1998 Saturn SL2 90,000 miles

RUSBELL

MEMBER
1998 SATURN

About 10,000 miles ago, the Lights on the dashboard for temp and oil started blinking. I checked the oil, and all fluid levels and they are all good. I change the oil regularly, and it does not go low. The check engine light is not on. When I go on long trips, it sometimes stops, but whenever I start the car it blinks. I have a temperature guage in the car, and it reads normal temperature. If I am in traffic, and the car gets a little warm, I see the Temp guage go up some, and then the electric fan kicks on, and the temp goes back down. What does this indicate?

Sunday, April 15th, 2007 AT 9:15 PM

1 Reply

PEPPERMRJ

MECHANIC
1,158 POSTS

Hey Rus,
Standard or automatic tranny?

The owners manual lists all the meaning of the lights.

If my memory serves me, the light indicates either a low coolant level or a bad/gummed up level switch.

The level switch is a simple on/off float switch in the coolant bottle. It can be cleaned by draining enough coolant to remove the tank. Clean the coolant tank with a low suds detergent like cascade. Reinstall and refill.

On an automatic tranny the light could mean a disparity between the coolant temp sensor and the tranny temp sensor. Normally it would not be blinking just on solid.

Good luck and let us know. :)
peppermrj

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Monday, April 16th, 2007 AT 6:06 PM