Bongo Fury

Hi all,
I have been reading, with interest, about Mason alarms. According to the various posts, they are easily fitted, reasonably cheap and very useful.
But there doesn't seem to be a place where all the info. is in one place, so I have some questions ........

What is a Mason alarm?
What does it look like?
How is it fitted?
Is it aswell as the temp guage or instead of?
How do they let you know something is wrong?
How much is one?
Where can you get one?
How are they fitted (anyone got pictures of an install)?

Thank you.

What is a Mason alarm? - It is a small electronic device that bridges between the contacts on the Mazda gauge to open up the "dead spot" between normal operating temperature and overheating. It effectively makes the standard gauge more useful as it shows fluctuations in coolant temperature. It also provides an alarm that you can set to your own position when you want to be alerted when the coolant reaches a certain level.

What does it look like? - a small plastic box about 3 x 8 cm.

How is it fitted? - very easily with two wires screwing into the back of the existing gauge. Full fitting instructions are provided.

Is it aswell as the temp guage or instead of? - It enhances your existing gauge.

How do they let you know something is wrong? - the alarm goes off at your preset point

How much is one? - £27

Where can you get one? - online at http://www.townace.com

How are they fitted (anyone got pictures of an install)? - by following the comprehensive instructions. If you know which way to turn a screwdriver then you won't have a problem.

Thanks, Ian, for the quick reply.

I have just ordered one

What is the general concensus as to where the setting on the dial should be (the preset alarm point)

Thanks again.

Mine is set at "4" (but they do vary a bit apparently) and just comes on if I stop the engine too quickly after a fast run due to "heat soak". In normal circumstances it doesn't even squeak.

So I reckon it is triggered by a rise of about 5-10 degrees above normal.

3.5 was too low as it came on in traffic and pulling hard up hills.

Linusface wrote: Thanks, Ian, for the quick reply.

I have just ordered one

What is the general concensus as to where the setting on the dial should be (the preset alarm point)

Thanks again.

No concensus - it depends on the condition of your own system - that's why it's adjustable. There'll be no 2 vehicles the same regarding radiator/heater matrices conditions.

just ordered mine....hopefully i wont hear it going off anytime soon.
bit worried about the trip to glastonbury, long haul and lots of sitting in traffic :S
haydn's alarm is next on the list but im a bit poor at the moment, eyes fixed on the temp gauge will have to do.

I have mine set at 4.5, and it only gives a couple of little peeps sometimes when restarted just after a hard run. In town my bongo seems to run a little cool -- the temp gauge drops to about 12:30. Most of the time the temp gauge sits at 1 o'clock, rising to perhaps 1:30 at most for a few minutes after pulling off the motorway, or when worked hard.

Once you get a feel for where the temp gauge sits on your bongo with the Mason gauge installed, over time you should be able to see if your cooling system's effectiveness starts to decline. This is not possible with the standard bongo temp gauge setup.

nfn wrote:Once you get a feel for where the temp gauge sits on your bongo with the Mason gauge installed, over time you should be able to see if your cooling system's effectiveness starts to decline. This is not possible with the standard bongo temp gauge setup.

That's a really good point actually. It may have just swayed me away from preferring the TM2 engine block alarm and towards the Mason Alarm

ive ordered a mason alarm today, seems like a useful little gaggy

cheers

alex and jan

Been on my to do list for months.

This thread has given me the boot up the backside I needed. I've just bought one too.


Combined with Haydns excellent alarm its a double fail safe piece of mind bargain.

A tip for fitting.
The device comes with velcro pads to site it where you like. Instead I opened up the case on the alarm and drilled a hole for the cable at the back of the casing (it's from the side as standard). You can now remove the 3 blanks for the switches to the left of and down from the steering wheel and open it up to create one hole. The alarm is a tight fit in the hole. Not only is the alarm easy to hand for adjusting the beeper but it's out of the way and gets rid of more of those switch blanks.
(Suppose I should add a piccy - later if I remember when I get home)

Mister Munkey has it in one there - both the Mason and the Coolant alarm go hand in hand.

The Mason alarm does give you the shock of seeing the temp gauge right over at the hot end on a long uphill slog

Mine is a bit intermittent at the moment, I suspect I need to clean the contacts on the back of the dash - I don't feel happy when it occasionally reverts back to the 11 O'Clock come hell or "hot" water mode of operation

I've just ordered one. Seems like a sensible precaution to have one fitted. Just need the TM2, rabbits foot & luck heather!

blimey, mine arrived on my doorstep this morning...cant fault it!

Cant fault the masons alarm what so ever , not only does it ACTUALLY tell you your engine is getting hot, wheather it be an overheating issue or just hot running temp, it actually shows you how hot you are running it and at under £30 its a genuine bargain

i ave put mine at the back of the fuse box, where the hole is at the top behind the cover, so i just take the fuse box cover off and turn it to whatever setting i like, its out of the way yet accessable

Mike Jill and Emily wrote: Mine is a bit intermittent at the moment, I suspect I need to clean the contacts on the back of the dash - I don't feel happy when it occasionally reverts back to the 11 O'Clock come hell or "hot" water mode of operation

Mine starts off at the usaual 11 o clock posistion, then it will rise to 12 o clock on an average run, then will go to 1 o clock when its getting a bit of hammer on motorways going up hills ect then return back to 11 o clock, every bongo is different, so this may be normall for yours.

Or possibly that mine is getting an extra bit of cooling down due to a fist size hole in the undertray , check your undertray you may also have a hole which is allowing extra air to get through and cooling down the engine