Member Since: 30 May 2014
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 18
coolant level help.
I have a low coolant level warning on my Disco3. When I checked there is plenty in the expansion tank but can't see any between the fill lines. When I try to top up the expansion tank fills to overflowing but nothing appears between the lines.
Help please. What am I doing wrong?
2nd Jun 2014 11:56 pm
Woolmeister
Member Since: 26 Mar 2007
Location: Chandler's Ford
Posts: 3457
The float becomes porous and sinks, triggering the message. Chances are, there is actually plenty of coolant in the header tank.
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Last edited by Woolmeister on 3rd Jun 2014 8:52 am. Edited 1 time in total
3rd Jun 2014 6:43 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The float becoming a sink is rather common feature and the bottle is not easy to read either. If in doubt pop the headlight out:
Click image to enlarge
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Member Since: 05 May 2013
Location: Stalybridge
Posts: 575
Is this another stroke of LR genius where the only way to accurately check the coolant level is to take the headlight out
I've had the same problem as the OP, I can't see whether the level is low or not because of the fluid at the top of the tank!
I've only had the message once, but I'm a bit OCD about having all of the fluids exactly where they should be and now the coolant one is just bugging me Lee
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3rd Jun 2014 8:04 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20733
Never seen the difficulty.
There are 2 lines on the side of the bottle. Coolant should be between them My D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 05 May 2013
Location: Stalybridge
Posts: 575
I think it's down to what's in the way of the lines when you're looking down into the engine bay.
From Robbie's pic it's really easy to see the lines, but without taking out the headlight it's not that easy to see the lines and the fill level.
I can get that from your point of view DM you've seen enough of these to know where the fluid level should be without seeing the lines, but us mere mortals need a bit more help
It's not that it's impossible, it's just not as easy to see as it is on other cars Lee
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3rd Jun 2014 8:21 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20733
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Don't see the issue with seeing the lines. Removing the grill and headlight is literally a 15 second job
Yes, granted, you shouldn't need to remove the grill and headlight to accurately check coolant level, but for the sake of 15 seconds it's not an issue IMO.Dennis
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3rd Jun 2014 8:30 am
Comusat
Member Since: 05 May 2013
Location: Stalybridge
Posts: 575
See, knowledge is a powerful thing.
I haven't got any
It never even occured to me to look on the other side of the bottle Lee
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3rd Jun 2014 8:31 am
Hardwareman
Member Since: 30 May 2014
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 18
Thanks for all your help guys. I can see the level (or lack of it) on the side of the bottle without having to remove anything by shining a torch from one side and looking from the other. Works a treat.
Taking car back to garage where I bought it from less than 2 weeks ago to see if he will put new tank in. I pointed out the problem before I bought it but he said there was plenty of fluid in there and all was OK.
Is this another stroke of LR genius where the only way to accurately check the coolant level is to take the headlight out
could be worse...the Jag XK is black none see through plastic
....the only way is to remove the filler cap
if its full you get scalded
&
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3rd Jun 2014 12:49 pm
Hardwareman
Member Since: 30 May 2014
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 18
Garage owner has agreed to repair and has ordered a new sensor so all should be OK by Friday. Fingers crossed.
3rd Jun 2014 2:52 pm
CUCO
Member Since: 27 May 2011
Location: Spain & Oleee!!!
Posts: 609
The low coolant was deleted from the ECU in a software revision (i dont know which one), and there could be a lot of cars that have this problem of porous float and could be without coolant without warning if there is a leak.
Check your coolant weekly for leaks, because if yours was flashed as I say with the coolant patch, there will not be a low coolant level light, bong or what ever.
Maybe you could test the sensor by jumping the wires at the botton to test if it triggers a alarm in the dash or not to know it. I dont know, but the solution if so is change the coolant bottle.
you dont need to remove the headlight to check coolant, just look at the bottle inner side and seek for two lines. if level is between with cold engine: you are OK. easy
3rd Jun 2014 4:34 pm
Hardwareman
Member Since: 30 May 2014
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 18
Thanks for that. If I have coolant in the top expansion tank but none in between the lines, do I have coolant in the system?
3rd Jun 2014 4:48 pm
Bev
Member Since: 28 Apr 2011
Location: Perthshire
Posts: 741
Hardwareman wrote:
Garage owner has agreed to repair and has ordered a new sensor so all should be OK by Friday. Fingers crossed.
I think you actually require a new bottle as the float unit is inside and part of the plastic as opposed to part of the sensor.
That's what cured mine showing low coolant anyway. I would ask for the actual bottle to be replaced rather than just the sensor at the bottom( which I found out is a separate part number)....
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