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  #1  
Old 09-23-2004, 10:10 AM
brookspw's Avatar
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 551
Why is my radiator light/indicator on?

  • Car isn't low on coolant
  • Car doesn't lose any coolant, even over time
  • Radiator was flushed / filled last winter and only started showing the light a couple of months ago
  • Car never gets hot or overheated at all
  • The light is on most of the time, but it is not always on

It is a 1991 190E 2.6.

Any ideas?

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1994 C280, dark green metallic
105k miles

1991 190E 2.6, Black
191,500 miles
(sold to another forum member)

2003 Chevy Tahoe LT, Redfire Metallic
105k miles

1989 Mustang GT Cobra Convertible
43k miles
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  #2  
Old 09-23-2004, 10:25 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: England
Posts: 1,841
It's connected to the windscreen washer level sensor if I recall correctly. Check that.

good luck

Russ
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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg
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  #3  
Old 09-23-2004, 10:26 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 304
The coolant sensor inside the reservoir gets corroded over time and the contacts become faulty. With the sensor contacts unable to complete the connection, a false coolant warning light is made.
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Russell McMahon
Tulsa, OK

2001 CLK 320
1992 400se
1993 400e
2000 320ML
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  #4  
Old 09-23-2004, 10:36 AM
G-Benz's Avatar
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Dallas/Fort-Worth
Posts: 5,711
Low coolant light comes on when coolant sensor corrodes over time...

...gives a false indication of a low coolant problem even though there is none.

Check the sensor residing at the bottom of the expansion tank...you will feel a bit of moisture, but it's trace, so overall, it won't change your coolant level appreciably.

I have been able to clean the contacts and get the light to stay off for a few days/weeks/months, but it comes back on eventually. The only sure cure is replacement.

A new one is about $40 and takes about 15 minutes to do the fix...
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  #5  
Old 09-23-2004, 12:44 PM
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Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
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It's actually about $25 and takes less than 5 minutes to replace.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1AK0K0ZRT&year=1991&make=MB&model=190-E-005&category=G&part=Coolant+Level+Sensor
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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
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  #6  
Old 09-23-2004, 02:54 PM
G-Benz's Avatar
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Quoted a 300E price and my personal DIY replacement time...

...cost and skill level may vary...
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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car
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  #7  
Old 09-23-2004, 03:01 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 2,574
I just bought one for SWMBOs 300E last week. Cost was ~$20 and change from my favorite mail order vendor. In the meantime, unplugging the connector does a fine job of turning off the light. It's not like she's going to stop driving the thing when the light turns on...

- JimY

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