[Cluelessnblonde]

Hi again.....I got the car back again yesterday following the mechanic thoroughly checking and pressure testing the coolant system (all ok) and an oil change + filters. He filled the oil up to just below the 2nd segment from the top so as to be able to see if the coolant pours into the engine and, so far, there has been no movement on the oil gauge. No engine temperature warning light and no rise in temperature above 85 either. The coolant filler cap had been changed for the latest 04 version on the last service last year, but as it was still a blue one I hadn't realised that it had been changed.

The car sounded good and drove normally and well on the way home and has continued to do so. I've been out in her again today visiting friends which involved lots of short runs with plenty of stopping and starting and, each time, there has been no movement on either the oil gauge or coolant level. I've not seen the engine temperature warning light come on at all and the engine temperature has remained steady at all times.

It's early days but I am beginning to think that I might have just been too lax on keeping the coolant topped up and eventually that level dropped so low that the sensor picked it up and started flashing. The low oil viscosity just might have been where it was a little overdue for an oil change too. Most certainly I've never ever seen the temperature gauge rise above 85, so I'm keeping everything crossed that can possibly be crossed and hoping that I might be right. This was the mechanics view as well.

Meanwhile, thank you all so much for all of your helpful comments on this issue. I've also found that I enjoy reading through other peoples posts on various 3.2S related issues and have come to realise the value of having people like you in my corner.

I'll repost again in a few days to say how she is going. Cheers :-) x