Coolant level sensor fails frequently

[Tom]

Hello.
I have a 2002 Chevy Impala LS with the 3.8 l V6. In the last several years I have had multiple failures of my Coolant Level Sensor. The light will start coming on once in a while and eventually stays on full time. The car is NOT low on coolant.
I replaced the sensor several months ago. Now the new one is starting to fail. I bought these at O’Reilley’s and I think they are BWD parts so they should not be junk quality. When I replace the sensor, it works for a while, but then the replacement goes bad.

So, maybe the problem is bad quality, but maybe there is something else going on in the car? Any thought what else could be the problem?

Topic

[Its me]

Try OEM…. That’s about all I have to say….

-Karl

[Erin]

Ahh, the good ol W-body from GM.
First, if you REALLY are worried then yeah, OEM is the best bet.

Those coolant level sensors on W body cars are a HUGE known problem. They suck. My 94 Grand Prix had it on constantly.

Since it is usually bad – that means the light is NO indication of whether or not the coolant is low. Some W body owners just disconnect the thing and be done with it.

There is probably nothing else wrong with that sensor system. Just keep an eye on the coolant the old fashioned way, the same way us DIY’ers check all the fluids at least once a week.

[Austin]

Agreed with karl, I would try OEM, if that fails, the next thing I would do is look for a possible short in the wiring to the PCM. When it happens again, I would put a scanner on it and make sure its not the light in the dash, or a short in the light in the dash. Do this by seeing what the PCM signal itself says. Next time the light is on look with a scanner and see if the PCM says low or not, if it doesn’t then you know it could be an issue with the light on the dash or the wiring too it. If the scanner says low and it’s not. Then you know it is most likely an issue with the sensor or the wiring going to it.

[Tom]

Thanks, everyone who answered.
I found a Delco OEM sensor on Amazon for $44 so I ordered it and I’ll see if this one lasts. If not, I will take that one suggestion to just unplug the sensor. Since the car isn’t losing coolant and I check it once in a while, and the temp gauge works, there’s not much harm if the level sensor isn’t working.

[Author]

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