light. I'll pull the mechanism out (as soon as it stops raining around here!) and see what I've got.

My wife is headed to Linthicum, MD and hung up in rain and traffic on I-95 right now. I tried on the cell phone to get her to make a U-turn in Stafford VA and go back to Fredricksburg and take 3 over to US-301 but she is going to tough it on I-95.

 

[Michael Smith]

There was a known issue with a wiring harness pigtail being too short in the vicinity of the temperature senders on the thermostat housing. The solution was to splice in a longer wire to ensure the sender gave a good signal. My car had this fault fixed under warranty many years ago. Most would be fixed under warranty. Just a thought.

 

[ChazzyD]

There was a known issue with a wiring harness pigtail being too short in the vicinity of the temperature senders on the thermostat housing. The solution was to splice in a longer wire to ensure the sender gave a good signal. My car had this fault fixed under warranty many years ago. Most would be fixed under warranty. Just a thought.

No, he said it was the level light that was giving him trouble.
Charles

 

[Steve Harriott]

Thanks guys. I got under there yesterday and took the float mechanism out of the reservoir. I cleaned and inspected it (it seemed free-floating and in fine condition), then re-installed it, making sure the cap was nice and tight.

No more red idiot light, as far as I can tell! Thanks for your input!
Steve