New Bongo owner with temperature gauge not working

[Ann_lilian]

I recently bought a '97 diesel bongo (2.5). On driving it home on the first day I noticed the temperature gauge had not moved at all. The engine sounds fine and it drove all the way from Southampton to Derby with no problems but I want advice on how to go about fitting/changing the sensor so that I've got some clue as to how hot the engine is getting. I'm new at this so a 'Bongos for Dummies' style would be helpful! My cigarette lighter in the front has also blown - is it common for the coils to fuse together in these causing them to blow? I would like it to work so I can use my sat nav on new/complicated journeys when my navigator has fallen asleep!

Any help appreciated!

[Bob]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum.

Likely if the coil in your lighter has melted the fuse will have gone, I'd start there.

Temp gauge - Sorry, don't know, but someone will.

[Gasy]

I would fit a engine temp alarm instead of repairing temp gauge
Also look at getting a low coolant alarm
The dash temp gauge is not accurate when working
So most fit extra alarms to warn of low engine coolant or engine temp rise
I would not drive mine with out either engine temp alarm or LCA

Both can be sourced of eblay item number :170927068334 low coolant alarm £15
Engine temp alarm : 111052553849 most important in my eyes and not much dosh to save your engine from over heating £36 deliverd
or there is a chap on here who has a company that makes them Haydn

[Bob]

Haydn Callow:

http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk/shop/index.php

I also wouldn't go out without the coolant alarm.

There is a small discount for BF members.

[Ann_lilian]

I've been looking into the low coolant alarms as they look far more accurate then the temp gauge. I've contacted the guy I bought it off and he's going to get it sorted this week hopefully. I'll fit the low coolant thing myself when I've got a day free. Those are very few and far between at the moment unfortunately. Work can be such a bind sometimes!

[Bob]

Do, please, keep in mind that the temp gauge and coolant alarm do completely different jobs.

[Northern Bongolow]

the standard temp sensor is at the front corner on the drivers side on the cylinder head, look for a single wire connection to its top, the wire comes over the top of the rocker cover from the alternator harness, this is sometimes pulled tight and off or the connection may need cleaning. a new sensor is only pennies from the club shop.

im not sure if the same fuse covers the temp gauge/dashboard lights and the ciggy lighter someone else may know.

the temp gauge maybe actually be working but the engine running cold, this maybe because the thermostat is faulty or has been removed.

[winchman]

Haydn Callow:

http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk/shop/index.php

I also wouldn't go out without the coolant alarm.

There is a small discount for BF members.

I have the low coolant alarm and a separate temp gauge from Haydn, I have had them about 3 years and I am very happy with them

[winchman]

the temp gauge maybe actually be working but the engine running cold, this maybe because the thermostat is faulty or has been removed.

That's a good point, it may have an over heating issue that is being hidden by removing the thermostat.
From memory if you pull the wire of the temp sensor and short it to earth the gauge should move to the hot end of the scale so would them point to a faulty sensor.
Personally I wouldn't drive a bongo with out a temp gauge working

[mikeonb4c]

the temp gauge maybe actually be working but the engine running cold, this maybe because the thermostat is faulty or has been removed.

That's a good point, it may have an over heating issue that is being hidden by removing the thermostat.
From memory if you pull the wire of the temp sensor and short it to earth the gauge should move to the hot end of the scale so would them point to a faulty sensor.
Personally I wouldn't drive a bongo with out a temp gauge working

Or an engine running cold?

[TheStinkyHippy]

Engine temp alarm : 111052553849 most important in my eyes and not much dosh to save your engine from over heating £36 deliverd
or there is a chap on here who has a company that makes them Haydn

Any pictures on where to connect the sensor for this temp alarm?

[Puma931]

Also check the condition of all the hoses (there are quite a few of them) and if any need replacing it is best to replace them all.

[cmm303]

...
im not sure if the same fuse covers the temp gauge/dashboard lights and the ciggy lighter someone else may know
...

ciggy lighter is fuse 8 assuming there has been no change with a leisure battery installation. Not sure about temp gauge but would have a guess at fuse 10. Unlikely that they would come off the same fuse since the ciggy lighter is powered with the key in the accessories position, but the instrumentation is powered when the ignition is on.

Referring to fuses by drivers knee.

[Gasy]

Engine temp alarm : 111052553849 most important in my eyes and not much dosh to save your engine from over heating £36 deliverd
or there is a chap on here who has a company that makes them Haydn

Any pictures on where to connect the sensor for this temp alarm?

It's has a copper washer like sealed end on it
Which goes under 1 of the bolts at the rear of the engine rocker box cover
Top of engine at the rear
But can go under any bolt on the engine
Just remove bolt put sensor washer on and put bolt back in

[Simon Jones]

The temp gauge takes the power from the instrument panel so if speedo and rev counter are fine, then power is not the issue. Dashboard is fuse 10 and cigarette lighter is 8.

With regard to adding any additional alarms and gauges, I personally would not use the same circuit as the cigarette lighter socket. If you plug your sat nav or phone charger in at a jaunty angle and it shorts the contacts out, the fuse will blow which will knock out your alarms.

For my LCA, I took the power from the rear of the instrument panel so I know it's a relatively 'safe' supply. Thick red wires can be seen going off from the left hand side: