CEL and low coolant

[Keano]

Have had intermittent heating for a few days and today after not driving for a week and doing about 70 miles i stopped and got a CEL. Everything seemed normal and car was fine but later i noticed that the temp gauge was showing high but sometimes normal when i stopped. When it all cooled down i checked the coolant level and it was indeed low. It took 1L of antifreeze and 3L of water to fill and the temperature is back below the 90 mark as normal. My question is does this sound like the cause of the CEL and will the CEL go after a period of time or will it need a dealer reset

thx
Keano

 

[CatmanV2]

Have had intermittent heating for a few days and today after not driving for a week and doing about 70 miles i stopped and got a CEL. Everything seemed normal and car was fine but later i noticed that the temp gauge was showing high but sometimes normal when i stopped. When it all cooled down i checked the coolant level and it was indeed low. It took 1L of antifreeze and 3L of water to fill and the temperature is back below the 90 mark as normal. My question is does this sound like the cause of the CEL and will the CEL go after a period of time or will it need a dealer reset

thx
Keano

Yes, and probably it will go

C

 

[allandwf]

Low water may also be the cause of your intermittent heating. Hopefully no harm done, but you need to trace the leak.

 

[CatmanV2]

Low water may also be the cause of your intermittent heating. Hopefully no harm done, but you need to trace the leak.

WHS

Although I've owned a couple of cars where the coolant level *refused* to stay above minimum. Never did them any harm though. But let's not talk about the Alfa 155 with the vanishing PAS fluid.

C

 

[philw696]

Split plastic expansion tank or leaking hose at rear of engine over the bell housing as a guess.

 

[CatmanV2]

Split plastic expansion tank or leaking hose at rear of engine over the bell housing as a guess.

The expansion tanks do split at the weld, tis true.

C

 

[conaero]

The expansion tanks do split at the weld, tis true.

C

Yes seen this several times and they are inexpensive to replace.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yes seen this several times and they are inexpensive to replace.

They are that

C

 

[Keano]

thx All. Parked again for a week anyway so will check level when i return