Lo/Hi Coolant alarm

[haydn callow]

I have just fitted the 1st test Prototype Low/High Coolant alarm to Bongo. 1st results are very promising and we hope to have the kits available in the new year.
Our priority will be to produce "Retro add on" kits for those of you who already have the Low coolant alarm fitted. They will be a extreamly easy DIY fit. Just a matter of a single Sensor Screw in the tank (as in photo) and splice into the Low Coolant module wiring.
With this in mind and to speed up the testing process..It would be good if we could have 2 volunteers (must have a Low Coolant Alarm fitted) to fit and road test the kit for us. FOC. At the end of the test, let us have any observations and of course keep the kit.

[Bongology]

Hi Hayden,

I have one of your coolant alarms on my vehicle and would be interested in having one of your upgraded models!!

On the subject of the coolant alarm, I had new hoses fitted in the summer and ever since my alarm goes off when cold and only on left turns...

This also left me a little red faced on an earlier trip out with lots of children & friends etc., when the alarm started intermittently sounding (my husband had reliably told me he had checked the coolant level that morning!) so I thought it was a fault with the alarm...until a huge whoosh of steam appeared up my screen...stuck in M4 traffic in Maidenhead with 5 children!! Anyway saving grace no long term damage (not that has become evident anyway) thanks to copius amounts of strawberry flavoured water!! ... so any ideas on the alarm not liking early morning left turns?!!

[missfixit70]

Pmed you Haydn.

[missfixit70]

Hi Hayden,

I have one of your coolant alarms on my vehicle and would be interested in having one of your upgraded models!!

On the subject of the coolant alarm, I had new hoses fitted in the summer and ever since my alarm goes off when cold and only on left turns...

This also left me a little red faced on an earlier trip out with lots of children & friends etc., when the alarm started intermittently sounding (my husband had reliably told me he had checked the coolant level that morning!) so I thought it was a fault with the alarm...until a huge whoosh of steam appeared up my screen...stuck in M4 traffic in Maidenhead with 5 children!! Anyway saving grace no long term damage (not that has become evident anyway) thanks to copius amounts of strawberry flavoured water!! ... so any ideas on the alarm not liking early morning left turns?!!

Sounds like it's not being topped up enough, or the probes haven't been fitted in the right positions, is it having to be topped up regularly? if so you've got probably got a slight leak somewhere, possibly from where the new hoses were fitted & not quite tightened up properly.

[Bongology]

Ohh, sorry, spelt your name wrong and its not left turns its right, silly me I washed it off my hands this morning!!

[Bongology]

Thanks Kirsty,

No it doesn't need topping up, infact since having my hose changed its been fine and trust me I do check it regularly (since the husband debarcle!)

Alex

[haydn callow]

Bongology...have pm'd you....
One thing that has come to light these very cold mornings....When the temp is around 5 degrees or below the "test" beep can be twice as long as normal (up to 3 secs) We expected this and don't consider it a problem...Also what can happen is for the first couple of minuts after a really cold start the alarm can "mutter". This stops as soon as the coolant gets above around 10 degrees ...again we don't consider this anything to worry about.. This has not been evident before because all of the testing was done by myself in the summer.

Helen & Tony...have you noticed anything where you are ??

[missfixit70]

I have noticed the test beep being longer below 10 degrees.

[francophile1947]

I have noticed the test beep being longer below 10 degrees.

Same here, but I ignore it now

[helen&tony]

Hi Haydn
Yes, Below an engine temperature of 5 degrees, the buzzer sounds a Meeeep, rather than a Bip
When the engine block reads around minus 20, nothing happens, as the diesel (and it IS special low temperature diesel) freezes, and the sound from the engine is just a clicking from the solenoid as most functions die, but at minus 15 to minus 18 the buzzer on the coolant alarm sounds a faint Me...ee...ee...p .
If you are starting an engine at low temperatures, even a good battery may have difficulty, and you can give the battery a help by leaving the headlamps on for five minutes, and turning them off before starting. This warms the electrolyte in the battery, which helps it out when loading it with the starter.
The temperatures registered on the engine block (or Head) are from the TM2, as I wrote to the manufacturers a while back to enquire how low the unit will measure....around minus 40....although a minus sign is obviously not shown......
Hope that helps
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Haydn
Yes, Below an engine temperature of 5 degrees, the buzzer sounds a Meeeep, rather than a Bip
When the engine block reads around minus 20, nothing happens, as the diesel (and it IS special low temperature diesel) freezes, and the sound from the engine is just a clicking from the solenoid as most functions die, but at minus 15 to minus 18 the buzzer on the coolant alarm sounds a faint Me...ee...ee...p .
If you are starting an engine at low temperatures, even a good battery may have difficulty, and you can give the battery a help by leaving the headlamps on for five minutes, and turning them off before starting. This warms the electrolyte in the battery, which helps it out when loading it with the starter.
The temperatures registered on the engine block (or Head) are from the TM2, as I wrote to the manufacturers a while back to enquire how low the unit will measure....around minus 40....although a minus sign is obviously not shown......
Hope that helps
Cheers
Helen

Are we talking -20C and not -20F. Purdy damned cold if so - brrrrrrrrrr

Actually, as a minor point of criticism re TM2, why should it not show a minus sign when displaying a minus temp?

[haydn callow]

You would need a more expensive display..Cost

[mikeonb4c]

You would need a more expensive display..Cost

Excuses - pah!

[haydn callow]

reckon most peeps can tell the differance between -10 and +10 degrees C....anything in between is irrelevant ??
Well that's my excuse.

[haydn callow]

I was just thinking of Kirsty...I do that a lot....If you have a Mk2 or Mk3 Low Coolant Alarm Fitted....You will not be able to upgrade to a Hi Alarm Add on kit.....No wires to splice into