![]() If you try and open the coolant reservoir or the radiator cap whilst the engine is still hot, you run the risk of allowing hot, pressurised steam to blow out and burn you. It is far more sensible to stop your car and let the engine cool down.īefore you check anything, it’s vitally important that you let the engine cool down for at least thirty minutes first. If you continue to drive, ignoring the warning light, you are submitting your engine to temperatures that could cause permanent damage, resulting in expensive repairs. As we’ve said, the coolant light is telling you that your engine’s temperature is getting too high and this requires your immediate attention. As coolant travels around your engine, there are various places where it can leak from, such as hoses, the water pump or the radiator.įirst and foremost, you should stop your car as soon as it’s safe to do so. These leaks can be a serious problem, as they’re not easily diagnosed and easily fixed. Low coolant levels are usually caused by leaks, either in the reservoir or somewhere in the lines. There may be a floating sensor in your coolant tank that triggers the warning light when the level drops. The most common reason for the coolant light to become illuminated is simply that the coolant level is too low. What causes the coolant warning light to come on? When this process fails, the engine temperature increases and triggers the coolant warning light. In order to keep your engine from welding itself together, coolant is pumped around the engine. The side effect of all these explosions is a huge amount of heat. These explosions move the pistons up and down which, in very simple terms, starts to power your engine. ![]() In order for your car to work, a series of explosions are created in the combustion chamber. If you are not able to fix the car yourself, call your breakdown provider and the experts at Eden will be able to diagnose the problem easily.If the coolant warning light becomes illuminated on your dashboard as you’re driving along, it’s a certain sign that your engine is overheating. It’s important that you don’t open the cap while the engine is hot, or you risk being burned by the escaping coolant. If the level looks OK, it may be a sensor which is at fault. There will be maximum and minimum markings on the side. It’s important that you don’t get it confused with the brake fluid reservoir – the coolant tank is generally going to be bigger and should have symbols and warnings on it to help guide you. If there is no sign of a leak, have a look at the coolant tank – it will usually have a bright yellow cap and a picture of the radiator. You might be able to see, hear of even smell this when you open the bonnet. The light could be caused by several factors, but the most likely is either a loss of coolant or a fault with the sensor.Ī coolant loss could be caused by a leak somewhere in the system, such as a split hose or a hole in the radiator. What causes the engine coolant warning light to come on? Then you can do some basic checks yourself or call for help. If the coolant level is low or there is another problem with your cooling system, you could cause serious damage by continuing to drive. If the light is red, you should pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and switch off the engine. Is it safe to keep driving if my engine coolant light comes on? If you are not confident to do this yourself, then call your breakdown provider for help. In any of these cases you should pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and check the level of the coolant manually. The light may also show amber, which means the coolant level is low, or red, which means it is below the minimum or the car is overheating. When it shows, it is good practice not to put the engine under too much strain as the oil will not be able to offer the maximum protection and you may use more fuel. This is nothing to worry about – it merely shows the engine is warming up and is not yet at its ideal working temperature. Some cars and vans which do not have a separate engine temperature gauge will show the symbol lit up in blue when the car is cold. Generally, it will look like a thermometer floating in water, or possibly like a radiator. ![]() Most cars will also flash up all of the warning lights briefly when you turn on the ignition as part of a test cycle, so you may be able to spot it then too. Individual car manufacturers will use different symbols for the coolant warning light, so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the car’s manual or ask a member of Eden’s staff to show you when you take delivery of your new car or are next in for a service. What does the engine coolant warning light mean?
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