just started experiencing the low coolant message---stop car asap. but it goes off after about a minute and temp gauge ok. guessing sticky thermostat? other ideas? much thanks

Just as a suggestion, take a look at the black plastic tank on each side of the radiator. There is a gasket between the aluminum radiator core and the plastic tanks at each end that shrinks with time. I have had this happen to three of my volvos in the last six months. If you raise the hood and look at several different angles at each end of the radiator, if you see and dampness, the seal is slowly leaking. The only fix is a new radiator.

Hmmm, I would take a look at the coolant overflow bottle and visually inspect the level. There is a float and switch which might be stuck or have a loose wire if the level looks good.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

yes, It was below the fill line by a couple of inchess so I added some bottled water and the warning light did not go on. However, volvo seems to recommend not replacing the cooling at regular intervals. what is the best practice on that? thx again for the advice...

bottled water is not a good thing, the coolant system in your car requires distilled water. Plus, just adding water will raise the freezing point and lower the boiling point.

We reccomend flushing the radiator no later than every 5 years using a gallon of Volvo antifreeze, expensive, and a gallon of distilled water.

Your next task is to find out where the coolant went. There has to be a leak somewhere. Either the radiator, the cabin heater core, or a dieing head gasket. A radiator shop can do a leak test, you can look at the heater core under the dash, and a compression test will show poor compression on a cyl that is having problems with a head gasket.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

ok, appreciate the good info. funny thing is that I just changed my cabin air filter the day before this happened, but I haven't noticed any leaks. with 191K i wonder if the head gasket is slowly going. haven't heard anything yet though...

Just a side note. Antifreeze is not a place to economize if you decide to do the job yourself. Go to the dealer and buy the Volvo antifreeze. I realize there are a couple of brands that duplicate the European cars antifreeze but it was always easier to remember to just get it at the dealer. I owned a 960 and an S90 and was a member of the RWD section of the forum. The aluminum block engine and antifreeze was a constant source of discussion. The 960 6 cylinder was the initial aluminum block engine and did not like to overheat. The metallurgy is such that it requires a high grade and specific antifreeze. Using the cheap stuff was always a precursor to overheating problems.