2000 Grand Am GT1 - "Low Coolant" light

[anonymous2357]

Bought a used 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT1 from someone a month or two ago. Ran fine for a while. Service engine light is on for evap small leak (think that's unrelated to the coolant light?) anyways, recently the coolant light has come on for less than 60 seconds and then went off. (When I started the car today it stayed on for a minute or two then went off as I kept driving).

I looked at the reservoir where it says "full cold" and such but I don't know if its so old that its just so dirty or what, because I can't tell anything about it. Or maybe I don't know what to look for.

Keep in mind the car did sit for about a year before I bought it..

Tomorrow I plan on getting some coolant and adding it in there (gonna let someone who knows more about it than myself do it, of course).

What could the problem be? Why is the low coolant light only coming on for short periods of time? (usually only once each time I drive it recently, sometimes not at all). Thanks

Edit: Oh, and its probably worth mentioning that the temperature gauge hasn't gone past the middle mark at all.

 

[melsg5]

on a cold engine you cant remove the filler cap and with a flashlight see the coolant level?
if the coolant level is at the correct level change the sensor.

 

[Oldschool Muscle]

came across this issue today. Tank is full . needs a new sensor its 23 years old now..im just going to replace the whole tank i purchased a brand new one with the sensor in place..