Low Coolant Light 1986

[cgroftmc]

My low coolant light is coming on, mostly when the the car temp is 195 degrees or below. I have tried the various burping methods and no dice. I am using a 16 pound cap. Also the coolant recovery tank is always at the same level reguardless of engine temp. Any help would be great. Thanks!!!


Craig

 

[Ken]

It has something to do with the sensor in the radiator, but I forget the cure at the moment. If someone doesn't come up with an answer soon I'll try to find it for you.

 

[MacVette86]

My 86 does the same thing. The Low Coolant light will come on and then after a while when its up to normal operating temp it will go out and not come back on. It's irritating and I'd like to know if there is a fix as well.

 

[redc4corvette]

If the coolent light is comming on and coolent is not being used from the recovery tank ,you still have air in the system.
I remove the raidator cap when engine cold and leave it set for a day.
I start the engine up with the radiator cap off let the engine warm up and with water in hand I rev the engine to 2000 rpm and put in as much coolent in the radiator as I can.
Before you let the engine idle down install radiator cap and see if the light stays out the next day.
If you have the thermastat out you can drill a small hole in the side to let the water in .
I did that on my LT1.
The 86 you just have to take your time with.

 

[vetteboy86]

Okay, what happens if the radiator starts pushing coolant out?

 

[redc4corvette]

The thermastst is not opening up.
Could be lack of coolent in the engine block.
Doesn't mean the stat is bad.

 

[vetteboy86]

Well what happens is that I start the engine with the cap off. It doesn't even get to operating temp, before it starts pushing coolant out of the radiator. So I dont konw if I have air trapped, and should let it push air out of the radiator or not.

 

[redc4corvette]

You need to try to fill the raidator up to the max when cold .
Start the engine and turn the heater on full blast .
Bring engine up to operating temp and see what happends.
If you still have a low coolent light then the thermastat is bad.
I would remove stat and put it into boling water and see if it opens up.
Make sure coolent recovery tank is full.