Blinking temperature light

[lsc7354]

I was driving home the other day and noticed the red light on my temperature guage was blinking. The guage's needle was not indicating anything abnormal. Aside from that, i assumed that if i were overheating the light would be steady on, not blinking. i pulled over and turned the car off and back on again and the blinking stopped. I don't have an owner's manual (i just got the car and had to order a manual) so i couldn't tell if the car was trying to tell me something or not. Any insight here would be great.

Thanks for the help.

Lee

[Tool Pants]

The coolant level sensor on our cars is very sensitive. Check to see that the level is a the max line. If not, add some water. It is under the blue cap in the rear trunk.

[lsc7354]

Great! The level was a bit low. Thanks for the tip!

[PeterJoyce]

Tool Pants: should we just add water every month or so? Water from a hose is ok right? Thanks!!!

[Tool Pants]

No reason to do it unless it falls below the high level mark.

Tap or distilled water is always a debate, like what oil to use. The tap water where I live does not have a lot of stuff in it, so I use tap. Plus it seems my local dealer does not have distilled water in the shop, not even for batteries. If they like you they get water for the battery out of the water cooler in the customer lounge.

[Alienz]

My light blinks too for no reason. I checked the coolant level and it was fine. The light can blink all it wants, the temp will not go over a certain point (3 quarters after 180). Could it be a heat sensor problem?

[Richard Truss]

mine was blinking, called porsche for the coolant type, which they informed me that it is a 'special' coolant for porsche's only. And it could be all mine for only $25 a quart!!! he had pleanty in stock -- what a shock. I just KNEW that i could count on Tool Pants for the answer in an old thread. Went to Autozone and bought some Dex-Cool coolant and topped off my tank (although i used it straight, and have a feeling i should have mixed it -- i thought it would only need a cup or two.....but used about 1/3 of the bottle.).

please tell me i didn't ruin anything. The temp is fine and the blunking stopped at least.

[Richard Truss]

blinking started again today. damn! i think i am losing coolant, but i dont see any on the ground or in my garage. car runs great. i read the article about the coolant tank failure and i am scared not a job that i can complete myself.

[mrmickeymouse]

You did not think the coolant gremlin :troll:
stole your coolant did you???

Look under your carpeting, it takes a couple of minutes and then you will be assured.

[Ronzi]

I hate to suggest this, but take a look at your oil, too. If it seems to be making oil, as well as losing coolant, you got Big Trouble, i.e, blown head gasket. The oil on the dipstick will look frothy, not unlike a chocolate milk shake.
Usually this will manifest itself in the engine temp bouncing around, too.
I will pray for you.

[Ronzi]

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure the 986/996 engines even HAVE head gaskets. But there must be some way they seal the oil and the water passages, o-rings or some such.

[Richard Truss]

well, i drove my bimmer to work today just in case. ill check both things when i get home. I think i need to buy a drop light cause i cant see ******************** in the garage.

Thanks for your advise and prayers.

[scott in mn]

I had a similar experience as you. I was driving through Wyoming (the worst place in the world to have Porsche problems!), and my light started blinking. I had to keep adding distilled water to my engine until we got back to Minnesota (as per my dealer). The temperature throughout the whole ordeal was fine.

Once I got it looked at, it ended up being my "coolant reservoir". It seemed like a small leak, because I kept finding only teaspoon sized puddles under the rear of the car, but it turns out that it was all over my rear trunk. Finally, on the day I was scheduled to take it in, I had a HUGE puddle under the car in my garage.

It ended up being $1,400 worth of work. Luckily, I have an extended warranty, which I would highly recommend!

Hopefully, it will be a much smaller problem, but I would have it looked at soon.

[Richard Truss]

$1,400???? well, for that money i would attempt to try and do it on my own (i DONT have an extended warranty). I saw an article which explains how to complete the process, but it does look hard. Like all day hard. But i think i can buy the part for @ $225 or so (from what i understand) and the rest is labor.

Hey tool pants -- coming to vegas anytime soon???

[Richard Truss]

okay...update.

ripped (well, removed) out the carpet in the rear trunk. And there was a little coolant on the metal floor pan. However, it was no "lake". I would say all in all it would have equaled a few table spoons. mostly it was a thin coat of slime. I wiped everything up and refilled the tank (which was down @ 1/2 gallon). I then jacked up the car to see if maybe it was leaking down by the passanger rear wheel. Dry as a bone, from what i can tell.

so now i am really confused. where is the coolant? The car runs as smooth as snot, so i am praying its not a head gasket issue. but even though it was not much, that coolant in the trunk had to have escaped from somewhere in the reservior, right? maybe since i live in an extremely dry climate, some may have evaporated?

also, i did notice that i have the old (pn. 00) cap. I will be ordering the new one. maybe i will get lucky.

any thoughts?

[mrmickeymouse]

I would start with exactly what you thought, the cap first.

You could be dribbling fluid from somewhere you would not notice i.e. a hose.

Maybe find a cheap pressure checker, and then check for bleed off.

White smoke would be indicative of a head leak. Bad side is I have seen some seep a little into the chamber which never showed until we did a pressure check of each cylinder.

Unless you have overheated your motor , I would not worry about the idea of a head leak. It seems that is less common.

[Richard Truss]

another update:

went driving tonight (for an hour or so....stopped once). When i came home, i looked in my trunk and notice in fact there was new coolant that was there. again, not a lot -- maybe a few oz., but it is leaking form somewhere back there. I will defenately get the cap. should i "assume" that it is the reservior? could the current 00 cap produce those results in that time?

and do you think that i should attempt the reservior fix myself -- being a novice mechanic (very novice)? im going to get bids as well....just wondered what you all thought.

mickey?

[Ad Sach]

Richard,

As a '(very novice)' mechanic, I wouldn't work on the reservoir. I have done engine and transmission rebuilds, and would think twice before working on plastic parts that can crack and bend.

Changing the air filter, replacing side markers and headlights, brake pads, racing harness, horns, switches - these kinds of jobs naturally come first.

If you are wanting to save money, you might offer your friendly Porsche Mechanic $50 and a case a beer for him to do it in the shop after hours while you watch. Several Porsche dealers let mechanics work on the side after hours.

- - - -
2002 S LB/GG/GG

[Richard Truss]

its going in today....local "Porsche Only" shop here in town. $600 parts and labor. i figure it is cheaper than most others here have quoted.

oh well, looks like i will have to sell my body on the streets now. :P

[travelersfs]

Hello forum,
I have a 2003 Boxster blinking red light+needle pointing at far left+check engine light. The fluid level is above max, there is no condensation near cap, and the car is operation normal with no apparent signs of overheating. Deep trunk area is dry. Anyone have any idea? Was thinking of buying an OBD2 reader (if anyone recommends a particular one); perhaps it will till me something since the check engine light has been on since. I noticed the very instant my temp needle jumped to the far left, red light started flashing, then the check engine light came on, in that order. I was driving normal speed or slower (20-40mpg) with several long stops at the light, outside temp was 80. I was wearing a tanktop and flipflops! thats all the info I have