Garage Bungled Installation of Low Coolant Alarm Help Needed

[New Forest Terrier]

I just bought a Low Coolant alarm + digital temp monitor from Haydn and being a coward had it fitted by a local garage. Usually they are very competent and although not Bongo specialists do sell them regularly.

They have got something wrong on the fitting and the low coolant alarm goes off on corners and potholes. The temperature readout seems to work fine just the coolant side. It will be returned to the garage but I need to find out what remedial work is needed.

There are no coolant level problems. The van looses no coolant, has not needed a top up in ten months and the level is still perfect after the alarm fitting. The tank is clear and the coolant a lovely clean blue. The van itself has a full Mazda dealer service history from Japan. It is a 95 petrol V6 although should not make any difference.

There appears to be one sensor fitted on the water tank between the high and low coolant marks. It looks wrong to me but is this correct or the cause of the trouble? I just handed over the box with instructions.

Can you please help. I just don't want them to make it worse by another incorrect try.

Regards Mary

[missfixit70]

Best bet is to take a photo of the probe location & stick it up here. Have you contacted Haydn? He's a very helpful chap, give him a ring or pm him.

[scanner]

I read that as "garage burgled......"

[mikeonb4c]

I wonder if they've put the probes in the wrong position - sounds a bit like it.

Haydns yer man, as Kirsty says, and a piccie of the header tank showing probe locations will help him make a quick diagnosis. Good luck

[francophile1947]

Sounds like they've set the sensor at about the right height, although mine has 2 wires to the tank - maybe the newer ones haven't
As Kirsty says - give Haydn a PM.

[haydn callow]

Yep....the new LCA's have been upgraded and only one wire is required....this particular alarm is the TM-2/LCA combo......I have been in touch by e mail.
The first thing to determin is the coolant level (COLD) in relation to the sensor screw. There needs to be a centimeter of coolant above the screw when COLD.
The screw should be about half way between low and full. If it is slightly high then just top up so there is 1cm above..
Once this is all o.k. and if there is still a problem then we will move on to plan B.

We do have one...a plan B that is...

[New Forest Terrier]

I have emailed you the photo Haydn.

Also just spent half an hour battling photo bucket to get the photo on to the site, No luck so far.

Looks like we need plan B. The coolant level is about 1cm above full. Topped up by garage after fitting. It has not moved from there since. Before this it has been at full since purchase of the van.

[haydn callow]

No email arrived yet.......will wait for a photo before deploying the cunning Plan B

[haydn callow]

Please resend photo.....check address
[email protected]

[Trouble at t'Mill]

I reckon your suspension dampers are shot - clearly the car is leaning too far into corners...

[dobby]

I'm just very envious of someone having a clear header tank!

[francophile1947]

I'm just very envious of someone having a clear header tank!

What's one of them then

[haydn callow]

Well that's all fine...in fact if that tank is cold you could "suck" a bit out with a syringe.
Next...Is that terminal on the tank tight ?? You should not be able to revolve the terminal on the screw.
The next place to look is the bullet connector at the back of the display box (the other end of that blue wire...it should be well plugged in and the crimps good.
Next you need to check the rest of the connections, but as you say the temp display/alarm is o.k then I expect they are o.k.

So to sum up...check the connections at each end of the blue wire.

If all is good..we must think again.

This is only the 2nd time this has happened...the 1st one was a loose bullet connection

[New Forest Terrier]

Very reassuring Haydn. I will check the connections tomorrow am.

Trouble at t Mill could be on to something as part of it. The suspension feels not to bad, but definitely could do better. Also I am comparing it with my other transport. A Jeep Wrangler known to friends as 'Mr Toad's Wild Ride' due to its almost total lack of any modern suspension. After that anything feels perfect.

I am slowly winning the photobucket battle. All I need now is to get the transfer to BF and I can add anything needed.

Cheers

Mary

[Trouble at t'Mill]

NFT, only teasing about your suspension

I'm sure it'll turn out to be a poor connection giving a false reading. Yep, the Bongos are not exactly sports-car flat on t'road, but they ain't too bad for all 'at.