Did you know that there are a lot of warning lights that can flash on your dashboard and the most common one is the coolant warning light?
It’s not unusual for your car’s dashboard to light up with warning lights. In the event of a coolant warning light, however, you should take immediate action to maintain a safe operating temperature.
When the coolant warning light is on, you can protect your engine from further damage if you know the proper reason and how to solve it.
Steps for Handling Coolant Warning Lights
During any difficult situation, you should follow these steps in order to handle the coolant warning light:
Step 1: Don’t Panic
Some car owners freak out when they see a warning of a coolant light on their dashboard. If you do not, your vehicle could overheat and cause damage that may be irreparable.
Step 2: Turn the Engine Off
When troubleshooting, you should turn off the engine and park in a safe location to prevent further damage.
Step 3: Turn Your Engine On
Once you are parked in a safe location, turn the engine on. If the coolant light does not return after several seconds, you can proceed to drive normally.
Step 4: Get Your Vehicle Checked
It’s not recommended to ignore the overheating warning in your car. If you can, drive your car to the service station right away.
If possible, avoid driving far enough to allow the engine to cool down without any load on it. This is because if your vehicle remains in idle mode when the coolant light appears, the engine will overheat further.
Always consult with experts. Also you can try reading automobile related blogs or magazines like Pick Preference. Precautions always help to overcome many critical situations.
Step 5: Get Water & Antifreeze for Your Vehicle
If you do not have any water & antifreeze in your car, drive to a nearby auto parts store and pick some up right away. If you’re too late, keep an eye on your engine temperature as soon as the light goes off to make sure it doesn’t continue to rise.
Step 6: Get Your Vehicle Checked Again
Once you have water and antifreeze, check the levels in your car’s radiator. Add more if needed before driving again. The purpose of adding coolant is to raise the engine temperature so it can run properly.
Overheating can occur from a coolant leak, crack, or other damage to the engine.
If you don’t do anything about the coolant light, it can mean big trouble for your engine. If this light is on while driving, turn off your engine right away to prevent overheating.
Step 7: Visit Your Mechanic
After performing any troubleshooting, head straight to your mechanic for help if you are unable to fix the warning light on your own.
Coolant warning lights are annoying, but not impossible to fix on your own. If you follow the instructions, you can keep your car from long-term damage and keep yourself safe while driving.
The Types of Cooling System Warning Lights
There are five main warning lights on your dashboard that indicate problems with your car’s cooling system:
- Antifreeze Temperature Warning Light
- Coolant Temperature Low-Water Level Warning Light
- Oil Cooler Pressure Warning Light
- Coolant Overheat Warning Light
- Engine Temperature High-Water Level Warning Light
Additional Things to Know About Coolant Warning Light
A few additional things you need to know during coolant warning light are as follows:
The Purpose of a Radiator/Engine Coolant Level
Radiator: Your car’s radiator works to dissipate the heat generated by the engine. Radiator coolant carries that heat away from the engine and carries it into the air.
Radiator coolant water pump carries the antifreeze mixture throughout your car’s cooling system. The radiator cap is responsible for keeping your radiator coolant above a set pressure or vacuum level to control radiator cooling and also prevent boiling.
Engine: The high engine coolant temperature gauge helps maintain a safe operating heat for your car’s internal parts and fluids. If the engine temperature continues to rise, it can damage your car and create lasting problems for you.
Why Does a Car’s Coolant Light Turn On in Cold Weather?
Coolant warning lights turn on in cold weather for a few different reasons:
Your Coolant is Low: If your engine temperature indicator light turns on when it’s cold outside, you may have a big problem with your car. This is because the coolant level could be really low and if nothing is done about the issue, your car could overheat.
Your Car is Too Cold: If your car’s engine temperature warning light turns on when it’s cold outside, you may not have enough antifreeze in your cooling system. As a result, your engine will run too cool and the indicator light will turn on in response.
How to Deal with a Low Coolant Light?
You should never ignore low coolant warning lights on your car’s dashboard. This is because low coolant levels mean that the antifreeze in your cooling system has evaporated.
When you see a low coolant warning light, it usually means big trouble for your car’s cooling system, so you should get it checked if you notice anything wrong. If you notice the low coolant light on your dashboard, follow these tips:
Add More Antifreeze/Coolant: Your problem might be as simple as a low coolant level. So, if you’re low coolant light is on, check the levels in your radiator then add more if needed.
Check Your Radiator: You should also inspect your radiator or radiator cap for any leaks, cracks, or other damage to the coolant reservoir. If you find any coolant tank leaks or damage, your car is most likely low on coolant and needs to be checked by a mechanic.
Check Your Radiator Hoses: Make sure there is no dripping from your hose clamp and that everything looks dry and clean under the hood. Add more coolant if necessary and then wait for the low coolant light to turn off. Radiator cap problems are often the cause of low coolant warning lights.
If your low coolant light is still on after checking these things, you should visit a mechanic for help. If the low coolant light is still on when you arrive at the mechanic’s, it could mean your engine is low or out of coolant and needs to be checked.
What is the Proper Way to Maintain Coolant?
Proper maintenance is the only way to ensure that all your vehicle’s cooling system warning lights will turn on when necessary. Here are some easy tips for maintaining your car’s coolant.
Keep an Eye on Coolant Levels: First, you need to make sure that if any of your car’s indicator lights indicate a problem with its engine’s coolant, you need to add more antifreeze and water. The best place to check for this is your engine hood.
Always Check For Leaks: You should always make sure that there are no leaks with your car’s cooling system. If there is any indication of a leak, try adding some more water/antifreeze.
However, if you are unable to locate the source of the leak, you should bring your car to a mechanic immediately.
How Often Should You Check Your Car’s Coolant?
You should check your car’s coolant at least once every six months in order to try and avoid problems with your engine or radiator in the future.
If you notice any problems during this time, it is best to bring your car in for a checkup as soon as possible.
Conclusion
A car’s coolant warning light is a critical indicator that you need to pay attention to. Always remember that the best thing you can do is take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible if this light comes on.
You should have now gained some insight into what to do if this light comes on. Best wishes on your journey!