Temperature gauge problem

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Simon Jones
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by Simon Jones » Tue May 22, 2012 10:03 pm

psquiddy wrote:
I wonder if the thermostat is present / working ?
Is there some way of checking?
Quick test to see if one is present, squeeze the top hose and you should hear a click which is the little bead which acts as a bypass valve. It's 100% guaranteed as it has been known for some thermostats to be mod'ed to remove the centre core which leaves the outer section and the little bead in place.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Wed May 23, 2012 2:03 pm

What does the gauge do if you earth the sender wire.
Nothing
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Wed May 23, 2012 2:07 pm

squeeze the top hose and you should hear a click which is the little bead which acts as a bypass valve
Yup - there is a click - which I assume means that I do have a thermostat
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by Kernongo » Sun May 27, 2012 1:44 am

.....I'M not very Bongo techie but noting the first post issue on the thread my 2001 petrol variant 2l has an identical issue.
When driving the temperature gauge aligns with the 'zero' marker on the gauge and is even seen to go backwards suggesting the engine is getting colder but when slowing or stuck in traffic I start to see the needle rise slightly..?

This confused the hell out of me at first and even got me worried a bit but reading the posts here and on other Bongo forums as well as reading the temperature gauge mod am I right in understanding that this is normal behaviour for the gauge as the Japenese creators designed it to read..?...?

To date I have not checked for the presence of a thermostat but my coolant levels seem stable and all is working fine... I don't want to take my Bongo back to the selling garage for what turns out to be 'normal' gauge behaviour...

Here's hoping an experienced Bongonaught can help clear up my confusion.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by rita » Sun May 27, 2012 2:07 pm

psquiddy wrote:
What does the gauge do if you earth the sender wire.
Nothing

Hi,did you switch the ignition ON ?

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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by g8dhe » Sun May 27, 2012 4:36 pm

And had you tested the earth first to make sure it was OK ?
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by g8dhe » Sun May 27, 2012 4:58 pm

Just a thought there are actually four separate temperature sensors / senders in the 2 litre, which one did you change ?
1. C2-02 drives the Gauge itself;


2. Drives the ECU for engine control B3-11 &
3. Drives the ECU for scavanger fan control B3-09


4. Drives the A/C G3-11
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Wed May 30, 2012 8:00 pm

Thanks for all of the help so far folks.

I have just spent some time in stop/start commuting traffic for the first time since I got the Bongo - all of the rest of my journeys have been clear runs on motorways.

After about 15 mins of stop/start the gauge started registering - went up to about 20%, then dropped right off the bottom again when I got a bit of clear road.

So the suggestion that "the 2.0's run cool" may be correct - also the suggestion regarding the gauge registering when the engine is stopped, but ignition is on is due to the water pump not running makes sense.

So at the moment I am thinking that it is working after all (I have not fitted the new sender that I bought yet) but either the gauge needs re-calibrating or the car runs rather cool on a run.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by Simon Jones » Wed May 30, 2012 11:40 pm

While different models of cars will run at varying temperatures, the manufacturers would calibrate the senders and gauges such that 'normal' will be somewhere in the middle of the range of movement of the needle. Likewise, cars with a small 30 litre petrol tank, don't have a guage that only reads half when the tank is full :wink:

There must be a few more 2 litre owners out there that can verify what 'normal' position is for the needle.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by sdsk » Thu May 31, 2012 8:13 am

Have a quick look at this thread:
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=51222

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