Low Coolant Warning Light

DEBBIE

MEMBER
2013 FORD ESCAPE
4 CYL
TURBO
2WD
AUTOMATIC
55,000 MILES

I purchased my car in October. Since then about every three months or so my check coolant light comes on. This has happened three or four times now. It does not take much water and nobody could see a leak of any kind. Today, it said it was overheating and shutting down. Again, it did not take much water and I was able to get it back home. This time my check engine light is on. Do you have any suggestions? Maybe the water pump?

Thursday, July 14th, 2016 AT 2:37 PM

3 Replies

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

You do obviously have a leak and you need to pressure test the system to find the source of the leak before you do further serious internal damage.

Also, you should never add just water to a cooling system. That will deteriorate the system faster than anything. Always use a 50/50 mix of coolant.

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Thursday, July 14th, 2016 AT 3:21 PM

DEBBIE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I would normally add coolant as well but water was all I could get at the time. My next step is to have a pressure test run on the system.

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Thursday, July 14th, 2016 AT 3:29 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
51,615 POSTS

Hi Debbie,

Here are some guides that can help you, see if the engine is really heating up or if the the coolant temp sensor is bad and just saying its hot.

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please get back to us so it can help others,

Best, Ken

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Sunday, July 17th, 2016 AT 8:07 PM