Mazda Rotary Club

Cars by Model Type => 2nd generation RX-7's => Topic started by: maz13b on March 05, 2006, 04:15:35 PM

Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: maz13b on March 05, 2006, 04:15:35 PM
My dashboard error light came on and I was wondering what it is.

THe light is on the same lvl as handbrake light and right next to it in a shape of radiator.   Anyone knows what its for?

THanks,

Art
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: maz13b on March 05, 2006, 06:04:17 PM
FOUND IT.

means add coolant.
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: grinder on March 05, 2006, 07:11:45 PM
that was an easy fix :D :D :D

it should have BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZED aswell :D
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: maz13b on March 05, 2006, 08:25:20 PM
yeah it did..... and it was damn annoying :D   it is still going on and off from time to time even tho I have putted some water in.


strange
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: Thud on March 05, 2006, 08:32:26 PM
I had the same problem - if it is intermittent it means that there is a small amount of air locked in the system. Luckily there is an easy procedure to burp the radiator which worked for me. You can read it in the post below :

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=124485&highlight=burp+coolant

Having said that - do you see any white smoke when you start the engine?

Good luck
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: Thud on March 05, 2006, 09:05:47 PM
Just so it\'s clear which part of the post I was referring to :

"The 2nd Gen is notorious for the shape of it\'s radiator vs. the position of the coolant sensor. The sensor is on the top center of the radiator (you can see the little rubber-covered nut with a wire running to it). There is an "elbow" to the that pokes up, the hose going to the top of the engine attaches there.

An air pocket often forms in the elbow, and when you turn it "slides" across the radiator and exposes the sensor to air.

There should be a big phillips-screw-type thingy on that elbow. That\'s the bleed plug for getting air out of the system. Be careful, I broke mine in half the first time I used it and had to epoxy it in place.

You can use the bleed screw to get the air out of the system, with the engine running and warmed up fully (BE VERY CAREFUL and unscrew a tiny bit at a time until water dribbles out, then screw it back in).

If you can\'t do that, the other technique is to (also with the engine running and FULLY WARMED UP (if the thermostat is closes here, or if the engine is off, you will get a gout of boiling water in your face)) CAREFULLY open the fill cap (on the front of the engine in front of the intake manifold), preferably with a towel over the cap to prevent spraying water and opening very slowly, rev the engine to 4000 rpm and add water until the top overflows, then put the cap back on before the water level falls.

The flow of water driven by the pump pulls the air out of the radiator. Sometimes this takes a couple of tries, but it worked for me.

Did I mention to be careful working with boiling water under pressure?

The key is that when the engine is fully warm and running, there should be little or no pressure at that upper fill point."
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: maz13b on March 05, 2006, 11:12:05 PM
Hey guys.

Funny enough I do get white smoke when I start the car.   any idea why?
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: Thud on March 06, 2006, 10:45:11 AM
If there is a lot of white smoke and especially if it is "sweet" smelling than you may have a problem with your engine coolant seals. It would explain why your coolant level is low - basically coolant bypasses the water seals and gets into the engine, when the engine starts it the coolant/water turns to steam which appears as white smoke. Top up the coolant level and see how quickly it goes down.

A small amount of coolant loss over a long period of time is ok. Also, a small amount of white smoke is alright but if the back of your car looks like it\'s in a fog bank then there may be troubles ahead.
Title: Dashboard error light
Post by: maz13b on March 06, 2006, 01:57:24 PM
not really white smoke...  just when I start it some of it was there but I think thats because of the cold weather.

The reason I have the light coming on is because I was taking radiator off when I was changing engine harness and looks like there is an air inside and needs cleaning.