coolant warning

[Freds boss]

Hi all,

Another silly question from newby. How would I know I had one fitted, where would I find it, if not why do I need one? we will from time to time pull asmall caravan. You make it sound essential so who do I get to do it here in Poole. Not much good with workings under the bonnet.

freds boss Viv

[David Edwards]

I have no doubt haydn will tell you soon, I have the mark 3 version which is built into a double cig socket, it is easy to fit, I have posted piccies on here in a previous thread showing it, I and no doubt many others would say one of these is an essential piece of kit.

[haydn callow]

Just tried a pm and it didn't go.....
See web site below for details of the alarms....Easy DIY fit or about 45 mins in a garage...If you can get to Somerton (nr Yeovil I will fit for you)
On hols at moment back on Wed.
Please contact me if you wish.
Haydn

[The Great Pretender]

Hi Viv, as someone who has no vested intrest in the alarm let me try to expain what it will and will not do.

When you take it for its MOT ask if you can have a look underneath when it is up on the 4 post ramp. Ask......OOOOOOOOOOOOO....what are all those pipes for. The Bongo is a plumbers nightmare, no point boring you with how it works because im shure NO one here is certain, and if they are i'm shure..........im shure....... they don't understand it.

The coolant loss alarm will tell you when coolant is lost from the 'header tank' and with the amount of pipework that you will find under the Bongo it will make it worth fitting. What you need to remember is that because of the peculiar design of the system it is possible to lose coolant (and to the point that the head is so full of air that the water pump can't pump water around the system) without loss from the 'header tank'...............So the reality is..........there are no answers.........just more informed questions...............Hope this helps.

[bigdaddycain]

Hi Viv, you haven't got a coolant alarm fitted luv, if you recall, i'm the one that looked for your leisure battery at the poole meet?

I checked (and unblocked)your drain hole And looked to see if you had a coolant alarm.

The sad reality is there are plenty that just DO NOT check their fluid levels regularly enough... This is where the coolant alarm comes in... I check my levels once a week at least,but some don't...The alarm isn't designed for owners that don't check their levels,but that is it's main advantage.

The coolant alarm won't pick up the above scenario That TGP has correctly pointed out,as the level in the header tank needs to drop for the alarm to pick up on it.

The alarm is a handy tool, but doesn't make up for a lack of visual checks...

[haydn callow]

Hi Viv, If you go to the web site below and scroll down...click on the "testamonial" link....this will give you some idea of what and when the Low Coolant Alarm comes into it's own.

[Ian]

You may be interested to know that plans are in hand to write a members fact sheet about the merits (or otherwise) of the various engine and coolant alarms on the market. As well as taking in to account previous correspondence on this forum, I have asked the author(s) to contact you for your opinions and views. That way it will all be out in the open (rather than buried deep within the archives) and available for any member to download as a pdf file.

[Harry]

Great idea Ian.

There are some pretty entrenched viewa about coolant alarms among forum members and forum posts tend only to make matters worse and more confusing because they are so open to misinterpritation.

Whats more..to the unitiated newbie they might smack of conflict. A factsheet would at least give a balanced view without the opportunity for anyone to 'put down' another's views on the open forum.

Many of us have different opinions about coolant alarms and these opinions are often based upon a personal perception of what a coolant alarm is for.

Yes I have an alarm fitted but I've had to disconnect it because it doesn't work properly (false alarms). Yes I've had both slow loss and sudden massive losses of coolant. The van is still going because I check levels regularly, keep half an eye on the temp guage and unfortunately have learned through experience to instantly recognise.the smell of escaping steam from the coolant system/header tank.

Not having a coolant alarm is not the end of the world.
Having one that was fitted but won't work properly is worse than not having one at all.
Having one that works MAY save the day if the system springs a leak.

cheers

H

[Mike Jill and Emily]

Lots of sensible comments and good advice here. But the coolant alarm has the addition of muppet detection when a driver checks and tops up the coolant and forgets to put the cap back on

Now who would do that........... ME (twice )

[lindeelu]

"

Yes I have an alarm fitted but I've had to disconnect it because it doesn't work properly (false alarms). Yes I've had both slow loss and sudden massive losses of coolant. The van is still going because I check levels regularly, keep half an eye on the temp guage and unfortunately have learned through experience to instantly recognise.the smell of escaping steam from the coolant system/header tank."

Nothing will ever replace preventitive maintanance of the cooling system to avoid both slow loss & sudden massive losses of coolant.

Do you have any idea why your alarm doesn't work properly?
If it is a low coolant alarm the only reason it will give false alarms is if the coolant level is low or it wasn't installed correctly,
or the coolant is not at the required concentration.

If you think it is faulty you should contact the person you bought it from and have the problem rectified.





.

[Harry]

Re faulty alarm.

I had the alarm fitted at Stourport.

Within a few days it had started to squeak quietly and contuously, getting louder and louder until it decame very distracting.

levels always ok when checked and antifreeze levels ok.

Unfortunately it would cost me more in fuel than the coolant alarm cost to travel to get it checked out by the fitter and unfortunately we havn't made it to the same meets.

I've no doubts that working correctly the coolant loss alarm is an invaluable item , particularly as I have experienced a number of 'slow leak' incidents in the past which the coolant loss alarm would have detacted at an earlier stage...hence my purchase of the alarm.
Considering the large numbers of alarms sold and the very few complaints I am still fully in favour of them. Unfortunately circumstances has transpired to prevent my alarm being sorted.

My most recent incident would not have been detected by an alarm. The coolant was checked only an hour before it happened. I had a very sudden coolant loss due to a pipe bursting and it all happened within seconds. Thankfully the damage does not appear to be as catastrophic as first feared.

cheers

H

[haydn callow]

Have PM'd you Harry....Lets hope no lasting harm has been done and we can sort your alarm asap. It is almost certainly a faulty connection or crimp.

[Freds boss]

Hi fellas,


Please Please dont get into an argument over my cooilant question, I just saw so many of you were having them fitted and wondered if I need one too. BDC did indeed clean a drain for me and I trust him to tell me if I need one or no. Frank does check levels for me before we go off anywhere.

At the moment its my electric buggy thats making me tear my hair out not Fred the battery is perhaps on the way out so big bills are going to drop on the mat soon.

Lighten up fellas just for me or else I will get a bad reputation for causing bother and believe me I can do that all by my self Honest!!!!!!

Viv

[M 80NGD]

Hi fellas,


Please Please dont get into an argument over my cooilant question, I just saw so many of you were having them fitted and wondered if I need one too. BDC did indeed clean a drain for me and I trust him to tell me if I need one or no. Frank does check levels for me before we go off anywhere.

At the moment its my electric buggy thats making me tear my hair out not Fred the battery is perhaps on the way out so big bills are going to drop on the mat soon.

Lighten up fellas just for me or else I will get a bad reputation for causing bother and believe me I can do that all by my self Honest!!!!!!

Viv

Viv,you're a doll. You're not causing bother at all. Big Daddy is a great genuine bloke,and I ain't met him yet!! It's just a bit of friendly banter between them that agree,to disagree!!

[mister munkey]

If it helps to make your mind up Viv, the coolant alarm is the best investment I've made so far.

Without it, a combination of 11 year old plumbing & my random "checking under the bonnet" routine would mean me being on at least my 2nd if not 3rd cylinder head by now.

It works for me but wer're all different.

Vive la difference!