What Does This Service Light Mean?

[Agent Orange]

http://uploader.ws/upload/200804/Cav.jpg


It just popped up on the dashboard of my 2001 Chevy Caviler.

The car seems to be overheating, so I would assume it has something to do with that.

[jjski78]

Probably low coolant

[whorobj]

:rofl:

[spelling bee]

its blinker fluid....you need to add more

[juneaujeep]

Add some coolant.

[THE REAL DEAL]

no way

[DvBoard]

Low Coolant. Sell the car immediately and start taking the bus...

[Low-ass]

Take it AutoZone they will check your service lights for free.

[Agent Orange]

Take it AutoZone they will check your service lights for free.


I thought that was just the "Check Engine Light?" The nearest Auto Zone (or any parts place) is too far to drive because it heats up quick.

I think the thermostat is busted. :wtc:

[Low-ass]

I thought that was just the "Check Engine Light?" The nearest Auto Zone (or any parts place) is too far to drive because it heats up quick.

I think the thermostat is busted. :wtc::ugh:

[LS1S13]

I thought that was just the "Check Engine Light?" The nearest Auto Zone (or any parts place) is too far to drive because it heats up quick.

I think the thermostat is busted. :wtc:PUT SOME FUCKING COOLANT IN IT YOU FUCKING RETARD.

[spelling bee]

I thought that was just the "Check Engine Light?" The nearest Auto Zone (or any parts place) is too far to drive because it heats up quick.

I think the thermostat is busted. :wtc:


if its low on coolant its not the thermostat.......

[jjski78]

It's not winter right now, and you live in Texas. Fill your radiator with water, drive to the nearest Autozone/Walmart/whereverthefuckyouwannabuycoolant, buy some Prestone 50/50 coolant. Drive your car onto your lawn, crawl under it, undo radiator drain plug, or just pull off the lower hose, let it drain into the ground, replace plug/hose, fill radiator with new coolant, win.

[Agent Orange]

But the thermostat is not working. Put on another one and added coolant. And filled the radiator back up.

[jjski78]

So let me get this straight...you filled up the coolant, changed the t-stat, and it's still overheating?? If so, coolant temperature sensor, son. Possibly even a water pump. Shit, it's a fucking Cavalier, just put it on the curb for the trash man.

[LS1S13]

But the thermostat is not working.How do you know?

[Agent Orange]

How do you know?

We put it in boiling water (it's supposed to open up at about 180 degrees). The new one opens, the old one barely opens a crack.

[Agent Orange]

So let me get this straight...you filled up the coolant, changed the t-stat, and it's still overheating?? If so, coolant temperature sensor, son. Possibly even a water pump. Shit, it's a fucking Cavalier, just put it on the curb for the trash man.


Yep. New t-stat and filled it with coolant. So coolant temp sensor or water pump, huh? Shit.

It's the SO's car and I'm not familiar with it.

[Agent Orange]

There's nothing leaking out of the car, but there's no pressure in the radiator hose. You can squeeze it in all the way.

[jjski78]

There's nothing leaking out of the car, but there's no pressure in the radiator hose. You can squeeze it in all the way.

Is the fan coming on?

[Agent Orange]

Is the fan coming on?


Yep.

[jjski78]

Autozone carries the pump and the sensor. Total less than $50 for the parts. Should be an easy fix. Also make sure it has oil in it too.

[jjski78]

Yep.

Then it's not the sensor. You more than likely have a bad pump.

[jjski78]

28.99 lifetime warrantied at autozone. Duralast part #AWP-624

[Agent Orange]

Autozone carries the pump and the sensor. Total less than $50 for the parts. Should be an easy fix. Also make sure it has oil in it too.

Yeah, the oil is good. I think I'm going to try the pump next, thanks! :bigthumb:

[jjski78]

Yeah, the oil is good. I think I'm going to try the pump next, thanks! :bigthumb:

NP. Let us know how it goes. FWD water pumps are a fucking bitch and a half.

[Agent Orange]

NP. Let us know how it goes. FWD water pumps are a fucking bitch and a half.


It looks that way, unfortunately. I can't even see where it is from just glancing in there.

[DvBoard]

You did bleed the system correctly right? If you don't it will overheat. Happened on my '96 cavy when we missed the 2nd bleeder value the first time.

[Agent Orange]

You did bleed the system correctly right? If you don't it will overheat. Happened on my '96 cavy when we missed the 2nd bleeder value the first time.

You mean drain all of the water out of the radiator? We did that, and then filled it back up.

Is there something else we should have done? :dunno:

[LS1S13]

You mean drain all of the water out of the radiator? We did that, and then filled it back up.

Is there something else we should have done? :dunno:
On some vehicles theres a valve you have to open/take out so that air can get out of the system.

[DvBoard]

You mean drain all of the water out of the radiator? We did that, and then filled it back up.

Is there something else we should have done? :dunno:At least on mine there was i think 1 or 2 other valves closer to where the coolant entered the engine that you had to purge air from. :oopsie: I'd have to look at my book, but it's in my car. Sounds like you have air trapped in the system.

Oh and a water pump isn't too bad to do since it's a belt driven one. :dunno: I don't know if you need to do it though since it's prbly just air causing your problem.

[spelling bee]

there might be a bleeder valve where the upper hose runs into the motor

[95LTX]

sounds like air in the system after installing the thermostat.

id just keep topping it off.

[Agent Orange]

We're going to change the water pump this week, so I guess I'll go from there.

I'll post on here if it works or not though.

[LS1S13]

We're going to change the water pump this week, so I guess I'll go from there.

I'll post on here if it works or not though.
Good idea to not take the advice and try something a hell of a lot easier than changing a water pump.

[Agent Orange]

Good idea to not take the advice and try something a hell of a lot easier than changing a water pump.


We looked in the book for the car, and we didn't see anything in there that mentioned a correct way to bleed/refill the radiator.

Next step looks like the water pump. :dunno:

[surrealmethod]

We looked in the book for the car, and we didn't see anything in there that mentioned a correct way to bleed/refill the radiator.

Next step looks like the water pump. :dunno:

While having air in the system isn't a good thing, it's not going to kill the engine either. When most cars have air in the cooling system you get sounds like mice running around the engine thats caused by bubbles gurggling (sp?) around.

Some cars come with relief valves but all you really have to do is shake and squeze the radiator hoses until all the air has passed through the system and entered the radiator. At this point just top off the radiator and you have taken out most bubbles.

[Agent Orange]

While having air in the system isn't a good thing, it's not going to kill the engine either. When most cars have air in the cooling system you get sounds like mice running around the engine thats caused by bubbles gurggling (sp?) around.

Some cars come with relief valves but all you really have to do is shake and squeze the radiator hoses until all the air has passed through the system and entered the radiator. At this point just top off the radiator and you have taken out most bubbles.


Changing the radiator/coolant cap put the air pressure back in the hoses. I think a piece of the cap that seals the coolant tank broke off, but the new one works fine.

Still, the car temp goes into the red within minutes of being driven. I'll double check the book when I get home and make sure that we refilled the coolant correctly, and then check out the water pump.

I'm ignorant on these issues, so will look into any recommendations posted here.

[surrealmethod]

Changing the radiator/coolant cap put the air pressure back in the hoses. I think a piece of the cap that seals the coolant tank broke off, but the new one works fine.

Still, the car temp goes into the red within minutes of being driven. I'll double check the book when I get home and make sure that we refilled the coolant correctly, and then check out the water pump.

I'm ignorant on these issues, so will look into any recommendations posted here.

If you have time do this test.

Open the radiator cap and turn on the car.

If in a few minutes (about 5-10) the water in the radiator is boiling and coming out of hole like a tea kettle then I'm afraid you might have a blown head gasket.

If your car is overheating but the water is not boiling in the radiator then your water pump could be bad or you have a clog somewhere. At this point you would have to get a radiator flush and a new water pump.

Be advised that the coolant will be hot and you could get burned, never look directly into the radiator when the engine is on.

[Agent Orange]

If you have time do this test.

Open the radiator cap and turn on the car.

If in a few minutes (about 5-10) the water in the radiator is boiling and coming out of hole like a tea kettle then I'm afraid you might have a blown head gasket.

If your car is overheating but the water is not boiling in the radiator then your water pump could be bad or you have a clog somewhere. At this point you would have to get a radiator flush and a new water pump.

Be advised that the coolant will be hot and you could get burned, never look directly into the radiator when the engine is on.


I will check that out, thanks! :bigthumb:

[Agent Orange]

Ok, we changed the water pump and completely flushed out the radiator. In the book, it didn't say that there was a specific way to refill the radiator, so we just filled it up.

The water pump we took off seemed fine, and everything turned like it should. But, the plate on it that spins (with small blades on it) looked a little warped.

After we put on the new one, I drove it around for a bit, and the car ran at about 195 degrees, which is what in ran before the problem. It looks like everything is fine with it, but I'm still a little bit skeptical.

Guess I'll drive it some more tonight just to be sure, but so far everything looks good.