Low coolant alarm driving me nuts.

[Simon B]

My Bongo came fitted with a low coolant alarm which I believe to be one of Haydn's.

Since fitting a Willington kit the LCA has been going off when the engine and coolant have cooled down, usually a few hours after the van has been used. A bit annoying in the middle of the night when sleeping in the van!

Loosening and re-tightening the probe screws at the expansion tank gives a temporary fix but the problem comes back the next day.

My auto electrical knowledge is limited, but I'm guessing the LCA must take it's live feed from a circuit that's now on the leisure battery (interior lights, cig lighters or blinds).

What circuit is best to wire to when you've got a leisure battery?
And what colour are the earth and positive wires from the LCA?

Thanks in advance.

[scanner]

My LCA take it's power from an ignition feed, so it doesn't do anything if the ignition is off and gives a test "squawk" when the ignition is turned on. All you need to do is relocate it's power feed to somewhere that comes on with the ignition.

[corblimey]

If you have a willinton kit fitted you should have spare switched lives on the fuse board down by your right knee.

The willinton kit pacthes into the lower sockets of the fuse holders, the remaining socket above is live. Locate one that is switched with the ignition and patch your LCA in there. Don't forget install a suitable inline fuse first.

[missfixit70]

The fact it's going off after a few hours ie in the middle of the night is probably more voltage related than temp related.

[Simon B]

What would the LB voltage need to drop to for the LCA to go off?

LCA is going off now and LB is show 12.5v with my cheapo voltage tester.

[missfixit70]

What would the LB voltage need to drop to for the LCA to go off?

LCA is going off now and LB is show 12.5v with my cheapo voltage tester.

I'd say @12.5 v then if it's going off If you turn the engine on now, as soon as the LB starts getting voltage it should go off. Think about it. it's designed to work with the engine running which means high 13-14v as a minimum normal running.
As has already been said, get it swapped over to an iginition circuit asap, otherwise you don't get the test beep to say it's working when ignition is turned on.

[Simon B]

As has already been said, get it swapped over to an iginition circuit asap, otherwise you don't get the test beep to say it's working when ignition is turned on.

That's my plan, just not sure how to do it

[missfixit70]

See Corblimey's post above If you've fitted the Willinton Kit, the top fusebox slots will have nothing in em but will still be supplying power, see this thread for how to do it - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ox#p355970

[Simon B]

Cheers, I think I've got it now

[Simon B]

The connectors on the Willinton kit that go into the Bongo fuse box - do they have a name?

[missfixit70]

Eric & Ernie Don't know, may be worth giving Martin (Willinton) a shout & seeing if he can supply some if you don't want to go homemade? If I remember rightly Tony (TheDogsBollox) made some out of butchered small fuses ie soldering the small spade end onto a bit of cable, bit of heatshrink over the top, job done Just make sure you have a fuse in the circuit.

[haydn callow]

The wires on the LCA can be differant depending on how old it is as we had a change.
BUT
the rule is.
One wire will have more red in than the other....the reddist wire is ingition switched live....the blackest wire is earth.

You must get it removed from the LB circuit and onto the Ignition side for it to work properly.

[Simon B]

Thanks for all the help.
Got it rewired and working as it should