Never changed it before. Used advice I read online. I also know I am suppose to bleed the air do I leave it running to do so or just keep cap off.
I just changed my water pump on my 97 grand am but the rad light is still on. Is this normal?
Yes, let it idle until engine hot and thermostat fully open with your cabin heat set to max. Leave the radiator cap off and keep topping the coolant to overflowing. Park the vehicle on a steep hill with the engine facing up the hill so that the radiator is higher than the heater core.
I just changed my water pump on my 97 grand am but the rad light is still on. Is this normal?
Some systems have a bleeder valve (usually by or on the water outlet housing), and should be loosened to remove air. If not, and there is air trapped, you may have a thermostat problem or blockage in the passages. Typically, on a pressurized system, you should top off the radiator, install the cap and run the engine to temperature. Add to the coolant reservoir as needed. make sure the coolant temp sensor is functioning properly and the radiator fan engages when temperature climbs.
If possible look for coolant flow or feel the hoses to acertain that coolant is flowing.
The sensor is located on the bottom or, side of the radiator it senses the amount of coolant; not coolant; flow on most cars if the sensor or, wires are bad the light will not go out.
hope this helps.
You dont bleed any cooling system with the car running. Loosen the 7mm bleeder, some of those cars have two, fill up the coolant tank and radiator. With the car OFF, and the cap off and bleeder open one turn, wait for a steady stream of fluid, it should only take a minute or so before you get the steady stream, close the bleeder screw and top off the coolant. After you do that if the light is still on, take a hammer or screwdriver and gently tap the sensor in the bottom of the coolant overflow tank, these sensors are very common to stick and trigger the light but bleed it as I said and you will be fine.
ok, that light will come on for two reasons. one the coolant level is low, if you just replaced the water pump, i hope that you replaced the lost antifreeze with good coolant, not the old stuff that you drained out. the second reason that the light will remain on is if you did not plug the sensor back in , i have seen it happen, or if the sensor itself has gone bad, due to corrosion and surface contamination.
