-- sure enough, it's low. Topped it off (about a pint). Two days later, the warning is *still* flashing, even though the system is filled all the way to the "Max Cold" mark on the tank. What gives?
One more oddity: the low-coolant warning did *not* flash when the hose burst, despite dumping about half of the system on the street.
I had to replace the coolant tank in the '01 lw300 last year because of a broken float switch. The float caries a magnet that actuates the fixed reed switch in the tank. Been fine since.
You might have had to add fluid because all the air was not purged from the high points of the system. Eventually the air works its way out and the fluid level will accordingly drop. In cases where there is still trapped air, the coolant level may drop as pressure increases... causing a low coolant level.
Given your last entry about the low coolant warning did not flash... I would strongly suspect the coolant level float switch is stuck, as was mine.
btw- disconnecting the float switch will turn the indicator ON.
Right, I'm sure that's why it dropped after the repair.
Ahhh, hadn't thought about that. After a week, though -- including a weekend trip out of state -- I would think that any trapped air should have worked its way back to the tank by now. I've driven the car about 300 miles since topping off the tank, and about 400 since the repair.
Is there any way to free a stuck switch? Or do I have to replace the tank?
Hmmm... I guess that's another thing to check: if the connector somehow came loose.
I have a buddy with a repair shop that gets me parts at his cost. Tank for the lw300 cost me $65. Can't say for sure on your car but the switches are generally molded into the tank and can not be replaced separately.
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