blinking red coolant light

[DruzeTito]

When i start 'er up, mostly in the morning when it is cooler, my red coolant light starts flashing, then goes away 5 minutes after and turns blue, then the blue goes away as the engine warms up. The car runs fine to me it seems.

A few years ago i changed my temp sensor for another issue (blue light intermittently comes on) and it was fixed.

What are some first things i should look at here? Could it be just the sensor again?

[green02turbo]

make sure you have the Green colored plastic sensor, not the black one. Mine was doing the same thing as yours before i changed the sensor.

[noR]

could be the sensor again, yes.

[bugasm99]

could also be low coolant that is right on the cusp. When cold you are below the line and the light will beep and flash. As it heats up and expands is crosses the line and turns blue. When it reaches full temp it turns off.

[Eriksbug]

Originally Posted by bugasm99

could also be low coolant that is right on the cusp. When cold you are below the line and the light will beep and flash. As it heats up and expands is crosses the line and turns blue. When it reaches full temp it turns off.

Mine does exactly what you are describing when my coolant gets a little low. It always makes the temp icon blink red when I first start it in the morning. After it warms a little the icon stops blinkin red and goes back to blue until it warms up. Everytime this has happened(3 times in the 4 years I've owned the car) I added a little water to the coolant over flow tank and problem solved. I bet that's what your prob is. Btw I do have the green sensor

[Eriksbug]

Originally Posted by bugasm99

could also be low coolant that is right on the cusp. When cold you are below the line and the light will beep and flash. As it heats up and expands is crosses the line and turns blue. When it reaches full temp it turns off.

Mine does exactly what you are describing when my coolant gets a little low. It always makes the temp icon blink red when I first start it in the morning. After it warms a little the icon stops blinkin red and goes back to blue until it warms up. Everytime this has happened(3 times in the 4 years I've owned the car) I added a little water to the coolant over flow tank and problem solved. I bet that's what your prob is.

[dnyed]

My red light began flashing over the weekend. I called an Org friend, for advice on what coolant to put in, since the resevoir was low. I filled it up, but the light still flashed.

In my case, it was my water pump. I was two weeks out of warranty.


But! They covered it!

In your case, as was mine, it could have been a low res, a temp sensor issue, or the water pump. Good luck to you!

[Lnzbug]

Originally Posted by dnyed

My red light began flashing over the weekend. I called an Org friend, for advice on what coolant to put in, since the resevoir was low. I filled it up, but the light still flashed.

In my case, it was my water pump. I was two weeks out of warranty.


But! They covered it!

In your case, as was mine, it could have been a low res, a temp sensor issue, or the water pump. Good luck to you!

Did you get a new timing belt too? You are one lucky Ducky!

[LadybugEwa]

Originally Posted by Eriksbug

Everytime this has happened(3 times in the 4 years I've owned the car) I added a little water to the coolant over flow tank and problem solved.

Not meaning to split hairs with you, but for the benefit of others reading this thread, you solved the symptoms, NOT the problem itself.
After a while doing this, you're bound to end up with mostly water in the system.
The coolant's supposed to be mixed 50/50 with distilled water
AND the coolant IS either leaking or being burned up - the longer you ignore that, the bigger the bill in the end

[Lnzbug]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

Not meaning to split hairs with you, but for the benefit of others reading this thread, you solved the symptoms, NOT the problem itself.
After a while doing this, you're bound to end up with mostly water in the system.
The coolant's supposed to be mixed 50/50 with distilled water
AND the coolant IS either leaking or being burned up - the longer you ignore that, the bigger the bill in the end

I went for a few months like this. Finally it was warm enough for the hubby to replace the radiator. I haven't lost a drop since

[DruzeTito]

yes i think you guys are right the fluid is a bit below the MIN line. I have an advance auto parts close by.. would they have the coolant i need?

[HeatherBug]

Use G12 coolant.. And you need to get it from a VW dealer. I don't believe Autozone or any other parts store sales it. Make sure that you don't mix any coolants.. G12 coolant is red. I bought it from a local VW dealership and it was 22 dollars.

[taterbug]

HeatherBug is right G-12 all the way!! Just bought a gallon 3 days ago, had exactly the same problem your describing. If you were close by you could have some.... I only used 2 cups!! $24.99 Yikes!! Autozone has this pink stuff called Dex-cool it's a GM recommended product. DO NOT USE IT!!

[Yurko]

have you scanned it for codes? I would start there. if possible, run some logs on startup as well. you might need a new thermostat as well.