low coolant alarm help needed please and thank you

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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NannaBongo
Apprentice Bongonaut
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:25 pm

low coolant alarm help needed please and thank you

Post by NannaBongo » Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:34 am

After many moons of jealous lurking I have become the would be proud owner of a p reg 2.5 diesel. It didn't have a low coolant alarm so as part of negotiations I asked garage to fit one (because I have heeded warnings that this is Vital) which they did. I've driven it the two miles home and spent some time cleaning and polishing. When I start the engine again, cue red light and hideous screeching noise. From the info on the leaflet I see this may be due to red coolant doing something or other. Or it may be low coolant! Thing is, how does a totally nontechnical person tell which it is? Some of you technical wizards out there will be slapping your foreheads in disbelief I know but I really am thickie stupid on techie stuff.
Gasy
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Re: low coolant alarm help needed please and thank you

Post by Gasy » Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:54 am

Hi and welcome
Don't worry about asking questions on here
People will help
Yes after the red coolant has been changed it can coat the screws of the LCA in the header tank and set off the alarm falsely
But you need to check the header tank for the level of coolant
This is under the front bonet on the right hand side
Has a low and high marking and you should just be able to see the level of fluid through it
DO NOT REMOVE THE CAP IF ENGINE HOT
so check your level of water in the header tank first
If it's not low it's the new coolant that has coated the screws
Which you will need to remove and clean easy job
Let us know
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
NannaBongo
Apprentice Bongonaut
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 7:25 pm

Re: low coolant alarm help needed please and thank you

Post by NannaBongo » Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:34 pm

Hi Gasy just to say thanks, I didn't think it would be that easy! The level in the plastic tank was just on a level with the alarm: topped it up and now all is hunky-dory. Will keep checking just to make sure it isn't dropping. Fingers crossed!
Bob
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Location: North Somerset

Re: low coolant alarm help needed please and thank you

Post by Bob » Sun Apr 23, 2017 11:57 am

Well done.

If you can't see through the tank just mark about 3/4" on a lolly stick or similar.

Coffee stirers are good for this. :)
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haydn callow
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Re: low coolant alarm help needed please and thank you

Post by haydn callow » Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:43 pm

Just your coolant alarm doing its job......if you hadn't had it fitted who knows what would have happened....if it goes off again you are losing coolant and need to find out how/where.
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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