Coolant warning light/beep on start up

[dubbed]

Hey guys,

When I start my MK4 GTi up [in cold weather] the coolant light flashes and I get some warning beeps. The coolant level is normal and it only happens when the car hasn't been running for several hours i.e. cold start. I take it that this isn't normal... So aside from it being a faulty sensor, anyone have any ideas as to what it might be?

I'm getting a service within the next few weeks but thought I'd see if I can get any suggestions first.

Cheers

[99gti]

Do you see a snow flake at the same time?

[DUB 20V]

Do you see a snow flake at the same time?

what do you think he is seeing flying pigs aswell lol

[99gti]

what do you think he is seeing flying pigs aswell lol

No... only you would see them trippa!

[geoff_gti]

Do you see a snow flake at the same time?

ice warning right? if the outside temp is < 4 degrees i think.

[99gti]

ice warning right? if the outside temp is < 4 degrees i think.

I still dont know myself 100% what triggers it but yeah - I was thinking it may be saying something along the lines of that...

[HOLEIN1]

ice warning right? if the outside temp is < 4 degrees i think.

jeeeez, i never thought it gets that cold on the eastside in the mornings...

i wouldnt get out of bed!

in regards to the original question, it depends what light comes up, could be a temp warning like the other guys have said, or a low coolant warning

i had the same problem - popped the hood, coolant looked full enough but light was still coming up

threw another splash of coolant in and it stopped, must have been just a tad too low or something, work it out....

[Blitzen]

Could be a coolant level/temp sensor that is on the way out. Being a slightly older car, and being in contact with a liquid, it has probably just about given up. If you have a mate with a scan tool, they will be able to confirm this. If not, get it looked at the next time you get it serviced. Get it done sooner than later, as your ECU may be compensating for the false readings it is getting from the faulty sensor.

[dubbed]

Nah, no snowflake symbol. I will top the coolant up and maybe give the sensor a wipe when I can be bothered!

[h100vw]

Get it done sooner than later, as your ECU may be compensating for the false readings it is getting from the faulty sensor.

The ECU doesn't reference the level sensor. It would know if the level was extremely low as the signal from the temp sensor would come up as an implausible signal.

Gavin

[ranton-inc]

has any one recoded your cluster lately

that can cause it to throw unusual coolant warnings...

[No457 Snowy]

Mine did that last winter. It was saying "STOP - CHECK COOLANT" on the cluster, but there was plenty of coolant. If I turned off the ignition and restarted the car or if the car was warm from recent driving it didn't do it. The fix for me was to just replace the coolant bottle, which has the sensor in it. The car never did it again after that. Can't remember the cost, but it wasn't much.


Cheers,

Snowy