Water alarm or voltage problem?

[miker]

Oh well, seems I spoke too soon , same problem with new earth point. Have had battery checked by two garages just to be sure (and the alt) and all is well (12.9v batt and 12.96v alt). Only thing I haven't had a chance to do yet is clean the screws. I still suspect it's electrical rather than the unit because the tone changes when I switch lights to high beam and rev the engine but with all the loads on that I could think of the alt output was fine!
Any other ideas? Any simple ways to test the unit with a multimeter? Or could stray wiggly amps in the vehicle electrics be an issue?

[missfixit70]

If you're only getting 12.96 volts from the alternator with the engine running that sounds like it's not working proper, should be pumping out something like 13.8v to 14.5v. Was the 12.9v on the battery with the engine running?

[francophile1947]

Clean or replace screws (one at a time, or the coolant will go everywhere ) - you'll be surprised what a difference it makes.
12.96V for alternator - that sounds knackered - should be 14(ish)

[francophile1947]

Damn - Miss Lightening strikes again

[missfixit70]

Damn - Miss Lightening strikes again

& I had time to rewrite

[francophile1947]

Damn - Miss Lightening strikes again

& I had time to rewrite

[rita]

Hi Miker,

Is there a bullet connector near the module,could it be a bad connection there.

I would have thought that there was also a way of testing the module ie fitting a loop ?..

[miker]

Yes on the battery, 12.96v output with everything electrical I could switch on and lights full beam, 13.5 all off engine running, tried all the connectors, nothing loose.
Can't do the screws yet but will try later.
Have no issues whatsoever with flat battery or dim lights etc.

Out of interest, I made the point earlier but shorting the two tank screws stops the alarm so maybe dirty screws is the answer?
Babysitting duties done for today so I'll go and try cleaning the screws....

[haydn callow]

Sounds as if there is a bad connection between the electronic module and the coolant.
That means either a connection in the probe cable or a dirty top probe screw.

Back the top probe screw out (with a depressurized system) and screw it back in.
This will clean it.
See if it improves things.

If not, get a piece of wire a couple of meters long, connect it to the module bullet connector,
then bare the other end for half an inch or so and dip it straight into the coolant.
If that works, then there is a bad connection at either the bullet connector or the probe screw connection

[miker]

ok, i'll give it a go.....

[haydn callow]

If cleaning the probe screw improves things I will send a new one.

[miker]

Hi Haydn,
I think that might have fixed it, the big difference is that rather than the 1/2 to 1 second of tone with ignition on, it just gives a quick blip and flash of the light as I recall it doing when new. I've got a one hour drive tomorrow so will see how that works and report back....
cheers

[miker]

Yep, definitely fixed , worked as advertised all day, must have been a corroded screw.
Thanks for the help all......

[haydn callow]

PM me your address and I will send a couple of spare screws....Might as well change the top one as it won't take long to dirty up again.

[miker]

PM'd....