what does a radiator light mean on the dash it is toped up

dave, January 2009

hi, i have a 2001 vauxhall zafira 16 club, it has allways used oil and would cut out when low, (no warning lights) top up and would start again. reciently on a hot day, cut out and would not start again for 1/2hr. got 4 miles and cut out again etc, rac checked no faults from diagnostics but changed crank sensor... same. i thought its a overheating prob? found squeezing rad. pipes it ran so thought i had cured it, but no it still stalled. found would start again if disconnected temp. gauge on thermo housing, noticed since squeezing hoses coolant light on but all full, any ideas? thermo seems to be working as hose at thermo end gets hot then cools, other side of rad. always cold, good fans or rad. blocked? thanks mark

mark, June 2010

I can only answer from my owner's manual for Zafira 1.6 petrol 2000 model.
The symbol looks like rectangle with star in the middle of rectangle. If the symbol is correct then there is a fault with electronically controled engine cooling.
The description is a fault has occurred in the engine cooling system or the cooling circuit for the air conditioning. Eectronics will switch to emergency running programme. Driving may be continued but needs investigating.
In future if you provide description of the symbol then it may be easier for someone to give you proper advice.

koter002, March 2009