So i've noticed on my commute home from work, that my car heats up (blue light turns off) after about 3 minutes of driving which is to be expected but about 5 mins later it shuts off. Now here is the weird part, it always happens in the same spot I don't know if thats part of a problem but its while I'm descending a hill thats a mile or so long 50mph speed limit. once I get to the bottom and towards town about a mile or so it (the blue light shuts off again). and remains off for the rest of my commute. it has been cold out anywhere from single digits to 20's. am I paranoid or is this something i should be concerned about?? as always thanks in advance to the scion community.

 

If it was me, I wouldn't worry about it because of the cold temperatures and because of it being the same exact spot everytime. BUT...I'm not very mechanically inclined so my opinion is very valuable.

 

i wouldnt be too woried about it, you could take it in and have them check the thermostat (mine did something similar and i took it in and they replaced and no prob since) but i drive a jeep wrangler in the winter and when im sitting in traffic or just cruising around i notice that the temp drops back into the lower 100's so it all depends on the temps

 

I'm kinda confused by what the problem is. You say the light shuts off after 3 minutes of driving, then 5 minutes later it shuts off again. Does it come back on first or what?

 

IT shuts off? what is IT? the car?

 

Methinks w/ the very small engine that if you coast down the hill it may cool down enough to get the light back. I've noted the light goes off at exactly 138 degrees via my ScanGauge. When I coast in clold weather the engine cools slightly.

Try revving the motor on the way down the hill. Or driving a few more blocks before the hill.

 

I think he means after 5 mins it turns on then after his hill it goes off and then stays off. I am sure it is simply that it has reached operating temp...first time it turns off...then the thermostat opens and the charge of cold coolent from the radiator comes in hits the temp sensors and turns it on again...shortly after the temp at the sensor again reaches above its turn on point and the light again goes out. Sounds like nromal operation to me in the right conditions.

 

Yea, it's just indicating that coolant levels are at the right temp. In cold weather, it's not uncommon for there to be a fluctuation when you first start out with a cold engine. As long as the car appears to be shifting properly and running as it should, I wouldn't worry.

 

I'm sorry for not being specific yes the light comes on again after the initial warm up

 

That comes from the stat opening then re closing when the cooler coolant in the radiator first starts to circulate it hits the sensor and re turns on the light momentarily. This will only happen in really cold conditions and isn't really a problem. Not to worry.