Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Sharkojoints
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Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by Sharkojoints » Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:27 am

My low coolant alarm arrived yesterday ready to fit - thanks Haydn.

Before I charge ahead with my cordless drill, I thought that as so many of these have been fitted there have probably been some ways established as 'the best'. So, a few questions!

1. I found some instructions with pictures for the hard of thinking (ie. me) here:
http://www.enginesaver.com.au/images/fit.pdf
Are these definitive, or are there better / different ones somewhere?

2. I'm thinking of putting the LED in the switch blank marked with the red arrow here:

Image

That seems to be the usual spot, although the green arrowed blank would also be an option. Stick with the red?

3. Where do people take the switched live feed from? The cigarette lighter socket is over the other side of the instrument column, and doesn't seem to have much slack in the cable. There must be an easy and obvious wire which most people use, no?

4. To take off the switched live, what's the best and neatest way to 'tap into' the cable? Someone's already been at my Bongo with nasty scotchloks, and I'd rather not make any more rats nests!

Thanks for your help - I'd happily charge ahead, but thought asking first might save some tears. :oops:
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westonwarrior
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by westonwarrior » Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:51 am

Either of those 2 blanks will do as for the live feed the fuse box is just below so take it from one of the feeds there
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daveblueozzie
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by daveblueozzie » Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:00 pm

If you have a split charge relay (willinton kit) taking the feed from the ciggy socket may affect the alarm if your leisure battery goes dead.otherwise ok.
as for where you put the led, i fitted mine on the dials, there are spare holes behind the dials ,and a small drill soon sorts it out.
its fitted just above the temp guage
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haydn callow
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by haydn callow » Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:02 pm

Or think about this way....all connections and the LED next to the temp gauge.
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Whilst doing this it would be a very simple task to do the Temp gauge mod which will make the gauge actually work. See http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk free downloads

Don't be frighteded by the thought of removing the speedo dash.....takes about 10 mins extra and you really carn't mess anything up
Last edited by haydn callow on Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by haydn callow » Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:04 pm

Beat me to it Dave....gonna have to get a set of them dials ?? are they the ones they call plasma dials ?? gotta link ??
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by dandemann8 » Sun Aug 15, 2010 1:27 pm

Hi Haydn try this link and make sure you ask for the V6 dials as they are different I believe. :D

http://www.visual-performance.co.uk/
Bongo no more........... ;-(
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by haydn callow » Sun Aug 15, 2010 2:00 pm

Thanks...ordered a set...easy to fit ??
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
Sharkojoints
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by Sharkojoints » Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:17 pm

Thanks guys - all fitted and working, I think.

I actually used the live and negative feeds on the back of the binnacle, as shown in this one of Haydn's pics:

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If I had a recommendation for the kit, I would include this in the instructions and supply a couple of these:

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on the + and - wires to the unit perhaps. It does save cutting into the loom.

I had a few pieces left:

Image

I suppose the razor blade would have been handy if it had all got too much :wink: , but where should I have used the rest? #-o
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by g8dhe » Sun Aug 15, 2010 3:36 pm

haydn callow wrote:Thanks...ordered a set...easy to fit ??
Yup dead easy nothing complex at all see this thread http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 6&p=386041
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haydn callow
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by haydn callow » Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:17 pm

Sharkojoints wrote:Thanks guys - all fitted and working, I think.

I actually used the live and negative feeds on the back of the binnacle, as shown in this one of Haydn's pics:

Image

If I had a recommendation for the kit, I would include this in the instructions and supply a couple of these:

Image

on the + and - wires to the unit perhaps. It does save cutting into the loom.

I had a few pieces left:

Image

I suppose the razor blade would have been handy if it had all got too much :wink: , but where should I have used the rest? #-o
O.K. First pulling out the cluster is perhaps not to everyone's liking. Also remember that we produce these kits for a whole range of vehicles (in fact any water cooled vehicle) We cannot cover every method for every vehicle...
So we now just say switched live and earth...a bit of research or a phone call will provide more detail.

The bits left over.....razor to clean any Flash off the tank before fitting the sensor screw,,,,(perhaps not required....I don't use it when I fit them.

The ring terminal to fit to the earth wire (We don't fit it for you in case you want to go your own way or shorten the wire....)

the male female spade......find a switched live wire.....cut it....put one bit along with the Alarm live into the blue one (big enough for 2 wires to crimp in)

the red crimp terminal to the other end bit of your cut wire.....plug together and BINGO....job done....Nobody has ever asked what they are for.....
http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk
Developer of the Mazda Bongo Coolant loss Alarm
Also BMW Clocks
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Scott
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Re: Low coolant alarm fitting - a few questions

Post by Scott » Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:21 am

Alternative location for the LCA on the newer shape, didnt even think about wiring the +/- to the clocks #-o , thats a nice easy idea if your fitting the led into it =D>

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The white dials for the newer model has two 'HOLD' light masks, this tidies it up nicely

Now I just have to work out what to do with all these bits I had left over after fitting it :lol: :^o
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