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temp alarm

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:04 pm
by ribbleman
Hi all, had slight twitter from mason alarm a couple times
on motorway guage showing 12 oclock
thanx steve

ubique

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:17 pm
by BongoBongo123
Not familiar with that alarm but check your coolant level is the next thing. Sometimes a long incline will set my HAYDN alarm off at 99C for a minute. Once engine switches off in hot state (summer) when there is no coolant flow the pistons will dissipate a lot of heat post switch off. That's not taken away from the block till it air cools or the engine comes on again.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:35 pm
by rita
What setting have you set the unit at..

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 5:09 pm
by Simon Jones
What engine is it? My V6 has a Mason alarm set at about 4.5 and only comes on when the needle is about 3/4 way over. If yours is going off at 12 o'clock position then it sounds like it is set too low.

Did it happen when on the motorway? That's probably when the engine will be running at its coolest as there will be plenty of air passing through the radiator and around the engine. My alarm usually only goes off when the engine is idling after along run.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:54 am
by ribbleman
Mason set at 4.5 have also coolant alarm was
travelling on motorway. was touring round a
month ago in
the highlands/skye no problems with either
coolant level at 2cm
steve

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:37 pm
by Simon Jones
If the level is fine and the temp gauge is not changing from the reading you normally get with the Mason alarm, then I don't think you have any immediate concerns with the coolant system. One thing to check is your alternator charging voltage. The low coolant alarm and Mason alarm are dependant on a steady voltage to measure the respective resistances. If the alternator output is to high or low (as could be the case when the rectifier pack is on its way out) you could start to get some funny readings.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 4:44 pm
by ribbleman
Hi, alternator new 6 weeks ago
output on tickover 14.21
at 1.000 rpm 14.23
withlights on and heater 14.2

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:14 pm
by Northern Bongolow
how old is the radiator.
ive just had the same with the mrs.s bongo, just occasionally showing higher on the mason alarm, swapped the rad and stat and coolant, all back okay now.

trust your judgement, if you think its running hotter, it probably is.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:11 pm
by ribbleman
rad stat coolant done 2 years ago
now thinking coolant alarm screw
might need a clean

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:18 pm
by Simon Jones
ribbleman wrote:rad stat coolant done 2 years ago
now thinking coolant alarm screw
might need a clean
The Mason alarm has no connection to the coolant level. Its wired in parallel with the existing temp gauge and acts to make it more sensitive and has the bonus of an audible warning when the temp reaches a preset level.

Are you sure it's the Mason alarm making the sound or low coolant alarm? The latter will be accompanied by the LED coming on.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:31 pm
by ribbleman
to busy looking out for muppets
on motorway to see light come
on will have to keep closer eye
on it,

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:33 pm
by haydn callow
If the low coolant alarm screw was dirty it would mutter when cold.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:13 pm
by dreamwarrioruk
Hi can I ask a question.
Have 95 bongo 2.5, have lca, have mason alarm. Recently the temperature gauge has been creeping up to near the H, but the alarm set at 4.5 never go off. No coolant loss for around 8 month now but I stripped, flushed and changed stat over, Have a thermal imaging camera and a digital water temp gauge, both showed stat opening and flowing water round radiator correct but still mason shows a lot higher than usual 12pm.
Changed the gauge sensor, put in a manual fan switch which did nothing for the gauge position.
Checked mason alarm worked and it triggers. However 2 things. I disconnected the mason and I lost my temperature gauge completely. Also checked voltage as Im aware they can be sensitive. It is outputting a steady 13.81v. Is this too low or am I to think it could be either cable damaged from sensor to gauge or could it be an internal issue with the gauge. Im pretty certain the coolant system is working correctly but its annoying when you use the gauge as a visual reference.
Anyone care to assist in the diagnosis.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:20 pm
by g8dhe
A slow creeping of the gauge isn't likely to be the physical gauge itself, I would put that at the bottom of the list.
Likewise wiring or bad connection is most likely going to result in jumps in the reading.
Most likely would be the electronics or the sensor itself, but you have changed the latter.
I would go for the Mason module itself as most likely followed by the components on the back of the gauge.

Re: temp alarm

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:31 pm
by dreamwarrioruk
cheers Geoff, only thing is ive disconnected the mason from the back of the panel and the temperature gauge does not register any movement without the mason in place, so does that indicate a panel issue?