76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

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JustinJ76
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76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby JustinJ76 » Tue Apr 16, 2019 9:39 pm

Hi guys, new to this forum. Just bought a 1976 Toronado and I have a low coolant light and buzzer coming on and off from time to time. The coolant levels all seem fine. I want to check the sensor but I cant seem to find it on the radiator or tank. Can someone let me know where this sensor is or if this is a common problem. Thanks

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Otto Skorzeny
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby Otto Skorzeny » Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:17 am

Is the light for coolant level or coolant temperature? I've never seen a coolant level warning on a car that old. Not saying it doesn't exist but make sure the warning light isn't a high temperature warning light.

JustinJ76
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby JustinJ76 » Wed Apr 17, 2019 12:08 pm

No it definitely say "Low Coolant Level". I found and checked the coolant temp sensor and the oil sensor to make sure they didnt work together with the low coolant light. Just kinda stumped me that I cannot find the sensor.

JustinJ76
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby JustinJ76 » Wed Apr 17, 2019 5:20 pm

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Willysnut1959
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby Willysnut1959 » Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:30 pm

My cousin's 1995 Gran Prix had that same problem on a regular/annual basis. I helped him replace the sensor. It was on the passenger side of the radiator about 8" down from the top, facing the firewall. You could see it (inside of the radiator) from the radiator cap. I think crap gets on the sensor and it fails to read ground. Parts were cheap, but I thought you could just remove, clean it, and put it back in.
Marty, St. Louis, Mo

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Otto Skorzeny
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby Otto Skorzeny » Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:20 am

Interesting. That's a new one for me. I think Willys has the right idea about removing it and cleaning it.

JustinJ76
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby JustinJ76 » Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:14 am

Ya I'm all for removing and cleaning it. I just cant find the sensor anywhere on the radiator or tank.

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Otto Skorzeny
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby Otto Skorzeny » Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:45 pm

In that case I'd suspect that the radiator has been replaced and that the person doing the work either didn't know about the sensor or chose not to install it, or the replacement radiator did not have a port for the sensor.

Look for a plug threaded into the tank as you would find with tranny cooling lines. Maybe a dangling wire in the area?

Do you have a factory service manual for that car?

Here's one for $18 https://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Oldsmobil ... SwESRb3zVL

JustinJ76
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby JustinJ76 » Thu Apr 18, 2019 3:23 pm

I'll have to order a service manual. Thanks for the link. I can see a spot on the radiator that looks like it's been plugged. I'll have to figure out which wire coming off the main harness is for that sensor so I can figure out where they have it going to and why it's so intermittent. I just thought maybe this thing was hidden somewhere else on the motor that I'm overlooking or cannot find. I'll let you know what I find out

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Otto Skorzeny
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Re: 76 Toronado Low Coolant Light

Postby Otto Skorzeny » Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:51 pm

I'll bet the intermittent light is due to the wire jiggling around and making contact with something. Maybe it's left dangling or maybe rolled up and tucked somewhere.


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