instrument light meanings?

**damianj03** · 09-06-2010, 05:27 PM

I have a instrument light on. It is red and square and it looks like a radiator. It is located at the top of the cluster almost right above the tach. I do not have a problem with overheating. Just wanting to see if anyone knows what this light means.

A little background of the light. When my friends and I installed my headers and the car was on the lift a friend found a cable that was unplugged up near the windsheild washer fluid resevuor. He asked me if i wanted him to plug it back in i said sure. After getting the install complete i started the car and noticed the light on. Never paid any attention to it because i have no leaks of any kind. I asked him where he conected it to so i could disconect it again so the light would go off but he cant remember where it was.

Oh and the car is lowered on sport lines so it is impossible to get under it without a lift.

**pajeff02** · 09-06-2010, 05:38 PM

Low coolant sensor on the overflow tank? I'm too lazy to go turn the key on our car to see what lights up...

***SMWS6TA*** · 09-06-2010, 05:56 PM

I think it also comes on when the coolant sensor is bad. Mine got ding when I was installing my LTs. Had to replace and it went away.

Op What I'm talking about is located on the drivers side near the #1 coil pack. Also what Jeff is talking about is a known problem that goes bad that is mostly irritating but not catastrophic as long as you regularly check your fluids.

**KMdef9** · 09-06-2010, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Low coolant sensor on the overflow tank? I'm too lazy to go turn the key on our car to see what lights up...

I think so as well.

We don't have a low washer fluid, do we?

**justinmc978** · 09-06-2010, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by KMdef9

I think so as well.

We don't have a low washer fluid, do we?

no

it's a bad coolant sensor, mine is on nearly all the time. i've done everything BUT change the sensor (flush coolant, new thermostat etc) and it wont go away, new one is ~$60 at oreillys

***SMWS6TA*** · 09-06-2010, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by damianj03

I have a instrument light on. It is red and square and it looks like a radiator. It is located at the top of the cluster almost right above the tach. I do not have a problem with overheating. Just wanting to see if anyone knows what this light means.

A little background of the light. When my friends and I installed my headers and the car was on the lift a friend found a cable that was unplugged up near the windshield washer fluid reservoir.

You did the same thing as me.

Originally Posted by KMdef9

I think so as well.

We don't have a low washer fluid, do we?

Just like the low fuel light in 98's = non-existence

OP here is a pic of what I'm talking about

**damianj03** · 09-07-2010, 04:04 PM

ok i will check it. Q? you said near the #1 coil is that in the front of the engine or underneath the cowl?

Next is this light didnt come on until my friend plugged the cable back in close to around the washer/ radiator area. Maybe it is something else malfunctioned around the area? or maybe just a couincadence that it just happened to turn on during the install? Either way i will check the coolant sensor.

**justinmc978** · 09-07-2010, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by damianj03

ok i will check it. Q? you said near the #1 coil is that in the front of the engine or underneath the cowl?

up front.

**Cutlass** · 09-07-2010, 05:47 PM

Low coolant level sensor location

**damianj03** · 09-07-2010, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

Low coolant level sensor location

so maybe this is the cable he plugged in? Is this accessable from under the car?

**wicked1** · 09-07-2010, 06:20 PM

When I bought my 99 that light was on and I didnt know what it was. Its a low coolant light and its junk. Best bet is to just unplug it. I believe GM took them off of the 2000 and newer models because they light up when they get dirty and if you arent super careful pulling them out to clean youll have a leak thats tough to fix.

**justinmc978** · 09-07-2010, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by wicked1

When I bought my 99 that light was on and I didnt know what it was. Its a low coolant light and its junk. Best bet is to just unplug it. I believe GM took them off of the 2000 and newer models because they light up when they get dirty and if you arent super careful pulling them out to clean youll have a leak thats tough to fix.

IRCC..

'98s only had the truthfully accurate one, that would actually tell if coolant was really low, at the second

99+ are different and are more of a 'dummy' one,