Re: 86 4kcsq coolant idiot light

[Allan Jones <ampj@tiac.net>]

Frank,
  I had a very similar situation occur in July of '91, only 2 days after
I bought my new/used '86 GT Coupe with a digital dash. On the digital 
dash there is no idiot light for the coolant, but instead uses the gauge
itself for an idiot light by programing the indicator to flash at the
highest temperature. This condition arose and since I was new to the car
and had purchased a Used-car 12 mo./12K mile Warranty that included all
electronics, I drove it on in. The mechanics at the dealer could not
figure it out and I was called in to the G.M.(?)'s office only to be
told that it could not be fixed and I would have to "live with it." I
think I said something to the effect of, "What?!!"  It is July, I told
him, and on *my* new/used car I have to live with a coolant gauge that
does_not_function? He replied with the excuse that he would have to
replace the whole inst. cluster since the dig. dash came in only one
piece, AND it was a $900 part! I think I said something to the effect
of, "So?!!" and flashed my warranty. The part was ordered and installed
a few days later.
  Guess what. As I drove away from the dealer, it started to flash!
Instead of turning around, I went home to look at it myself. I noticed
the reservoir was low, so I filled it up(duhh o.k. boss!) I then looked
in the owner's manual and it was right there in black and white-"When
the coolant level is too low, the coolant temp. light will flash until
the coolant level has been restored to normal."
  That is a true story, I have the receipt. A brand-new $900 instrument
cluster with an orange display instead of the original red(86's were
red/87's were orange) for nothing(money or reason). I have no idea why
they did not a)know what the flashing gauge meant or b)fill the
reservoir. I can only guess that they had no experience with the digital
dash, but even so, I would like to think that they could have figured it
out or read the manual. There were no leaks or problems before nor
immediately after, and since then the gauge has only flashed when the
coolant is low, working just as perfectly as the red cluster. 
  Anyways Frank, it sounds to me like your coolant is low. I know you
checked it, but you never know. . . it could need more.
			Sorry about the story, I get into them. Allan

Frank Sanford wrote:
> 
>         The coolant idiot light on my '86 4000CSq flashes under hard
> acceleration, braking, and cornering. The guage reads normal temp,
> the car has never overheated, the fan comes on at the proper temp,
> and the coolant level is fine. I figure the sender is bad. Does the
> idiot light have it's own sender, and if so, where is it?
> 
> Frank
> 
> --
> Frank Sanford
> fsanford@pamd.cig.mot.com