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Very Strange Coolant Issue

Old Nov 24, 2020 | 06:51 PM
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Default Very Strange Coolant Issue

This has now occurred 2x so far...I will be driving and get a low coolant red triangle warning. The first time I was almost home and pulled into garage. This was at 300 total miles.
It was low as in below the min line. BUT I did what you are not supposed to do and extremely slowly loosened the cap. Heard some pressure release and looked and it was back to max fill. Waited for it to fully cool off and it was still at max. This was on my 3rd day of ownership. Now at 500 miles and a week later I had the whole family in the car 40 min from home and the light comes on. I pulled over, extremely slowly loosened until heard a very slight pressure release. Bam! back to max fill.
I lost on this one. Any ideas before the dreaded service department? Thanks.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 07:06 PM
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I assume from your description (back to max fill) that you're not losing any coolant or seeing any leaked coolant on your garage floor. So possibilities include coolant sensor malfunction vs transient low level. I'd overfill it to rule that second possibility out. Seems odd that though it's not happening predictably with cornering or a particularly hot engine. My money is on a sensor problem. Good luck.

Nate
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by todkavonic
I assume from your description (back to max fill) that you're not losing any coolant or seeing any leaked coolant on your garage floor. So possibilities include coolant sensor malfunction vs transient low level. I'd overfill it to rule that second possibility out. Seems odd that though it's not happening predictably with cornering or a particularly hot engine. My money is on a sensor problem. Good luck.

Nate
Correct. When I get the warning it is actually just below min level. Then when I do slight pressure release it immediately goes back up to Max fill line.
I believe you are likely correct about a sensor. Thanks!
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 07:46 PM
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If there’s any room to top it off with coolant when the engine is cool, it’s worth a try at least.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by todkavonic
If there’s any room to top it off with coolant when the engine is cool, it’s worth a try at least.
Nope, once its cooled down it is Max fill line like it should be.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by DefendThis
This has now occurred 2x so far...I will be driving and get a low coolant red triangle warning. The first time I was almost home and pulled into garage. This was at 300 total miles.
It was low as in below the min line. BUT I did what you are not supposed to do and extremely slowly loosened the cap. Heard some pressure release and looked and it was back to max fill. Waited for it to fully cool off and it was still at max. This was on my 3rd day of ownership. Now at 500 miles and a week later I had the whole family in the car 40 min from home and the light comes on. I pulled over, extremely slowly loosened until heard a very slight pressure release. Bam! back to max fill.
I lost on this one. Any ideas before the dreaded service department? Thanks.

A few owners have described a very similar issue on the Facebook - All New Defender Owners Group (the private one). I recall either sensor malfunction or air/bubble in the coolant line being the issue.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by TCole
A few owners have described a very similar issue on the Facebook - All New Defender Owners Group (the private one). I recall either sensor malfunction or air/bubble in the coolant line being the issue.
Interesting. I called the service first time it happened and said maybe air bubble. Made sense until it happened again to me today. Thinking sensor. Since I have a quick "fix" I will see if happens again. Appreciate the info.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by TCole
A few owners have described a very similar issue on the Facebook - All New Defender Owners Group (the private one). I recall either sensor malfunction or air/bubble in the coolant line being the issue.
You are correct!






 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 09:12 PM
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Shouldn't it be full when hot then low when cold?
 
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Old Nov 24, 2020 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by sblvro
Shouldn't it be full when hot then low when cold?
Don't be logical! LOL. Like the one FB post said and was my experience, "burp" it and fills up. Cold after "burp" is as should be.
 
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