Dash warning symbols

Tiny
HANNAH05
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU
My car is front wheel drive. The symbol on my dash stays on and I am not familiar with it. It looks like a small tank with ripples of fluid in the bottom of it and it has a cap on top. Can you tell me what this symbol stands for?
Thanks,
Terry
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010 AT 12:19 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Take a look at this image below. I am pretty confident that this is what you are seeing. This is the symbol for low coolant.

This could be due to a leak, so we need to start with filling the system using this guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-flush-and-refill-all-cars

Then we need to pressure test the system to find out if there are leaks.

Basically, you pressurize the system and see if it will hold the pressure and then look for leaks if the pressure starts to drop.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Once we know this info, we will be able to better know what the issue is.

If you find no leaks, then we need to check the oil and do a head gasket test.

Clearly this is the worst-case scenario but if you are low on coolant then it is going somewhere.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolantantifreeze-in-the-engine-oil

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please run through this info and let us know what questions you have.

Thanks
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Friday, January 14th, 2022 AT 4:43 PM

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