Ok, I'v had a poke through numerous threads about this, but thought before I spend any money diagnosing this I'd try something simple. Your Mileage may vary...


I've been getting the "Check coolant level" message everytime I've driven the car for the last few days. It started a few weeks ago but was showing maybe once a week. Recently it's been every time I drive the car.

I left the car overnight on a flat and level surface and checked the coolant level first thing this morning. It was smack bang in the middle of the cold-fill lines. I started the car and got the warning. I switched the engine off, popped the bonnet and wiped over the whole expansion tank with a damp cloth to give it a little bit of a clean, and have not had the message since.

Obviously I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks, but I thought I'd post it up here in case anybody else had similar experiences.

theres a possibility that it might not be the level why the warning is coming up but the mixture might not be correct.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Could I borrow your magic cloth please

Or you need a new coolant sensor / coolant tank and sensor. .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
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I've got the same issue. It's going back in to the dealer for the third time in a couple of weeks so will let you know if/how they fix it.

to be honest I'll be amazed if it's fixed it, but I thought I'd post it anyway as I don't really believe in coincidences where cars are concerned. So far, I haven't seen the message re-appear and I've driven the car a few times now since doing it.

I'm keeping an eye on it

tafftoo, when was the coolant last changed? Modern antifreeze needs changing every few years!

The bottle not only checks level but also mixture levels too so, if your antifreeze has NOT been changed for a while? And a bottle (with new sensor) is around £30 from JLR! I would advise doing both the Antifreeze & a new bottle sir

And before lots of members say “thats a bit excessive changing the expansion bottle if your unsure its faulty” the expansion bottle if made of the type of nylon plastic that hardens with age & heat so, i would change it as preventative maintenance every 10yrs anyhow!

Not sure when the coolant was last changed so I was planning on changing it at the next service anyway. As for changing the bottle and the sensor you might be right and it might be overkill, but I was thinking I'd change that at the same time anyway so that I don't have to worry about it for a few more years.

Saw the message again today so I guess wiping the dirt off it didn't do much, lol.

Took mine into local dealer for the front brake hose recall and the coolant warning came up for him, it hadn't appeared for me for a few weeks. They quoted £135 to fix it. Current:
1999 SL500
2006 Mini One Chrome wrapped
2008 FFRR 4.2sc

The coolant sensor doesnt get wet.
So Im guessing that the specific gravity of the coolant affects where the float sits relative to the SG of the coolant.
You can buy a new sensor only if you like.

But I do agree with previous post re the age of the expansion bottle.
I have had 2 new expansion bottles in the last 12 months, they both developed a leak on the inboard side at the seam.
Pretty sure I have reason to believe that over filling the bottle stresses it, I run my coolant at just under half mast on the indicator now and I have had no further problems.
I did get replacements on warranty.

If yours is a 2002 then it should have a 140psi cap on it, not the later 200psi cap.... worth a check... says the psi on the cap... Pete
__________________________________________________
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Kpa, I thinks.
Its odd that you dont get a new cap when you buy a new expansion bottle.
I bought a new cap just the same.
200Kpa caps on the later models is a pretty steep rise in pressure, at these sorts of pressures you really do need to keep your hoses in tip top shape.

[quote="stan"]theres a possibility that it might not be the level why the warning is coming up but the mixture might not be correct..[/quote]

Stan or anyone else that knows - What is the correct ratio of coolant vs water (4.2SC)?

Got the error earlier today, pulled into service station, checked and level seemed to be in between cold level lines. Filled up with some clean water as the service station only had green coolent.

Got a bottle of orange coolant.

How do you let out any excess water if I cannot correct ratio to coolant?

thanking you.

its all in the WM George,

double Thanks Stan. Eventually saw it is a 50/50 ratio.

Attendanrs sold me the wrong colour. nowcabout 20mm green in tank

Now to get the right colour tomorrow.