Author Topic: sensor in coolant tank broke, blowing all coolant out (Read 4618 times)

sethyboy85 · « **on:** July 21, 2005, 07:50:18 pm »

okay so my 21yr old piece of plastic that goes in the coolant tank (not the cap) broke and since it happened I can lose over a gallon of coolant in a matter of minutes going up a grade that requires the car being floored for 4 miles just to maintain 70mph, in this situation or so it appears... before this car has run like a champ getting 35-42mpg doing 75-80mph on the highway on alot of vegie oil... no lossage of fluids ever and only blue smoke on startup that goes away once warm but even between 4k mile oil changes no loss of noticeable oil

so question is, is my HG going out or my car just a freak and needs a cap on the coolant tank?

vwmike · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2005, 08:58:08 pm »

The bottle is an easy fix. Why not just throw a used one in there and see if it solves your problem? The whole bottle is available aftermarket but they are usually very cheesy.

chrissev · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2005, 02:40:23 pm »

that sensor is a low coolant sensor. The entire bottle/sensor setup is a piece of crap in my opinion. I've had to replace the bottle on every vw I've owned except my 77 rabbit (which had the old style radiator without an expansion tank). The bottles generally crack at the seam. I used to have a spare sensor but I threw it out a while ago. I think they are pretty cheap. Maybe get one at a junkyard?

sethyboy85 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2005, 03:12:36 pm »

shoved a 1" male cap in there and that shut it up... have yet to drive it a great distance to make sure but beating it around town for 2miles showed no coolant leaking...