Bongo Fury

mikeonb4c wrote:You're right in a way, Waycar. But for me, this is my equivalent of chrome wing mirror covers (I'd like those too mind you). Not exactly necessary, but I get a good feeling knowing I have one fitted. And at my age its getting important to do stuff that makes me feel good

Mike

you have a certain way with words mike makes me laugh, not saying it wont work, just putting my view across.

The point is !!!How many owners have had a overheating problem caused by a loss of coolant??? My guess is that quite a lot have. Loss of coolant will be a factor in many cases. Pinprick holes, leakey pump, rotting hoses,
defective rad ! the list is endless and wouldn't it be nice if before you start your engine (every time) the alarm self tests and tells you your coolant level is good, on the other hand if it has dripped away over night it will let you know in no uncertain fashion. Add to that the fact that it may well let you know if you are belting down the motorway and burst a pipe lets all the coolant go. In this case you have seconds to notice by seeing the temp gauge, the alarm again may be your engines saviour.
Blocked rad is another matter but even that could burst and lose coolant.

haydn callow wrote:The point is !!!How many owners have had a overheating problem caused by a loss of coolant??? My guess is that quite a lot have. Loss of coolant will be a factor in many cases. Pinprick holes, leakey pump, rotting hoses,
defective rad ! the list is endless and wouldn't it be nice if before you start your engine (every time) the alarm self tests and tells you your coolant level is good, on the other hand if it has dripped away over night it will let you know in no uncertain fashion. Add to that the fact that it may well let you know if you are belting down the motorway and burst a pipe lets all the coolant go. In this case you have seconds to notice by seeing the temp gauge, the alarm again may be your engines saviour.
Blocked rad is another matter but even that could burst and lose coolant.

i am not saying it wont help in some cases all i am saying is MY personal view

Hi Guys
Count me in, accept this as an order for one Coolant Loss Detection Kit, preferably at the agreed discounted rate. Why so eager? My Bongo is presently undergoing very expensive engine refurbishment caused by overheating. An audible warning to back up my visual checks may just help to restore confidence and peace of mind.
Pat Mc Kenna

Yes, I have suffered a cracked head as a result of a faulty water pump that remained undetected for too long.......I check my coolant every day so it would save some trouble for me.
I think that given the number of audible warnings that the Bongo has already, I think it needs something a little special.....I'd like to order mine with Catherine Zeta Jones saying 'hey big boy, I'm getting hot' if I'm driving or just a very loud and annoying buzzer if Kaths driving!

Rob

cor blimey

lots of opinions
i have just fitted an engine temperature alarm i suppose it works on the same lines loss of coolant /oil etc but this works on the engine block temp , engine heats up too much alarm goes off

you go OH FLUFF IT or there abouts and hope you caught it in time
as a bit of warning is better than none

it`s a couple of wires (acc/earth) and a long sensor lead that i have bolted into the side of the cylinder head into one of the pre drilled/tapped holes

you just get it up to temp it self checks every 2 seconds set the alarm a couple of degrees over that

hopefully if the engine starts overheating , it warns you by having a manic beep at you

i think both systems have pros and cons but if it warns me can`t be a bad thing

take it easy folks

Do you remember (us oldies do!) when cars had lots of gauges like oil pressure, ammeters etc.? These useful items showed "trends".This was slowly replaced by simple lights showing when an event was no longer acceptable.
This works as long as everything is in tip top condition. A 10 year old Bongo is definitely not in the prime of life.

Oil pressure is one example. Low pressure lights got low oil level warning added. Nothing monitors the pump slowly degrading.It ain't sophisticated. It relies on the integrity of the design, reliability and servicing. I'll bet most would love to see an oil pressure gauge fitted. Knowledge is everything.

So lets look at the coolant system -
Design-radiator a long way from the engine block so lots of long, big steel and flex pipes, turbo cooler, twin heater system etc.

Reliability- its getting old but its reasonable if you're lucky.

Servicing- I reckon at 10 years all the flex tubing and steel pipes should have been replaced years ago, along with a regular flush.

What have Mazda put in to monitor this system- a temp gauge! If you're quick enough to see it go off full scale then drop when the coolant dumps out of the system.

So lets also look at some arguments put here as opinions that this detector is "overkill". As I'm bombing along at 70 mph I have a detector monitoring the coolant level, the doubters have faith in knowing that some hours previously they looked at the coolant level and now hope that its still there. No brainer here.

Do look at David Jones's website (see Ians post).

Stuart

I'm in. One thing that disturbs me about the bongo is its much higher than average number of coolant hoses. Some of the hoses are much longer than on most vehicles too, due to it being mid-engined. I know the Enginesaver coolant alarm was designed to help avoid the catastrophe of being stuck in the Australian outback, but it seems like a sensible addition to ageing bongos in the UK too. And anyhow, the coolant alarm could avert the potential catastrophe of an engine meltdown in Stockton-on-Tees...

I'll have one...gotta be worth a go ..

OK - I am up for one too

If the alarm sounds and you are miles from anywhere all you can do is stop and either get your tool kit and spare hoses out and fix the problem or call the AA, RAC or whatever.

So why not change all the hoses? Sounds stupid but if this is what you are going to have to do anyway even if they go one by one over the next ten years.

Maybe if we could form a co-operative and order say 100 sets of hoses they may come in at a reasonable price and then you will have peace of mind.

I'm afraid having a device that tells me the hoses have failed and if I stop NOW I may not have knackered the engine means I have failed as a half decent mechanic that maintains my own vehicle whenever and wherever possible.

We had quite a long topic on overheating a month or so ago and if you had followed the procedures mentioned then perhaps you would be motoring happily in your Bongo instead of going grey at the thought of overheating.

Whatever turns you on, new pipes or an electronic gizmo..........

having lost coolant which resulted in a blown engine previously, can't wait to get hold of this device.petebee
Thanks to Haydn and all for the research

I agree with Vanmanerik

Ah well you should have replaced your pipes earlier then, now you are going to do the same mistake again hoping a flashing light/buzzer will save you, shame..

OK, I'll come out with my hands up. I am a failed,not even half decent mechanic. Plus, mah joints aint what they were now I'm 55. But mah eye has got beadier and ah'm takin to the idea of a a bit of risk management. You know, thats where ya takes a risk BUT has a little something in yer pocket in case o' trouble (bit like totin a gun under ma poncho in injun country). Well ah reckon mah pipes is good fer I good few miles an ah might even upset them iif ah start fiddlin around. But as I don't completely trust them l'il critters, ah'm gonna get me one of them there new fangled coolant loss thingies an' stick it where the sun don't shine - if'n ya get mah meanin'

Then ah'm gonna haul mah l'il touche into that there saddle, an me an mah mule is gonna head straight out into that there desert.


Mike