Bongo Fury

hi all,
had my bongo over 2 weeks now and loving it, but yesterday when leaving work the low coolant alarm flickered on when pulling away for about a second. i checked the coolant on saturday and today and level seems fine checked by lollipop stick method.i have'nt noticed it doing this before until now.
on initial start up the alarm does it's check as it should audible/visual am i panicking for no reason.the alarm was already fitted when i bought it.
cheers for any advice kev...

have you done the check to make sure the cosistancy of the antifreeze is enough as if not that could cause it

failing that lift the drivers seat and check the top hose for a pin hole

Were you on a slope at all? I wouldn't panic just yet, keep an eye on the level, check for any obvious leaks, but if the level is ok at 20mm on a dipstick, should be ok. May be the start of a pinhole leak or tiny weep, maybe do a pressure test if you're concerned?
Be worth checking the coolant concentration is ok as it'll pick up if that's low.

hi kev

ive had my alarm fitted for about 11 months now,,,no probs at all

untill 3 weeks ago - sat at some lights and - the thing went off


sent me into panic mode --- no steam - temp gauge at normal - no burning smell - no other signs

then the alarm stopped and went quiet

didnt take any chances - pulled over - had a look -------nothing - everything ok

again this happend last week - but just flickered on and then off

i think it turned out to be the connection on the expansion tank - the screw thats screwed into it had come slightly loose allowing the round connector to move

ive tightened it a little and all is well - so far

3 years ( touch wood ) and no problems

must admit - never bothered about o/heating or any issues with any of my previous cars

and i suppose they would have been just as expensive to fix - well close

had a hillman hunter o/heat on me once - i was only 18 - never forget that hot boiling anti-freeze water smell and steam etc etc etc

andy

thanks for the replies everyone.
i have checked the top hose for pin hole and nothing obvious also had a good look around other hoses and nothing untowards there. for the past few days i have checked the coolant level (lollipop stick) and the level has been the same.
on friday (yesterday) i dropped the wife off at work and the coolant alarm well all i can say is it tried to go off. by this i mean the red light barely shone and the audible alarm was very weak. i turned the engine off had a quick look round and nothing visible so turned the engine back on coolant alarm did it's system check (bright red light and loud alarm) then went off, i got home no trouble. i'm beginning to wonder if the alarm is playing up maybe.i bought the bongo with it already fitted so no trouble shooting/ wiring diagram to go off.
any advice greatly appreciated kev...

Check the connections on the header tank are tight, may be worth cleaning the terminal screws, check the earth if it's got two connections on the header, & check all other connections are tight.
Did you check the concentration of the coolant?

no not yet but i rang mike at wheelquick who i bought it off and he informed me a 50/50 mix goes in his vehicles but i guess i need to go and buy an hydromete for true reading.
kev...

If a Low Coolant Alarm ever goes off (even a little bit) and you are sure the level is up to the FULL mark...It is almost always a faulty/loose connection........as already mentioned, check the screw in the tank is tight.....then find the alarm unit (below the steering wheel and behind the plastic panel) and check the bullet connector. failing that look at every crimp terminal for a poor connection.....
I'm always happy to send another unit to swap but if it's just the odd blip as described above .... it will be a installation problem. the units never fail in that way....they either work 100% or not at all.

thanks for your quick response missfixit and haydn callow, i will check in the morning before work and post my findings.
thanks kev...

hi all,
just an update on the coolant alarm. i have today checked all connectors and wiring and every thing seems fine, i have also cleaned and tightened the connectors to the header tank and the coolant mix is also fine.
i'm out and about in the bongo tonight so i will see how i get on.
one thing i have noticed is on initial start up the system check seems more responsive and not laboured if you can understand what i mean.
so hopefully the clean and tighten may have done the trick.
cheers kev...

Sorry to jump on this thread, but my LCA seems to be doing something similar. Only happens after the Bongo has been standing for quite a few hours (first thing in the morning or at the end of work having stood all day). Turn the key and get the usual chirp, turn it over and get a second chirp - all fine. Then, and it only happens a couple of times and only when I turn right(!) a high pitched sound comes from the alarm, kind of fades up and then fades out, and the light comes on faintly. Have checked the coolant level and it's on full, have now checked the screw and seems tight, and have also checked the bullet connector under the steering wheel. The concentration of coolant was a bit low when I checked it over the cold weather (OK down to -20 if I remember correctly) so if this is the reason why this is happening then at least I know. If not, do I need to start tracing all other connections? Any other thoughts?

Cheers

Andrew

Are you sure it's properly full, when I've had hose weeps, that little sad squeek just after starting in the first couple of minutes is the first indicator, try topping it by a cupful, if that don't work, check your connections etc as detailed in this thread. I think if it were coolant concentration it'd be more of a constant noise.

It's also worth trying if all else fails....take the screw out of the tank (get someone to put their finger over the hole) and wire brush the screw then replace it........if this cures the problem then you have a problem with your coolant......these alarms either work or they do not....if they just "play up" a bit there is always a reason.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Will have a fiddle on the weekend - hope it's not the start of 'hose trouble'.

Andrew

Mine started playing up like that a week or so after having it fitted.

Turned out that the bayonet type link under the drivers side dash had not been fully pushed home so that the alarm 'grumbled' from time to time. Light flickered and a rather pathetic high pitched whine. Only seemed to happen when engine was warmed up.

DBO pushed 'bayonet' in tight till it clicked...problem solved...simples.

H