2009 Mazda3 temp light stays on during very cold days

[weirdichi]

In very cold weather, the temperature light would come on and then beep, then stay on. My friend says this will happen in newer cars and the light will turn off once you drive and it gets to its normal temperature. However, lately I've noticed that the light will stay on even after the temperature has risen to normal range. It usually shuts off about 15-20 minutes into my driving. Now after a full trip of about 45 minutes of driving, it still stays on. Anybody have the same problem or is this normal?

*EDIT*
Fvck me. All this time it was the tire pressure monitoring system light that is on. I got them mixed up. Guess I'll take it to Tires Plus and see if they can test it since they did put new on it a few months ago. -_-

*EDIT
At first glance it looked like the exclamation bar had hash marks, so I thought it was a thermometer. Then I was looking through the manual again and noticed a different light for the temp. -_-

Filled up the tires at the gas station and the light is now gone.

 

[Vic Vega]

My guess is the coolant temp sensor is having problems. If you're under warranty take it in.

 

[mmntech]

Is that the blue temp light? Always thought it was weird Mazdas had those, since no other cars seem to. Yeah, probably a bad sensor. Seems to be the main cause of nuisance lights these days.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2010/12/2011-mazda-2-idiot-lights-abound.html

 

[weirdichi]

Well, it's a 2009, so the light is orange. I figure there's really nothing that bad with it, but it is a nuisance though. does the 3-year warranty cover it? I could always just have it checked I guess.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

It could be a thermostat stuck open. As sensitive as cats are nowadays I'd take it in ASAP since it's probably running fairly rich

 

[LTC8K6]

The only thing I see in the 2009 manual is "high coolant temperature"...

 

[bruceb]

More likely thermostat is stuck closed. On just about all card the Temp Light is to warn of a Pending Overheat, not an Over Cooling situation. Check the radiator is full and then with motor warmed up, feel the Upper Radiator Hose. It should be very warm, near about 180 degrees or so. If much lower, T-Stat is bad

 

[LTC8K6]

More likely thermostat is stuck closed. On just about all card the Temp Light is to warn of a Pending Overheat, not an Over Cooling situation. Check the radiator is full and then with motor warmed up, feel the Upper Radiator Hose. It should be very warm, near about 180 degrees or so. If much lower, T-Stat is bad

On new Mazdas there is indeed a coolant temp indicator that is blue when the coolant is cold, disappears when the coolant is warm, and then a yellow light if the coolant is too hot.

This is to replace a coolant temp gauge.

https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/smartguides/2011_MAZDASPEED3_QT.pdf

But this would not be on a 2009...

 

[weirdichi]

I refilled the coolant to the max level and still nothing. Temperature still climbs to normal, hot air still blows, and I don't notice anything different except that temperature light. I'll hop on the Mazda forums and see if anybody has had the same problem.

 

[LTC8K6]

*EDIT*
Fvck me. All this time it was the tire pressure monitoring system light that is on. I got them mixed up. Guess I'll take it to Tires Plus and see if they can test it since they did put new on it a few months ago. -_-

I was wondering why the owner's manual showed a gauge and not a light for the coolant temp...

 

[SpatiallyAware]

rofl at update... poor op...



So what does the tpms light look like?

 

[vshah]

tpms is a weird icon...if you don't know what it is, it's hard to guess what it means.

 

[weirdichi]

At first glance it looked like the exclamation bar had hash marks, so I thought it was a thermometer. Then I was looking through the manual again and noticed a different light for the temp. -_-

Filled up the tires at the gas station and the light is now gone.