Mason alarm settings

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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nfn

Mason alarm settings

Post by nfn » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:20 pm

I don't know how many users of this forum have installed Mason alarms -- but it would be very interesting to know what people set their alarms at. I have set mine at just over 4.5. The only time I ever hear a peep out of it is when I drive for a while at 65-70mph, then turn the engine off for a few minutes. When I restart the engine the alarm makes a few peeps that stop within a few seconds of the engine running.

When I had the alarm set at 4, it would sometimes peep a little bit when the engine was being worked hard without going fast. It was fine on the motorway -- I assume because there was plenty of air hitting the radiator.

The Mason alarm should be useful for keeping an eye on the condition of the cooling system -- but this means establishing what setting a bongo will typically run at without the alarm going off.
paul9

Post by paul9 » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:30 pm

i have mine set at 4.5,sometimes gives a few beeps if going up long steep hills,also will beep if engine switched off for a few minites after a long run ,then re started,when start off driving soon goes off again,also gives a beep when ignition first switched on,quite normal and is an indication its working.
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Post by vanvliet » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:31 pm

Sounds like you have it set OK for your vehicle. There is a thread somewhere in which Mason explains that the units are all different and they have to be adjusted to a particular engine which is what you seem to have done.
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waycar8
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Post by waycar8 » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:34 pm

i too had mine set at 4.5, stop start traffic at 4 last summer (well a hot day)made the alarm beep every now and then so highered it up .5 which stoped it.
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BongoMTBer

Post by BongoMTBer » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:40 pm

Only just fitted one, but I have found that 4.5 seems right at the moment. We will see how I get on with some long climbs and hotter days though.
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daveblueozzie
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Post by daveblueozzie » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:06 pm

just under 5 on mine ,the odd bleep now and then with a bit of hard driving.
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nfn

Post by nfn » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:23 pm

Looks like between 4 and 5 might be a normal setting in winter -- that's good to know.
Leon King

Post by Leon King » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:38 pm

So where is the needle on your temp gauge when the alarm goes off?
Difficult to describe i know, but I'd say my alarm is set just over 4.5 and sounds when the needle is maybe 80 per cent of the way to the hot mark?
I think :?
BongoMTBer

Post by BongoMTBer » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:53 pm

As mine has not gone off in anger, that is a little difficult to say. But sonsidering where it is normally, I would say that about 80% is about right.
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Post by bigdaddycain » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:05 pm

Mine's set at 4.5 too... I've only had my mason alarm fitted for a week or so, but something i have noticed is,when pottering around town,up to 30(ish) mph, then stop at lights, move away...etc ,etc... My temp gauge hovers roughly at around the 1 o clock mark... Do a steady 65 mph, on the motorway on flattish ground, it stays nearer the 1.30 mark?

I'd have thought it'd be the other way round?

Ambient temp seems to make no difference to the running temp on the motorway either....

Has anybody else noticed similar traits?
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nfn

Post by nfn » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:52 pm

My temp gauge also stays at about the 1 o'clock position in town, or stuck behind tractors etc., and settles at about 1:30 on dual carriageways, perhaps very sightly higher when worked hard at lower speeds (It's hard to tell). It takes quite a while to get all the way to 1 o'clock from cold -- at least 7 or 8 miles. After it gets warmed up to 1 o'clock it does not vary very much -- I expected more variation as a function of driving conditions. But I have only run it for 2 or 3 hours at a go since fitting the alarm, and haven't done a long road trip.
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Post by dandywarhol » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:20 pm

I've set two at 5, one at 4.5 and one at 3. My own one is set to 5 and the needle gets to about 85% towards red when the fans cut in.
curiously the alarm didn't sound when i was bleeding the cooling system tonight after fitting a water pump :?
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