Wandering Temperature Gauge

[ParkLife]

Hi guys,

I've just bought a Bongo and have a question regarding the temperature gauge - it seems to move around quite a lot. I haven't picked the van up yet but noticed this on the test drive. I assumed it was just typical for these vehicles but after a little digging around on this site it seems that the temp needle is usually pretty constant.

It never went particularly high, it would creep up to around the 2pm position, then you'd hear what sounded like the coolant starting to flowing and it would rapidly drop back to 11am.

I suppose someone could have been fiddling with the temp gauge and increased it's sensitivity, or maybe more likely, a bad / slow thermostat. I checked the engine bay when I got back from the drive and there was no evidence of dumped coolant so I'm assuming the temperature never got too high.

I'm picking up the car in a week or so so will keep an eye on this very carefully. But has anyone got any comments / suggestions?

Thanks very much.

[scanner]

The standard gauge is notoriously inaccurate it usually only reaches 11 o'clock and only goes past that AFTER the engine has overheated.

That sounds to be very strange behavior for a Bongo temp gauge.

Is it a private sale or a dealer - new import or been over here for a while?

[ParkLife]

It's a trade sale, so i've got a bit of comeback if there's a problem with it so I'm not too concerned at the minute. Maybe the van hadn't been moved for a few months so it took a little while for the cooling system to clear and start running. It was imported in 2003 and it's got a service history since import so I'll trawl through all of that when I get it.

The fan was running fine and I left it idle for 10 minutes or so when I got back from the drive. No problems. I'll do plenty of tests with it when I pick it up in the next few weeks. The cooling system looks like it's working fine because it brought the temp down with ease, it just looked to me like it may have been a little slow to react. Maybe a dodgy thermostat. The thing has done 130,000 miles after all.

[scanner]

Ask if it has a "Mason Alarm" fitted - as that also modifies the temp gauge to react more quickly and accurately and could possibly make the needle move like that.

[Dolly1]

Hi Parky,
Bongo gauges are not in the habit of wandering,i would change the stat as a precaution,
also make sure of a good earth on the gauge.

[missfixit70]

I would make sure the system has been thoroughly flushed, refilled with fresh coolant & bled as per the factsheets before you pick it up, get the thermostat checked/replaced while it's empty. You do not want to be having any doubts about the cooling system.
It could well have a Mason alarm fitted as Scanner said.

[ParkLife]

Ask if it has a "Mason Alarm" fitted - as that also modifies the temp gauge to react more quickly and accurately and could possibly make the needle move like that.

Yes, I read up on these devices and wondered the same. There's no point in me asking the guys at the garage, they're nice enough but I'm afraid pretty clueless when it comes to the Bongo - they're just a 2nd hand car garage and have stumbled upon a Bongo via a part exchange.

I'll keep an eye on it when I pick the vehicle up and stop at the first sign of trouble. But like I say, it's got a three month warranty and I would have thought that that would me ample time for an overheating problem to present itself.

I expect I'll be back on here a lot over the next few months though with plenty more questions. The bench seat for example seems jammed and won't slide. Maybe they've turned the runners around at some point which would explain it?

[scanner]

Ask if it has a "Mason Alarm" fitted - as that also modifies the temp gauge to react more quickly and accurately and could possibly make the needle move like that.

Yes, I read up on these devices and wondered the same. There's no point in me asking the guys at the garage, they're nice enough but I'm afraid pretty clueless when it comes to the Bongo - they're just a 2nd hand car garage and have stumbled upon a Bongo via a part exchange.

I'll keep an eye on it when I pick the vehicle up and stop at the first sign of trouble. But like I say, it's got a three month warranty and I would have thought that that would me ample time for an overheating problem to present itself.

I expect I'll be back on here a lot over the next few months though with plenty more questions. The bench seat for example seems jammed and won't slide. Maybe they've turned the runners around at some point which would explain it?

If the bench seat is facing the right way it should be working OK unless the runners have been reversed (as you say) but the seat been put back in the "wrong" way round.

From the sound of that and the mileage I hope you aren't paying too much for it.

PS It's helpful to put your location in your profile, as it helps if you need local advice or assistance.

[mikeonb4c]

Welcome ParkLife. I'd suggest being careful here. Warranties do not always live up to the buyers expectations (esp. post credit crunch when dealers may vanish), and there are some 'unanswereds' here. Why are fans coming on so readily why is temp gauge fluctuating etc. Personally I would require reassurance on those points before accepting ownership of the vehicle. It could all be nothing serious, but you need to be sure.

Is the coolant a nice clear colour or is it rusty. How long does the temp gauge take to get to the 11.00 position (mine takes about 5 mins from cold, and it has a new thermostat). Etc etc.

Don't hesitate to contact us with any more concerns and good luck.

Mike

[nfn]

With a Mason alarm fitted and a functioning cooling system the temp gauge would not behave like you described it: it would take quite a long time to slowly creep up to about 1pm, then it would tend to vary from about 12 to the first line if you drive lead-footed up hills.

Mason alarms also go beep once when you turn on the ignition key.

I agree with Doone -- don't pick it up 'till it's fixed.

[haydn callow]

I would not accept that Bongo until you are totally happy that whatever is wrong has been fixed...sounds as though it was traded in for a reason. (not a good one )

[teenmal]

Hi guys,

I've just bought a Bongo and have a question regarding the temperature gauge - it seems to move around quite a lot. I haven't picked the van up yet but noticed this on the test drive. I assumed it was just typical for these vehicles but after a little digging around on this site it seems that the temp needle is usually pretty constant.

It never went particularly high, it would creep up to around the 2pm position, then you'd hear what sounded like the coolant starting to flowing and it would rapidly drop back to 11am.

I suppose someone could have been fiddling with the temp gauge and increased it's sensitivity, or maybe more likely, a bad / slow thermostat. I checked the engine bay when I got back from the drive and there was no evidence of dumped coolant so I'm assuming the temperature never got too high.

I'm picking up the car in a week or so so will keep an eye on this very carefully. But has anyone got any comments / suggestions?

Thanks very much.

Hope you didnt pay for it yet

[teenmal]

Hi guys,

I've just bought a Bongo and have a question regarding the temperature gauge - it seems to move around quite a lot. I haven't picked the van up yet but noticed this on the test drive. I assumed it was just typical for these vehicles but after a little digging around on this site it seems that the temp needle is usually pretty constant.

It never went particularly high, it would creep up to around the 2pm position, then you'd hear what sounded like the coolant starting to flowing and it would rapidly drop back to 11am.

I suppose someone could have been fiddling with the temp gauge and increased it's sensitivity, or maybe more likely, a bad / slow thermostat. I checked the engine bay when I got back from the drive and there was no evidence of dumped coolant so I'm assuming the temperature never got too high.

I'm picking up the car in a week or so so will keep an eye on this very carefully. But has anyone got any comments / suggestions?

Thanks very much.

I would be interested in this gauge,this is how a genuine Mazda gauges should operate,before they doctored them.
I can remember about 10+ years ago we reinstated some gauges,but I am unable to find the technical bulletin.
I know that this gauge can operate as it should with a Mason add on,but I would like to have it working as it should on its own.Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers Malc..

[ParkLife]

Just to update you, I picked up the van tonight and 5 miles down the road from the garage.....it overheated. I pulled over before it got too hot so no coolant ejected and no damage done.

The heaters are barely luke warm and the radiator fan is going hell for leather, so it's a fairly safe bet no / hardly any coolant is going around the system. I suspect either the stat is knackered or there's a block somewhere in the system.

Happy days!

[mikeonb4c]

Just to update you, I picked up the van tonight and 5 miles down the road from the garage.....it overheated. I pulled over before it got too hot so no coolant ejected and no damage done.

The heaters are barely luke warm and the radiator fan is going hell for leather, so it's a fairly safe bet no / hardly any coolant is going around the system. I suspect either the stat is knackered or there's a block somewhere in the system.

Happy days!

Bummer. But it does sound as though there room for optimism in that - with luck - there is nothing wrong with the engine but - as you say - something wrong with the coolant circulation. Thermostat does sound like a suspect worth eliminating from enquiries. Without reading back along this thread I can't remember what's been said but is the radiator OK? Does coolant look rusty / dirty. These too need investigation. Sounds like radiator fan sensors are working OK anyway! Keep us posted and good luck.