Temp gauge normal behaviour

[ToolkiT]

Hi,

I just bought a Ford Freda. In the paperwork I found the phone number of the owner before the guy I bought it from so I rang him to get a bit of history of the vehicle.
He mentioned he had had some overheating issues but that the guy who bought it from him said he was going to fix that and sell on.

Good news is that the temp gauge shows no overheating and some of the hoses have been replaced so it looks like the work has been done. I drove the Freda home 90 miles on a hot day and it seemed to be fine...

However it does seem to warm up fairly slowly...
The pesimist in me wonders if they have fiddled with the gauge so it is alway showing a lot colder then it actually is.. ie show normal (middle of gauge) temps when it is actually overheating..

Can anybody give me an indication of what is 'normal' given there are know issues with the gauge..

[Muzorewa]

Sounds to me like they've just removed the thermostat

A normal gauge sits at 11 o'clock even when overheating. You can mod the gauge so it gives some meaningful readings but most sit at 11 o'clock.

[ToolkiT]

Sounds to me like they've just removed the thermostat

A normal gauge sits at 11 o'clock even when overheating. You can mod the gauge so it gives some meaningful readings but most sit at 11 o'clock.

Do you know where that connection is so I can check it out?

[ToolkiT]

I let the engine iddle for 5-10 minutes and the gauge stayed at:



When I spoke to the original owner he did mention one of the things his mechanic tested was to see if the radiator pipes warm up on both end (which they didn't for him indicating a problem with the head), but for me both pipes eventually warm up, indicating there is flow through the radiator, which is good one would think..

[Muzorewa]

....but the thermostat should stop it allowing water to flow through the radiator until it's warmed up

[ToolkiT]

Do you have a diagram for where the thermostat is and how the wiring goes?
(1995 diesel model)

[Muzorewa]

Thermostat is 15-171, you'll see the housing under the passenger seat at the front of the engine. But when you dismantle the housing you'll have to bleed the system again

No idea on the wiring though

[ToolkiT]

Thermostat is 15-171, you'll see the housing under the passenger seat at the front of the engine. But when you dismantle the housing you'll have to bleed the system again

No idea on the wiring though

Thanks, so no easy way to check if the thermostat is there then..

do we know where the temp sensor is? I noticed a sensor on the drivers side, so assume that is it?

[Muzorewa]

No, not without dismantling the thermostat housing although that's only two bolts. As soon as you disturb it, coolant will hiss everywhere and you'll have allowed air into it so you'll have to bleed it properly.

Get a genuine Mazda thermostat, about £18.00 + VAT.

One of the electrical bods will hopefully be along with the other answers

[ToolkiT]

Thanks for the feedback

I had another idea: use ODBII diagnostics to read out the water temp....

But it seems the bongo uses a different diagnostics port:

instead of:

So I need to find out if there are any adaptor cables available...

If so I can use that to keep an eye on the water temp..

[helen&tony]

Hi
The temperature sensor is on the front of the head, driver's side. Part 6 on this picture:
http://mazdabongo.wikispaces.com/Parts
Cheers
Helen

[ToolkiT]

Hi
The temperature sensor is on the front of the head, driver's side. Part 6 on this picture:
http://mazdabongo.wikispaces.com/Parts
Cheers
Helen

Thanks

[mikeWalsall]

I'm not sure if any one as sussed out a compatible reader .. leads .. software for the Bongo ..

http://www.philmcfadden.co.uk/MazdaDiagnosticBox.htm

Do a 'Search' there are various posts like ...

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... mit=Search

[wonkanoby]

start it up

then feel pipes to front lower radiator

if they get warm then stats open

or has had guts removed

[ToolkiT]

Thanks for the feedback

I had another idea: use ODBII diagnostics to read out the water temp....

But it seems the bongo uses a different diagnostics port:

instead of:

So I need to find out if there are any adaptor cables available...

If so I can use that to keep an eye on the water temp..

Found the right cable
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Ford-Ra ... 1078933970