1995 Buick Century 3.1 Engine Temperature light on

[CARGUY40]

Today i warmed up my car and when i got in i saw the engine temperature light is on so i checked my coolant its full and didnt see steam or leak anywhere so i just took the car for a drive anyway. My temperature gauge was not showing a sign of overheating it was sitting on normal the whole time and the heat blows hot so what can it be? i drove the car for like 45min and no sign of trouble just the temp light is on and i noticed when i hit bumps it flickers sometimes it goes off n on to....

 

[The_Jeff]

What does your manual have to say?

Sometimes this indicates auto trans overheating or low coolant, either of which could be sensor error.

 

[CARGUY40]

says the problem may not be too serious if i see or hear no steam but there is def a problem somewhere if that light came on and i never got that light on before but like i said the coolant is full the temp gauge is normal and the heat blows hot maybe the temp sensor?

 

[Chris142]

Was it a overheat light or low coolant light?

 

[CARGUY40]

its this light= http://www.portmoodyautorepair.com/resources/temp-light-port-moody.jpg

 

[ls1mike]

Does it have separate sensors for the light and the gauge?

 

[CARGUY40]

not sure about that but the temp light keeps flickering and going on and off and when it was on i would hit the steering wheel and it would flicker so im thinkin it might be a short somewhere?

 

[crazyoildude]

sensor

 

[CARGUY40]

how can i really tell if its the coolant temp sensor or not?

 

[The_Eric]

Take an actual temp reading?

 

[CARGUY40]

if the coolant temp sensor was bad im sure the check engine light would come on to but i only got the engine coolant temperature light on in the dash no check engine light.

 

[The_Eric]

I would be surprised. Not every bad sensor or sending unit will set a code and kick the light on. It goes double for an OBD 1 car.