Just fitted mason alarm need some advice

[paul&tracey]

Hi all,
I've just fitted a mason alarm and have noticed the reading on the temp gauge has gone from the 10 am position to the 1 pm position and slightly past towards the H warning. The alarm sounded at level 4, I adjusted to level 5 and the alarm has remained quiet. I'm abit worried the needle favours towards the H warning is this normal for a mason alarm? I've just had the radiator and coolant system flushed and was told there were no issues.

[missfixit70]

Under what circumstances was it sounding at level 4? I'd personally try inching it up until it just starts alarming under heavy load (find the nearest steep hill & floor it - usual disclaimers apply )
Mine sits around 12 0 clock under normal running conditions, but they are all slightly different I believe, it will move much more than it did before (ie not at all), as it resensitises the dumbed down temp gauge.
Don't start panicking just yet, but it may be worth sticking in a new stat, or at least checking at what temp yours opens.

[paul&tracey]

Kirsty, thanks for the reply, I was going up a big Cornish hill at the time the level 4 alarm sounded so I adjusted upto 5. I would like the temp gauge to sit at 12, but tomorrow I will run the wagon around to see if this happens.
Paul

[missfixit70]

I'd turn it down to 4.5 if not a bit lower & see how you go, sounds like it was doing what it's supposed to to me.

[BongoMTBer]

Mine sits past 1 o'clock, and on long climbs gets quite a bit higher. I have set my alarm so that it starts to chirip on a long hard climb on a hot day. Took a while to get it right as when I fitted it I kept to the side of caution and kept putting a little bit more on until I was happy with the setting.

My cooling system is working fine and has been since it was sorted in Dec 2007 (apart from a weeping hose which I had to sort). I am very happy with the alarm and don't worry about the gauge not sitting at 12, you will soon gets used to it. In it's new operation it will give you a much more accurate representation of the fluctuating coolant temperature.

Set it up, sit back and enjoy!

[paul&tracey]

Thanks Kirsty, will do plenty of trial and error tomorrow. It would be interesting to hear what level settings other members have used.
Paul

[paul&tracey]

Good to hear yours sits roughly at the same position as mine and you have no trouble.
Paul

[BongoMTBer]

It would be interesting to hear what level settings other members have used.
Paul

I cannot recall what number I set it to. All I did was take it for a normal (60 ish) drive down the M54, when I got to Tesco with the engine still running, I turned it down until it just started to chirp. I then did my shopping and drove back up the M54 a lot faster and when I slowed for the roundabout, it began to chirp again. I gave it another tweak until it just stopped. Then during a heavily loaded trip into wales a few weeks later it when off again on a long climb (A5 I think) so I nudged it a little more so it was only just starting to go off. Works a treat now and have not touched the setting since. Occasionaly I get a reassuring chirp which prompts me to keep an eye on the gauge when needed.

It did help me out once, just after I had first fitted it. After the work I had done on the coolant system, there was wtill a bit of air in the system. It earnt it's money then giving me plenty of time to park up and shut down.

[paul&tracey]

Yes, I,ve just had my system flushed out and new coolant put in. I take it you had to call out the AA/ RAC to sort out the problem or did you have a way of sorting it out yourself, just in case it happens to me.
Paul

[daveblueozzie]

Mine normally is just past the 1 o'clock mark, Ive set my alarm to just a tad under 5, it did chirp a couple of times whilst driving in Scotland last week and the temp gauge did go very close to the red, but as far as I'm concerned that's normal for my bongo.

[paul&tracey]

Daveblue, many thanks I believe 4-5 on the setting would be about right for me and my guage appears similar to yours.
Ta Paul

[Majorbloodnock]

I'm very pleased with mine too - 4.5 for me!

See other thread here(in case you haven't already)

[BongoMTBer]

OK.... what happened was....

The alarm went off, I looked down at the gauge and it was climbing.... fast! I stopped and shut down the engine, but immediatley switched the ignition back on so that the cooling fan(s) could run. I could hear gurgling so knew that meant that there was still air in the system. I left it for about 10 minutes or so with the bonnet up to allow the rad to cool quicker, switching the ignition off when the fans turned off. I then carefully oppened the header tank (treat like a shaken bottle full of deadly acid!) and with a big gulping noise it swallowed the contents of the tank. I then topped the header tank up, started the engine and then as it swallowed a bit more water I carried on topping it totalling about 2 pints. I then checked the level ech time I used it and had to top up slightly a few more times over a week or two.

I did have a slight hose leak a few months back but that was easily sorted, and all is well now.

Good luck.

Sam.

[paul&tracey]

Great to know what to do if I get an air block.
Thanks for your update, fingers crossed.
Paul

[missfixit70]

Great to know what to do if I get an air block.
Thanks for your update, fingers crossed.
Paul

Bleed it properly as per the factsheets, the method above is liable to kill it if there is an airlock, I think Bongomtber got away with it more by luck than judgement.