Mason alarm going off

[campergeek]

Happy new year everyone!

I fitted a Mason alarm a few months ago, and so far has worked as expected. Once warm the needle sits at about 55% to 60%, and the beeps have never gone off (think it's set at 5). Took it out yesterday and it started beeping, with needle moving up to 70 to 75%, though still quite a way off from the danger area at the end of the dial. The alarm would stop on long downhill sections, and start again on hills, when stopped at lights, etc. Took it home with AC and fans running to help cool it. I'm pretty sure there's no damage, but think my cooling system isn't working as it should. Done a lot harder runs than this in the past with the temp much lower.

The header tank looked slightly low a couple of months ago, so I topped it up with maybe 100 to 200mls of ionised water. Don't think it's dropped since, but hard to tell as at home it's parked on a hill with steep road camber, but it's never been anywhere near the low level. Had a look at all the pipes and with my basic knowledge they seem fine.

I also noticed a mild burning plastic smell a few days ago when the fans were on. It was hard to be sure as the van currently stinks of the new rubber mats we've just put in, but this could be related. Can't spot anything in the engine /under the bonnet that's burnt or melted. Both fans seems to blow hot ok though.

I also flattened the battery a few days ago (lights left on ), but it seems to be ok now. Again, don't think this is related, but will mention it anyway.

Any thoughts on what else I should check, or am I jest being paranoid? Should I be getting the stat checked and rad flushed, etc? It's due MOT/Service this month, so will get it booked in to ADS as soon as possible.

Cheers,
Alex

[daveblueozzie]

Not sure if the problem is with the coolant, you say you put ionised water in, it should be a coolant mix not just water, the strength of the coolant is important, it helps keeps the engine from overheating.(water is better than nothing)
Maybe that is why the mason alarm is going off, the engine is getting a little hot.

[dave_aber]

200ml of water in 13 litres of coolant won't affect the mix ratio in any measurable way.

If it did anything, the van should run cooler - pure water is better at removing the heat than a 'coolant' mix, which has to be there for its anti-corrosion and antifreeze properties.

[jaylee]

With the van cold & on the flat, you can check the level in the header tank with a lolly stick dipped to the bottom.. The level on the stick should be about 20mm from the end..?

What condition is yer battery in? Is the alternator charging correctly??

I did read a long time ago that sometimes a false alarm on the mason is indicative of an impending alternator failure.. Or possible battery problem..?? Did you have a fair bit of drain on the battery at the time of the alarm too! (Wipers, lights fans,radio..?)

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... +detective

I would certainly check very carefully for a leak if the level has dropped....

[campergeek]

No extra drain on the battery at the time - no lights, wipers or radio on. Just been and checked the battery. 12.48v when cold ,and 14.41v once started. We did have to get a jump from the AA man. He got it started fine, but said the battery failed his test, as it reported low CCAs. I plan to replace this, but would be surprised if this was the issue.

Also, last winter it was suffering from lumpy starting and a bit of white smoke. Had it in to the garage to try and diagnose, but they tried a few things which didn't solve it, and it was fine with the warmer weather. It's returned in the last few days as the weather has got colder. This does make me paranoid, but with such minimal loss of water I'm hoping it's not any issue with the head

[dave_aber]

My recent coolant loss started just like that - very slight loss of coolant, maybe once every 3 months needed a tiny top-up. Mason alarm never wet off though. With the mason, you have to get right over to the H before you are in trouble, so it sounds like you have got hot but not too hot.

I found dried up / congealed coolant on the bottom of the bottom hose. Cleaned it up, and it never seemed to return.

Then one day I spotted a wee puddle. The top of the rad had started to weep all the way around the crimped joint. 300 very gentle miles later and it was losing coolant regularly. By 'losing coolant' and 'regularly' I mean that if I used the van for essential trips round town for a week it would drop from Max to Min in the tank over a week. Still a slight loss.

Replaced the rad, and the stat in case it was the cause of slightly hot running leading to higher pressure and then rad failure. I hadn't noticed any hot running, but it could be a valid theory.

Been fine since.

[jaylee]

No extra drain on the battery at the time - no lights, wipers or radio on. Just been and checked the battery. 12.48v when cold ,and 14.41v once started. We did have to get a jump from the AA man. He got it started fine, but said the battery failed his test, as it reported low CCAs. I plan to replace this, but would be surprised if this was the issue.

Also, last winter it was suffering from lumpy starting and a bit of white smoke. Had it in to the garage to try and diagnose, but they tried a few things which didn't solve it, and it was fine with the warmer weather. It's returned in the last few days as the weather has got colder. This does make me paranoid, but with such minimal loss of water I'm hoping it's not any issue with the head

Are these puppy's both working OK???




Just a little condensation in the exhaust....?

Just another idea....!

[wonkanoby]

Did they chsnge the glow plugs and as asked does the cold start bump the revs

what hoses are you aware have been renewed in its life here in uk

[campergeek]

I originally suspected the cold start was causing the lumpiness, but the garage just increased the tick-over. This was at the end of winter, so it just went away within days of getting it back. I'm first UK owner - fresh import last january. The garage checked plugs and said they were fine, but I replaced them myself a month or so ago when the lumpiness first returned, so I could rule that one out. Could well be the cold start system, so will look in to that further. Think we've only had a couple of frosts this winter so far in bristol!

However, I'm thinking this overheating issue is unrelated. No hoses have been changed on it since import as far as I'm aware.

[daveblueozzie]

If the coolant in the bongo is from Japan Don't mix the coolants we have here in Britain with the Japanese coolant.

[wonkanoby]

then i would take a good look at the top hose were it joins engine on drivers side

and the one over the starter

as these tend to be the first to blow

[wonkanoby]

you should feel the cold start pulling the throttle down before you start it and notice revs jumping by 150 plus rpm over normal

[campergeek]

Thanks everyone. Tomorrow i'll order a new battery, book it in to the garage and do some thorough inspecting of hoses.

[jaylee]

You should see the actuator work (Part 24-8002) http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... o=.html#33 While yer waiting for the glow plug light to go out before starting the engine.. It should also work to keep the revs/tick-over up when the AC is on... My tick overs about 750 & i've set the actuator to do the same when the solenoids cut in.. (But each to there own, it works for me..)

This may or may not explain... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... f+the+week

[campergeek]

Fitted a new battery yesterday, and taken it for a couple of long runs. The temp gauge is staying at it's normal point and can't get the beeps to go off again. Couldn't spot any obvious leaks either, and fluid level hasn't dropped since the top-up a couple of months ago. Not convinced it's fixed though, so will see what the garage say on tuesday. Was planning on getting the ATF fluid changed and EGR blanked off too, so looking like it could turn in to an expensive service.