Why does my GMC Truck have a low coolant light?
The truck now has about 35,000km on it and the low coolant message is appearing at almost every start up. The tank is not low but I topped it off right to the cap and the message still pops up. I stopped by the dealership and they said this is common as the sensor is in the surge tank and the fix is to replace the surge tank to the tune of $600.
What does a crack in the coolant light mean?
Your coolant light might be signs of a more major engine problem. When you get a crack in the block or the intake gasket you will leak coolant and oil, usually slowly at first. You may not notice the difference at first, thinking that your tank is full. A repair to a cracked engine block or head gasket is an expensive repair.
Why does the coolant light go on when the tank is full?
Your problem also be a faulty coolant level module. Check the wiring to be sure nothing is loose or corroded. These are some of the possible causes of a coolant light going on when the tank is full. You’ll want to take your vehicle to a qualified repair location to diagnose and repair your problem if you can not easily diagnose it yourself.
Can a PCM turn off a low coolant light?
Yes. If the light goes out then the switch is bad. If not then you could possibly have an open wire and the pcm isn’t seeing that the switch is closed thus keeping the light on. A multi-meter can tell you if a wire is open. Yes.
The truck now has about 35,000km on it and the low coolant message is appearing at almost every start up. The tank is not low but I topped it off right to the cap and the message still pops up. I stopped by the dealership and they said this is common as the sensor is in the surge tank and the fix is to replace the surge tank to the tune of $600.
Your problem also be a faulty coolant level module. Check the wiring to be sure nothing is loose or corroded. These are some of the possible causes of a coolant light going on when the tank is full. You’ll want to take your vehicle to a qualified repair location to diagnose and repair your problem if you can not easily diagnose it yourself.
Your coolant light might be signs of a more major engine problem. When you get a crack in the block or the intake gasket you will leak coolant and oil, usually slowly at first. You may not notice the difference at first, thinking that your tank is full. A repair to a cracked engine block or head gasket is an expensive repair.
Yes. If the light goes out then the switch is bad. If not then you could possibly have an open wire and the pcm isn’t seeing that the switch is closed thus keeping the light on. A multi-meter can tell you if a wire is open. Yes.
What causes a GM V8 engine to leak coolant?
Knowing where to look helps and often a cracked cylinder head is the source of the problem. Between 2001 and 2006 GM manufactured millions of engines, many with defective cylinder heads castings. The cylinder head castings are weak in the area where the head bolts pass through.
Where is the coolant level warning light on?
Depending on the vehicle, this message can appear on the driver information center in the middle of your instrument panel. If the light comes on, it’s cause for serious concern. The consequences of a low coolant level can include overheating and the destruction of your engine.
Can a low coolant reservoir cause a leak?
The only symptom most folks notice is a low coolant reservoir. This can be very misleading and simply adding coolant will only allow the condition to progress. A much worse practice is adding water to the system. Water dilutes the corrosion protection of the coolant. City water may also contain chlorine, fluorides and several minerals.
Knowing where to look helps and often a cracked cylinder head is the source of the problem. Between 2001 and 2006 GM manufactured millions of engines, many with defective cylinder heads castings. The cylinder head castings are weak in the area where the head bolts pass through.
The only symptom most folks notice is a low coolant reservoir. This can be very misleading and simply adding coolant will only allow the condition to progress. A much worse practice is adding water to the system. Water dilutes the corrosion protection of the coolant. City water may also contain chlorine, fluorides and several minerals.
How can I tell if my coolant is leaking?
A pressure test with the valve cover off helps to verify the problem. With pressure on the system, we may see coolant or air, seeping from the crack. Finding the crack is easier when we add a fluorescent dye to the coolant and use a black light to find the traces.