Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

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Mark Elvin
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Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Mark Elvin » Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:38 pm

I've had the coolant/temp alarm on about 4 weeks now.

1st week it was fine.

2nd week it was slow to stop it's "test buzz" when starting.

3rd week it chirps randomly, so I removed the screw, cleaned & it was OK.

4th week it's started chirping again, sat on the drive, give the throttle a blip "chirp". Drive down the road "chirp" every time I accelerate.

Cleaned the screw again, still the occasional chirp. It's a load of hassle.
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Simon Jones
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Simon Jones » Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:46 pm

Have you got glycol or long life / OAT coolant? If the latter, the extra corrosion protection properties can cause the screw to build up a high resistance coating. If you have a very weak coolant mixture you may also have false alarms. What sort of mix did you use? What level do you have the coolant at in the header tank when cold?

The other thing is that the alarm is quite voltage sensitive so if your alternator output rises too much when it speeds up, that cause the symptoms you describe.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Mark Elvin » Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:08 pm

Simon Jones wrote:Have you got glycol or long life / OAT coolant? If the latter, the extra corrosion protection properties can cause the screw to build up a high resistance coating. If you have a very weak coolant mixture you may also have false alarms. What sort of mix did you use? What level do you have the coolant at in the header tank when cold?

The other thing is that the alarm is quite voltage sensitive so if your alternator output rises too much when it speeds up, that cause the symptoms you describe.
Longlife coolant (5yr) as mixed as per recommended. Screw has been Scotchbrited to within an inch of it's life to clean. Level at max when cold.

I think it's alternator related, in which case I'm tempted to dump it as it's a constant source of annoyance. I'm pretty disappointed.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Simon Jones » Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:18 pm

Personally, I wouldn't be without a coolant alarm and there are many hundreds of other Bongo owners who are very satisfied with them. If its faulty, I'm sure Haydn or Jo will sort out out for you, but if the alternator is the problem then it's not surprising that electronic equipment powered by it is not functioning as intended.

Probably worth checking the charge at the battery with a multimeter when you rev the engine. While the Bongo is not exactly high tech, the modules for the gearbox and ABS will be relying on a steady supply and are not the sort of things you want to zap if you can help it.

Where did you take the supply from for the alarm in the end?
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Northern Bongolow » Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:19 pm

where is the ignition live taken from.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by winchman » Thu Oct 16, 2014 9:43 pm

Have you spoken to the supplier?
I am sure some one will be along in a moment to help
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Diplomat » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:40 pm

Interesting that you mention screW, mine's got screwS. Two of them.

Perhaps there isn't a very good earth return on your installation?


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Mark Elvin
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Mark Elvin » Fri Oct 17, 2014 6:09 am

The +ve is taken from the fusebox.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by haydn callow » Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:58 pm

When did you put the red coolant in??
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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haydn callow
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by haydn callow » Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:11 pm

Mark Elvin wrote:
Simon Jones wrote:Have you got glycol or long life / OAT coolant? If the latter, the extra corrosion protection properties can cause the screw to build up a high resistance coating. If you have a very weak coolant mixture you may also have false alarms. What sort of mix did you use? What level do you have the coolant at in the header tank when cold?

The other thing is that the alarm is quite voltage sensitive so if your alternator output rises too much when it speeds up, that cause the symptoms you describe.
Longlife coolant (5yr) as mixed as per recommended. Screw has been Scotchbrited to within an inch of it's life to clean. Level at max when cold.

I think it's alternator related, in which case I'm tempted to dump it as it's a constant source of annoyance. I'm pretty disappointed.
6000 bongos are fitted with these alarms....if the alarm was faulty it would not work at all.....the voltage at the sensor screw to earth should be about 1.8 volts.....the alarm triggers at about 2.5.

If you have recently put new red coolant in you can expect the alarm to "play up"for around a month.
The coolant will coat the screw until that property within the coolant is exhausted.

We can send you a new screw.....it will soon sort itself out....if it doesn't then you have a electrical gremlin......I am fairly sure in your case it is the coolant.
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Mark Elvin » Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:18 pm

The coolant has been in since the new engine went in, about a month. The screw has be cleaned to within an inch on it's life.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by haydn callow » Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:25 pm

Mark Elvin wrote:The coolant has been in since the new engine went in, about a month. The screw has be cleaned to within an inch on it's life.
Contact Jo for a new screw......the new coolant will be the cause.....it will get better and one day you may be glad you stuck with it.

The red coolant when new coats the inside of the engine with a protective layer.....unfortunately when it does this it coats the screw..
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Mark Elvin » Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:35 pm

About ready to tear this thing out.

Screw has been replaced, goes about 3 days before is screaming at me again for 10mins after start up.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by Gasy » Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:46 pm

Mine does that
I changes to red coolant a couple of months ago
I'm just ignoring it at the mo
Will clean screws when I get a mo( mines not a Hayden's coolant alarm)
Been waiting for the new coolant to loose it's coating powers

Check you have a good earth
But least you know the coolant is giving the insides of engine a good coating
You sure your coolant not to strong
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
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Re: Coolant Alarm Driving Me Nuts

Post by mikeonb4c » Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:49 pm

I've always opted for simple ethylene glycol coolant. No problem with the lca in 8 years although occasionally it gives a brief chirp these days.
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