coolant light

[EuroTunerGLI]

so last night in the rain when i turned on my car after a few seconds the coolant light turned on and i check the manual and it said to check the temp...i turned off and turned it back on and it was fine...this morning before i left to work it did the same thing...the gauge reads 120 degrees...which is the coldest

im thinking it may be the thermostat is out..any ideas...input?

[veedubber7]

did it turn off after the car warmed up?

[karl]

could be your coolant temp sensor

[RavinJetta]

Check to make sure you coolant isn't low. The coolant light is simply to tell you if you are low in coolant

[EuroTunerGLI]

well last night the car was on for about 5 mins before i turned it off then i checked the coolant level and it looked fine...so it isnt low...and i drove home last night for about 30min no problem...im guessing its the thermo or the sensor...i replaced the sensor thats on the side of the block by the MAF about 6 months ago or so...is there another one?

[mike]

When the system pressures up, the level will drop and trigger the light, if you check it cold, make sure its at the max line, also pull the connector on the bottle and make sure you don't have any pink crusty on the connector, if so, your bottle is bad.

The light lights up yellow if its low, red if its overheating if I remember correctly

[Carlos]

When the system pressures up, the level will drop and trigger the light, if you check it cold, make sure its at the max line, also pull the connector on the bottle and make sure you don't have any pink crusty on the connector, if so, your bottle is bad.

The light lights up yellow if its low, red if its overheating if I remember correctly

The light will only turn red. Purple when cold on the beetle. Follow Mike's instructions, check the coolant level when cold. check the connector for coolant migration, if you have coolant there, you got to check the connectors all over the car for coolant. If it just turns on when cold and all else is fine, you need a new coolant bottle (about $30.00). Your problem is nothing out of the ordinary. Good Luck.

[EuroTunerGLI]

ill check today after work...thanks guys hopefully its nothing major

[EuroTunerGLI]

so i check my coolant tank this morning and its low real LOW...which is odd because there are no apparent leaks...but i have heard that G12 shrinks in cold temperatures...and due to the rain these past few days i guess that could be it...imma try to add some coolant and hopefully that should fix the problem...besides the dealership is there anywhere in 909 area or nearby that may carry that kind of coolant

[RavinJetta]

The low coolant seems to be the answer 90% of the time this question is asked. I have the same issue and have never really seen a leak. Fill it up every few month a little bit and you should be good to go.

[mike]

It leaks Joel, out of the exhaust!!! Seems like every car I've worked on, BMW VW, Porsche (except the air cooled ones!) use coolant, some more than others, I just keep them topped off.

[RavinJetta]

It leaks Joel, out of the exhaust!!! Seems like every car I've worked on, BMW VW, Porsche (except the air cooled ones!) use coolant, some more than others, I just keep them topped off.

Good to know Mike. Never thought of that one.

[mike]

My GLI uses coolant, has since I bought it, So did my MK3, I just feed it, it takes a little less then a quart every 5K miles, eh, nothing you can really do.

[EuroTunerGLI]

Ohh No I Checked it right now and the coolant is keeply leaked out...looks like from the bottom of the tranny so im afraid its the thermostat housing...ahhh dang car...always another problem...well im waiting for AAA to show up to tow her to genesis

[mike]

From the area it sounds like the plastic coolant flange on the side of the head is probably cracked, less than $80 in parts, should be easy

[EuroTunerGLI]

From the area it sounds like the plastic coolant flange on the side of the head is probably cracked, less than $80 in parts, should be easy

ya the boys at genesis said that...hopefully thats what it is...any idea y something like that would happen...car just hit the 75xxx mile mark...so im not sure if thats y or if pressure from the big turbo had something to do with it? any ideas

[mike]

thats about par for the course on a VW for that part, some make it a little longer, but eh, at least it didn't blow out all the coolant on the way to Vegas or something of the sort.

[EuroTunerGLI]

thats about par for the course on a VW for that part, some make it a little longer, but eh, at least it didn't blow out all the coolant on the way to Vegas or something of the sort.


ya true..it sucks cuz i havent driven her in a few days...so when it finally stopped raining i wanted to take her out....but sadly that couldnt be haha o well...hopefully she'll be back up and running soon :tup2:

[EuroTunerGLI]

NOOOOOOOOOOO just got the bad news...the guys think its my water pump that gave out....ughhh anyone have any ideas y this could of happened...

[mike]

water pump on these cars is only good to about 60K, after that, your on borrowed time. Or if you did your T-Belt and replaced it with a cheapie that comes in some of the T-Belt kits being sold. Before 60K, it happens, their is a failure rate of everything. That sucks but look at the bright side, atleast it was leaking and didn't seize, then you would really be crying.

[EuroTunerGLI]

water pump on these cars is only good to about 60K, after that, your on borrowed time. Or if you did your T-Belt and replaced it with a cheapie that comes in some of the T-Belt kits being sold. Before 60K, it happens, their is a failure rate of everything. That sucks but look at the bright side, atleast it was leaking and didn't seize, then you would really be crying.


true...they said it would be that because of where it was leaking from...well were probably going to order the ecs timing belt kit...

the car still had its stock timing belt...so i guess its time for a new one...hopefully we wont find anything else wrong with it while were down there...
any one have experience with ecs timing belt kits?...ive been happy with the other stuff but its usually small things...

[RavinJetta]

75k is definitely borrowed time on the water pump. Also not bad timing since you are knocking out the T-Belt as well

[EuroTunerGLI]

75k is definitely borrowed time on the water pump. Also not bad timing since you are knocking out the T-Belt as well

ya imma do their kit that has the belt, pump, thermostat and all the other little stuff

hopefully it will all go smooth...thanks for the help guys...hopefully no other surprises will pop up

[protijy337]

I have a small coolant leak I've been living with for like a year, it dripped from the area in front of the crank pulley, and from what I can tell looks like either thermostat or water pump gaskets....

I need to fix this as I'm wasting good G12 ~quart every 5,000 miles :(

[mike]

Yeah, 75K is well overdue, your lucky the T-belt hasn't snapped. Luck you!

[EuroTunerGLI]

Yeah, 75K is well overdue, your lucky the T-belt hasn't snapped. Luck you!

ya thats true...shes a trooper...but she had to give...o well i guess it happens :tup: