low coolant light on 95 850

[steve3007]

The coolant reservoir cap cracked on my 95 850 and was leaking some coolant out. I put on a new cap and topped up the reservoir.

Now, a few days later the low coolant light came on and won't go off. The level looks good, engine temp ok, no OBD2 codes, lot's of cabin heat. Thermostat was replaced about 6 months ago.

Do I have an air pocket somewhere? I thought the level indicator is in the reservoir itself.

Ideas?

[tripleb]

If the level of the coolant in the reservoir is ok, then the float in the reservoir may be stuck. See if you can jar it loose.

If it is ok, then the sensor or wiring may be bad.

B

[karageorge2]

Assuming the level is correct.

The plug under the reservoir is plugged in right? you may want to check that plug connection if you haven't already. if ok, like tripleb said its probably the sensor itself ($18) and they do go bad.

So how did the cap crack? any idea?

I've had about forty cars in my lifetime and have never had that happen to me. I guess if it aint one thing its another.

[wheelsup]

So how did the cap crack? any idea?

I've had about forty cars in my lifetime and have never had that happen to me. I guess if it aint one thing its another.

My 95 850 also had a cracked radiator cap and was leaking coolant, to the point of turning on the dashboard light. No idea how it originally got cracked though, however it had been that way a looooong time.

[MadeInJapan]

When we had our 850, at least once a year the cap would crack...don't know why. We have gotten in the habit of keeping a spare one in the glove box. Even now, when no issue with the cap, both of our cars have spares in their respective glove boxes.

Top off the coolant and see if it still disappears. How does the car drive otherwise? Hope you don't have a sweet syruppy smell in the cabin...if you do, I would say the broken cap was acting like a pressure valve and now that everything is tight, the heater core has sprung a leak.

[Demon]

it can also be that the radiator is leaking coolant, but you mentioned that the level is ok, so that might not be the problem, but you should still check out the radiator and see if its leaking.