coolant alarm..

[grinder]

This is really getting me down now ( and deaf ! !)

the coolant buzzer seems to have a mind of its own recently

1 - start car
2 - buzzer sounds
3 - drive for about 5 mins
4 - buzzer stops
5 - buzzer sounds for about 2 seconds at random intervals

i have checked the radiator and it has water in it ( you can see it ) , the overflow bottle is half way between L and H , and the other cap , when removed you can see water there

( sorry - its a 1988 RX7 2ND Gen N/A )

so , does the coolant sensor get dirty , its it broken ??

Any ideas ??

Thanks

Stu

[Glenn Butcher]

Stu,

There are three points as to where you fill the coolant. On the radiator itself, on the engine, and the overflow bottle.

Apart from the bottle (should be around half) make sure they are full.

Maybe have a read through this document also - it is very good, has troubleshooting info. etc.

From iluvmyrx7.com --> 2nd Gen --> Cooling system (http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/2ndgen/manuals/86-88%20manual/03_cooling_system.pdf)

[grinder]

will read doc - but how can you fill the one on the engine ??

and how full should the rad be ???

thanks

stu

[Glenn Butcher]

Originally posted by grinder
will read doc - but how can you fill the one on the engine ??

and how full should the rad be ???

thanks

stu

There is a seperate "cap" on the engine, you can take off when cold. Make sure the rad is completely full - again by the cap.

[grinder]

having looked at the car i have

1 - coolant overflow bottle ( half full )
2 - actual radiator - has water in as i can see it
3 - other one on the engine - has water in it - but no that much

im not sure what i can fill up and what i cant !?!?

but the buzzer is sooooo loud - i have run the car like this a few times and its not running any hotter than usual

its just that she goes mad when i starts ( i just turn the radio up ! )

i will fill the actual radiator up ( level with cap ?? ) - and see if that makes a difference

i wonder if bleeding the system will help ( need to read up first though ! )

Thanks

stu

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi mate,

Fill everyone up to the top, but the water bottle - water bottle should be just over half.

[grinder]

thats a scary comment !! ha ha ha

will it do any damage if it is over full ( or is that why the expansion thing is there ? )

thanks for all your help so far

thanks

stu

[Glenn Butcher]

will it do any damage if it is over full ( or is that why the expansion thing is there ? )

Stu,

No - if they are low if should probably correct the buzzer going off. Keep an eye on the level's over a few days/weeks even long term for that matter - always a good idea to know what is going on in the engine. Expansion tank should take care of business for you (these have been known to fail on the FD/3rd gen. RX-7 and are often replaced by better units). I think the 2nd gen. are ok though.

[mmilner]

Hi Stu. I'm well familiar with this. I've currently got a slight coolant leak so get this regularly:-/

Anyway, You shouldn't need to worry about the expansion tank. You need to take off the filler cap on the thermostat housing (near the alternator.) Then you need to unscrew the bleeder plug from the top off-side corner of the radiator. (There 'should' be a sticker on it telling you to do this.)

Top up the coolant until it starts to run out of the bleeder plug, then replace the bleeder plug. Finally, top up the coolant until it's just below the top filler cap and then replace it.

That alarm 'is' very loud isn't it? Always makes me jump when it goes off. It made me very worried when I first bought the car!

Cheers,
Martin.

[Glenn Butcher]

Ta Martin!

Let us know how you go Stu.

[grinder]

well as i am now at work i will probably do it on thursday / friday

if all goes well i will report back ( well i will report back anyways )

not sure if it would be worth taking piccies so that i can post on here for the complete idiots guide to stopping the buzzer !

thanks for all your help guys !

Stu

[hIGGI]

sounds like u have air in the top of radiator (u need to bleed air from it).....

coolant alarm uses sensor on top of radiator to check level......if u have air there, it goes on/off even u see that u have enought air.....

u could

a) bleed it properly
b) ignore alarm
c) ground brown wire going to sensor on top of radiator and it will never buzz....

[mmilner]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hIGGI
[B]sounds like u have air in the top of radiator (u need to bleed air from it).....

Yep, that's what the bleeder plug is for:-))

Cheers,
Martin.