Bongo Fury

Hi everyone. Hoping for a bit of help and advice. I've fitted a coolant alarm that I got from Haydn a while ago. Just never got around to fitting it. All was well for a few days then it just started going off for no reason. Level is fine. I've wiggled all the connections and it won't set it off. Cleaned the screw. I have it fitted on an add a circuit connector so I've changed what fuse it was fitted to just see. I've searched the forum and checked everything that has been suggested. It can be fine for a while driving then it can beep for a fraction of a second go off for ages then beep for 20-30 seconds or vice versa. There is no pattern to it. I replaced the radiator last summer and refilled with a 50/50 mix of red coolant and bled and drove around for past year prior to fitting it with no issues. Will it still put a layer of coating on the screw? Is it just dirty?

Any help or suggestions greatly received.

i would have a look at the voltage being put out by the alternator, the alarm are designed to work within certain voltages top end and i think bottom end, it may be telling you that the alternator is wandering in its out put.

the problem with testing is most of the time the alternator could be ok, then depending on load/demand the diodes could be wonky, this can be hard to detect, i would put an accurate voltage measuring device in the ciggy lighter to see if you can spot owt.

this sort of thing may help.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Car-Auto- ... 1523172388

Nb,
Would that still do as required if the ciggy lighter was running off the Leisure battery?

Just curious. Not trying to hijack the thread.

Graeme

I can reinstate the lighter socket back onto the normal circuit in order to test. Will only take two seconds. I will give it a go.

Weeduggy wrote:I can reinstate the lighter socket back onto the normal circuit in order to test. Will only take two seconds. I will give it a go.

But it's on a spilt charge so as long as the starter bat is full the leisure battery will be getting charged so perhaps it wouldn't matter.

It wouldn't matter if the leisure battery was in the circuit or not providing the alarm connections were made in accordance with the suggested installation method.

Where have you taken the supply for the unit from- what fuse specifically and where is the ground connection.?

If the supply is being taken from the LB then it will NOT be being switched via the Ignition key and hence won't self-test as the power will never be interrupted!

You could always remove the sensor screw, give it a wire brush and replace it ....just to eliminate that possibility.
It does sound like a electrical issue.
If it was a dirty screw it would sound on startup and continue for for a while gradually going quite.
You have checked the level is at least a cm above the screw.?

Bongolia wrote:It wouldn't matter if the leisure battery was in the circuit or not providing the alarm connections were made in accordance with the suggested installation method.

Where have you taken the supply for the unit from- what fuse specifically and where is the ground connection.?

Hi its connected to a switched live. The LB was just mentioned as the suggestion was to test from lighter socket but that socket may be connected to a LB thats all.

Supply is taken from the fusebox via one of those Add a circuit connectors that you plug in and fit your existing fuse to and then connect you new circuit via its own fuse. I did have it attached to the Heater fuse but moved it to the next one along which i believe is the front wipers. Both switched live though. Earthed at the back of the box on a metal bar thats been cleaned with emery paper.

g8dhe wrote:If the supply is being taken from the LB then it will NOT be being switched via the Ignition key and hence won't self-test as the power will never be interrupted!

Hi, We had a chat about this on FB. LB is a red herring as it was only mentioned due to the testing method being suggested.

haydn callow wrote:You could always remove the sensor screw, give it a wire brush and replace it ....just to eliminate that possibility.
It does sound like a electrical issue.
If it was a dirty screw it would sound on startup and continue for for a while gradually going quite.
You have checked the level is at least a cm above the screw.?

Hi,

Ive taken the screw out and cleaned it and checked the level. On start up it does sound for a while then gradually go quiet. But then when I'm driving it will go off. Sometimes for a split second sometimes for 20 seconds like its doing the self test but i cant get it to fail when I'm sat on the drive. If i had an issue with a blockage and the coolant wasn't getting back to the tank I'm pretty sure i would have other symptoms and I've had no issues with the van coolant wise. I'll clean it again I suppose and see. Does it need a particular screw or can I replace with the correct size thread?

If you cleaned it and the problem is still there ...... I would suggest you have another problem ..... If you have a multi meter ... Put it on voltage ... Touch a probe to the head of the sensor screw and the other probe to earth.....report the measurement recorded back here..... Do it twice....ign on no engine and engine running

Hi Weedoug
I see you have the right man guiding you now.
Good luck.

Bongolia wrote:Hi Weedoug
I see you have the right man guiding you now.
Good luck.

Nice compliment but the main man who is well worth paying attention to is Northern Bongalow above.....there is not much he carnt help with.

I'm just trying to eliminate the easy possibles

" Nice compliment but the main man who is well worth paying attention to is Northern Bongalow above.....there is not much he carnt help with."

Could not agree more, the guy is an absolute mechanical genius ,and a true Bongo Specialist.