Coolant alarm

[bongofever]

Hi some help needed here please guys, i have a coolant alarm fitted which has now decided to continuously beep and flash and after a few hours of driving this has become rather unbearable as you can imagine the coolant level is fine although it was low a while ago which caused the alarm to first beep ,after todays journey home the coolant has again dropped below minimum but after topping up the alarm will not turn off. Also i cannot find a fuse to turn the alarm off ,does it have one and where would it be? Trevor

[Driver+Passengers]

I'm not a coolant alarm owner, but I believe that over time new coolant will deposit a layer on the screw which will cause false alarms. You should clean the screw off, but someone with a little more authority should be along soon to tell you that soon...

[westonwarrior]

I'm not a coolant alarm owner, but I believe that over time new coolant will deposit a layer on the screw which will cause false alarms. You should clean the screw off, but someone with a little more authority should be along soon to tell you that soon...

yep agreed thats the first thing to try, clean and replace the screw

[daveblueozzie]

Make sure the coolant is strong enough, and not just adding water as that just dilutes the coolant.

[bongofever]

A ha - had only been adding water so perhaps that is why the water is disappearing so quick??? any particular coolant I should use? I checked the screw and it was fine, the alarm only got fitted in June.

Thanks for the replies so far

[haydn callow]

Your first concern should be the fact that your level in the tank is dropping.....
You need to find out why and fix the leak.

As said...if you are topping up with plain water then the alarm will sound untill things get hot and mixed,

Try cleaning the screw with a wire brush.

If you have a multi meter check the voltage (engine running) between the tank sensor screw and earth.......more than 2 volts means a dirty screw.

To turn the alarm off (as you have a leak I would try and avoid) find the unit below the steering wheel...(follow the alarm noise) and disconnect the earth wire....(just cut it ... you can rejoin later)

I am now away for 7 days (portugal..golf) contact me in a week if you cannot fix it....


The screw may look clean....wire brush it anyway

[haydn callow]

the fact you are only adding water has nothing to do with the loss of coolant......

[haydn callow]

Are you the person who has been phoning me this week.......if so I explained this and advised what action to take

[haydn callow]

You need to be topping up with a 50/50 mix of the same type of coolant you already have in there

[bigdaddycain]

Hi bongofever Is there any physical evidence of an actual coolant leak? (puddle on the floor, etc). It might be worth whipping off the plastic tray under the engine as that is foam lined and can act as a sponge,soaking up leaks and possible leak sources...

[haydn callow]

you say it keeps beeping/flashing.......if you mean beep/beep/beep/beep then it could be a loose connection........dirty screw would be a continuaus sound with the red led constantly on

[gasmeter65]

No experience on coolant alarms, but

I was losing coolant for a long time and couldn't trace where from until the pipe above the starter motor let go rather quickly.

It had been going for while, i noticed when taken off, little tears on the pipe against the block.
Since the repair coolant hasn't dropped much at all.

[bongofever]

Ok great, will fix the leak first, add some coolant and clean the screw.

No Hayden wasn't me calling this week, it only happened at the weekend.

The light is on constantly with the alarm sounding a continuous screech, nurofen was required

[Driver+Passengers]

Ok great, will fix the leak first, add some coolant and clean the screw.

Again, I'm no expert (as I haven't yet touched my own coolant system since purchase), but unless you know what coolant type is in there already, some may advise against topping up with coolant. My understanding is that different types of coolant can react together (dropping sediment? I forget the details...). A search on the forum would throw up more info.

Depending on your skill/experience, you should probably either drain, refill and bleed, learn how to, or arrange for someone to help you do this.

[tallbongo]

D & P is correct, but you can get premix that is compatible with all commonly used coolants.

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0290243

If you've not added too much water this may do.