I have a 99 Ford Taurus, the low coolant light keeps coming on and I can smell hot coolant. I had the radiator flushed last month - didn't help. I had the system pressure tested yesterday - they found no leaks - but still no change. The light continues to come on after approx. 100 miles. Any other ideas?

hi my ford transit recovery truck 1997 on a p reg has a light on dashboard
stating that the the radiator is low but the coolant is full of water. please help

I had a similar problem. Replaced head gasket, but low coolant light stayed on. My problem was air in the system. A flush and fill kit may work, however, I had a local shop do a "flush and fill" and the problem remained. What I did... With vehicle running, and radiator cap off, bring engine to operating temperature. Increase rpms slightly above idle until coolant can be seen moving in radiator (thermostat open). Add small amounts of coolant, keeping the radiator level just below overflow hole in cap area. In my case, after about 15 minutes at slightly above idle rpms, a large pocket of air escaped. I topped off radiator, installed cap, and let engine cool. Problem has not returned in last six months. *Note coolant is VERY HOT, and if rpms fluctuate, coolant will expel quickly from radiator. Also, when the air pocket escaped, coolant also sprays out. Use caution to avoid being burned.

Put the coolant directly into the radiator until it's full. Start the engine and run it, watching the fluid level. Keep the coolant within one inch of the neck. Fill the reservoir about half way when the radiator is full.

you are either low on coolant or need a thermostat. Check to see if the 2 radiator hoses are oht hot. Then check to see if both heater hoses are hot.

The most common problems are low coolant level, stuck thermostat, fans not working and plugged radiator. If your coolant level is good and the fan turns on when the engine gets hot, then change the thermostat and flush the radiator at the same time because the thermostat needs to come out to do a proper flush. Hope this helps.

have u checked the coolant level?if its low you wont get much heat.

sounds like you may have an air bubble trapped. Try loosening the radiator cap & running the engine at 1500 rpms till the thermstat opens & see if you can "burp" the air out. You may lose a little coolant this way. shut off car & recheck coolant in radiator and reservoir bottle. Just because reservoir is full, doesn't mean radiator is full.

The smoke must come from a coolant leak close to the radiator, or a fin crack in the radiator itself. Check all hoses and clamps, idle hot and look for smoke. You may have a heater core corrosion issue, watch close for coolant leaks on the floor mats inside, all of this may be connected and look for leaks where you park. Just a small amount can produce smoke, open the hood when it smokes and look.

Low coolant means just that, find out if the system is really low or the light is receiving a false signal from the low coolant sensor, just check the level in the coolant recovery tank and the make sure the radiator tank is full, if you are low on coolant then check out why, a leak is probable, most likely a water pump or hose related issue, and no a bad thermostat will not in itself turn on the low coolant light unless the engine boils over and the system becomes low. Remember never ever open a radiator cap on a hot engine, you would be surprised how many professional mechanics get burned this way, be careful..