V6 Bongo - Scavenger and Radiator Fans working ?

[fargo]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know how I can test these on a V6 ? I have searched here and tried what was suggested for the scavenger fan (disconnecting the plug by the hand brake while engine is running) and it has not worked.

I could not find the plug for the rad fan sensor under the drivers side, its obviously in a different place on the petrol V6.

Any help would be great - I just want to ensure that they do actually work !

Matt.

[cheffy34]

I checked my scav fan by bridging the connector, if it any concilation the only time my fans come on are mot time when he doin the emissions and it idling for a long time


Dar

[fargo]

I have checked the fuses and they are all OK, I am paranoid

Thanks Dar, the reason for this paranoia is that I have just installed a mason alarm and my temp gauge has gone from the 11 o'clock position to the overheating position (see picture).

[cheffy34]

I have checked the fuses and they are all OK, I am paranoid

Thanks Dar, the reason for this paranoia is that I have just installed a mason alarm and my temp gauge has gone from the 11 o'clock position to the overheating position (see picture).

Mine certainly doesn't sit that far up with the mason it gen sit 1/2 way goes up to about 3/4 before fans kick in but that rare and only when i got him idling for a long while does it go straight up there when you turn ignition on


Dar

[Grahame at work]

Hello Fargo,

I've got a V6 but haven't fitted a mason alarm (yet). I had one on my last Bongo and I only got it up to that level when I was going up a long hill with the engine running slow. That level was where I had set my sounder to start working.

The sensors on the V6 are at the top / middle / front of the engine - sort of below the gear shift. The sensor for the dash gauge is (I think) the one that sticks out towards the front and the ECU sensor is not far behind (nearer the engine) sticking out to one side.

Hope that helps.

Regards Grahame

[fargo]

Thanks Graham - can you get to it from the drivers side, or do you have to dive underneath ?

Matt

[Grahame at work]

Fargo it's right at the top of the engine between the two cyclinder heads.

I haven't actaully disconnected it but have 'fingered' it from the drivers side.

Regards Grahame

[jaylee]

I have checked the fuses and they are all OK, I am paranoid

Thanks Dar, the reason for this paranoia is that I have just installed a mason alarm and my temp gauge has gone from the 11 o'clock position to the overheating position (see picture).

To be honest... (& i know you reference a V6.. mines a diesel ) My temp sits like that on a drive or heavy haul up long hills, then settle back to one.. I've been crossing Europe loaded up NO probs, i thought that was the Mason norm?? Though it don't worry me, it's freaked the garage & a few Bongo peeps at meets!
In heavy stand still traffic even on a hot city day, mine actually drops to the 12 or one'ish!

[telemalc]

Hi Matt
my needle sits in the same position as yours, although its a diesel. It wanders about a bit but no problems
malc

[fargo]

Thanks guys, this is making me feel better ! I was worried that I had found a problem straight away !

[fargo]

After afew pm's and some emails with Dave I am going to get the fans checked. I think it is running hot and it is better to be safe than sorry. I don't think any of the fans are working as they should. I have bridged the scavenger fan and that works, so maybe the thermostat is not working (anyone know where I can get a new one !), I will have a look to see if I can bridge the radiator fans to get them working, if I can then I believe the ECU might need tinkering with. Does this sound about right ?

Thanks for everyones help !

Matt.

[Simon Jones]

Maybe the sensor needs to be moved?

The Mason alarm just 'un-damps' the needle such that the middle of the scale is more sensitive to changes in temperature. The alarm part of it activates a buzzer when the needle gets to the chosen point.

The recent discussion on moving the sensor refers to the TM2 alarm which has an independent sensor that is mounted under a nut/bolt on the cylinder head. The TM2 is a glorified digital thermometer which has an alarm that sounds at what ever value you set it to.

I have both of these useful (if slightly unnerving ) additions on my diesel Bongo. You can actually see the water temp rise first, then the head temp goes up & the water temp drops rapidly as the thermostat opens. Finally after a few minutes the head temperature drops. Once you get to know the 'normal' pattern, you then have the confidence that the 'stat is working & the system is doing its job.

[fargo]

Well I think the Mason alarm could have just saved my Bongo. As I suspected the rad fans were not kicking in - the guys at Budget Bongos think the thermostat unit is not working.

Phew. Thanks Dave !

[Doone]

Have a look at this topic, Lewy's mason alarm was reading a bit high and that was also due to a faulty thermostat. Mason alarm and faulty thermostat

[Grahame at work]

Hi - if you want to check the operation of the radiator fans I had this written for a diesel - so ignore the remarks about increased speed as the V6 only has single speed fan motors and the location of the sensor (see earlier post) otherwise it should be the same - but I haven't tried it on mine yet.


The theory for a DIESEL
The A/C requires the radiator fans to operate to cool the A/C radiator (that sits in front of the coolant radiator). The ECU controls the relays that operate the radiator fans. They are operated in parallel, so they should always operate together. There are three relays that are used to operate the fans; one is used by the ECU to run them at ‘normal’ speed; the other two are used by the ECU to run them at an increased speed. This is achieved by having two sets of coils on the motor.
The ECU uses the ‘normal’ speed for cooling the A/C radiator and also for ‘normal’ cooling of the engine coolant. So there are two inputs to the ECU, one for the A/C and one for the coolant temperature. The coolant temperature is measured (in a diesel engine) in the engine block, near the 3rd cylinder from the front, just above the starter motor and is a two wire sensor.
When the coolant reaches some value (I suspect around 100°C) the ECU turns on the fans until the temperature falls below another value (I suspect around 90°C) (unless the A/C keeps them on).
If the coolant temperature continues to rise and exceeds 107°C then the ECU switches the fans to the increased speed.

To check the ECU control of the radiator fans.

With engine in idle check no fans are running
Turn on the A/C – this should start both fans (maybe after a short delay)
(If left in this state the fans should switch on and off cyclically depending on the ambient air temperature and the setting of the A/C controls)
OR run the engine until the coolant temperature increase sufficiently for the ECU to turn the radiator fans on (this could take a while).
While the fans are running unplug the coolant temperature sensor, either by the sensor plug or at the inline plug just above the sensor in the cable loom running along the bar below the inlet manifold. This open circuit will force the ECU to set the fans into the increased speed mode.
So by looking and listening to the fans as they operate you should be able to tell that the speed changes.

(Note that one member found that one of his fans had a failed mechanical linkage between the motor and the actual impeller – it would rotate but only due to the air movement)

Hope it helps
Regards Grahame

Actually reading it again it probably doesn't help much cos of the differences - but I'll leave on anyway