Only if the coolant is leaking from the heater core, but you will see this.
Don't know for sure but check in the radiator overflow. Tip: The radiator can be full but if the overflow is low or empty it will trigger the light.
have the radiator cap pressure tested
You have a leak in the cooling system. It could be from a number of sources such as, radiator, radiator hoses, heater core, heater hoses, water pump, intake manifold gaskets, head gaskets, cracked heads and probably a few more. Have the cooling system pressure tested to determine where it is leaking from and don't wait.
You need to check the radiator and be sure it is full. It can be empty and the overflow tank full. If it is full then check and be sure the radiator cooling is working when the engine is at operating temperature.
There Should Be an overflow, It shows You where to fill it to, and also shows when its too full. With the system completely empty, radiator, heater, engine block and hoses, it should hold 16 to 18 qts of coolant.
If the entire system (radiator, engine block and heater system) is empty it will take 11 to 12 qts to refill (this also depends on what engine you have and if it has ac or not). If you only drain the radiator, aprox 5 qts.
I was having the same problem with my 99 explorer. What I discovered was that the overflow tank for the radiator was empty and was causing a false reading by the temp gauge.
More likely it will cause the surrounding decking to shift. Pols usuall "pop" from being empty.
Your radiator appears empty because your cooling system has a leak.
the light is triggered by a switch inside the overflow bottle, If the coolant level is low when the engine is cold, it will trigger the switch to turn on the light until the cooant warms up and expands. The hot water expands and flows through the radiator cap and into the overflow bottle and shuts the light off. Then once the engine is shut off and cools down, the coolant will flow back into the engine again and empty the overflow bottle. so if the light is on, you need to fill the overflow bottle to the "cold" mark.
With the cooling system completely empty (radiator, heater, engine block, hoses, reservoir) the system holds 9.2 US qts.If you only drain the radiator, aprox 4 US qts should do it.
You may be low on coolant. Check the reservoir and the radiator, if it is empty check for leaks in the system. If it is full you may have a stuck open thermostat causing no heat.