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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:00 am
by Dave Mason
Veg_Ian wrote:... you could fit a Durite gauge ... Dave sells his alarms for under 30 quid. The Durite is more than double that.
... and much more difficult to fit ... and aesthetically dubious (Mason alarm can be out of sight).
http://www.gaugeplace.co.uk/zen/index.p ... cts_id=211 is an example of a proprietary replacement coolant temp gauge, possibly better that the Durite or TIM ones. It has an alarm.
For more information about Mason alarms in Townaces or Estimas/Previas go to
http://www.townace.plus.com/ie/ietemga2.htm and pages linked off that one. But note that there is NOT a Mason alarm for Bongos - yet.
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:15 pm
by papa joe
Go on Dave, do it I'll have one please
Might get one of those four gauge 1600E look a like pods, that were so cool in the late 60's early 70's on 105 E's (anglia) three spaces left for volt's, vacuum, errr

and have to have another fuel gauge, compass or something.
Cheers PJ
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:32 am
by clogger
problem then is some little scrote will want it more than you and rob it
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:05 pm
by papa joe
Cor Blimey was spot on

......... While talking about my sticky temp gauge with an ex- Mazda mechanic at work he's confirmed that 323's 626's, mx5's and probably most others, had a stabilizer fitted to the temp gauge to stop the fluctuation when going up and down hills, unnececessarily worrying the oldies to death

.......doesn't help us much though !
Be interesting to know who uses the recommended Mazda coolent and what difference this makes to running temperatures ??
Cheers PJ
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:14 am
by Veg_Ian
Be interesting to know who uses the recommended Mazda coolent and what difference this makes to running temperatures ??
I think I can quite confidently say "Bugger all difference". It's still only anti-freeze!
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:20 pm
by Partly_dave
Cooling issues............
I'm in Germany at the moment, with the Bongo which has been a star.
Can't say the same for my mate's 1991 import Toyota Hiace "super custom" or my other mate's 1967 VW splitty, both of which have died on the trip.
The Hiace started reading red on the temp guage, my friend knew not to drive on so stopped. Result= knackered head anyway. Van 500 miles from his home in Holland and a €2000 bill to fix.
The Splitty cooked itself too and seized up just over the Dutch border. New engine required. Its now stuck in Germany too.
Given the Bong's achilles heel is cooling, I am keeping all crossed and will be watching this thread with interest. Needless to say I'm checking coolant carefully each time I set off when cold. I'll be getting one of Haydn's kits too.
D
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:28 pm
by Peg leg Pete
Stop worrying Dave, you have new coolant in your bongo, it will run hot under load, but soon cools as you cruise along

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:38 pm
by papa joe
veg ian, You're probably right, but it's got to have antifreeze/coolant so I'm happy to hand over £15.00 for 5 lt of the genuine Mazda product straight out the container, I know it's mixed correctly so I'll have the best possible protection and there's no messing about.
Apologies for taking this thread slightly of coarse
PJ
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:23 pm
by Peg leg Pete
I use coolant from unipart, works a treat
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:26 pm
by paul9
just a bit of an update,i have been testing the mason alarm this week,had some good results up to now, and things are looking good,still some more checks /tests to carry out and will keep you all informed

Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:13 pm
by papa joe
Nice one Paul9 (number 9, number9 num......etc)

thanks for the update fingers crossed then
Cheers papa joe
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:08 pm
by mikeonb4c
Excellent news - we'll await Issue 2

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:28 am
by paul9
just a bit of an update,still doing tests on alarm,and getting some good results,as you will see in the pics,not very good as i took them with my phone,the alarm does make your gauge perform differently and gives different readings as engine warms up.
the piece of tape is so i can get some idea of different readings,from normal to halfway and 3/4 on gauge,
got a few more variations of settings to test this week,and maybe have some idea if alarm is going to work soon.
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:04 pm
by paul9
bit of an update,mason alarm is performing quite well and just on the final testing now,so maybe ready to be on sale in the next few weeks,sure dave will comfirm when they are,for anyone going to cheshire meet i will have one on show fitted,and will be happy to demonstrate just how it works

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:55 pm
by papa joe
Still keeping an eye on this thread, number 9
Cheers
papa joe
