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Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 19 Jan 2014, 21:43
by roozle
Howdy,
Recently had a situation with the temp gauge just slightly to the right of the flashing LED, but its always been consistently been to left of the LED over the last 4000 miles or so. After a quick Sherlock Holmes

- I found there was a split in the pipe connecting the top-up and the header tank (so i guess no vacuum could draw the coolant to fill the header tank).
When i bought the van in August i notice there was a relatively new header tank, but only since this happened i noticed that there is no level sensor fitted or even a place to fit one. The wires & plug for the sensor are strung up...
If i had not have noticed the temp gauge rise slightly i could have cooked my (

) engine
Was a coolant level sensor an option or what - I cant think why someone wouldn't fit one.!
Should i replace the header tank for one with a threaded hole and fit a sensor..??
Has anyone else had these issues
Cheers to gears,
roozle
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 19 Jan 2014, 23:06
by MidLifeCrisis
If the wires and plug are just tied up (i.e. no sensor dipped in coolant) - how come your LED isn't flashing?
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 19 Jan 2014, 23:15
by roozle
The LED flashes for 6 seconds or so when ignition is on, but then goes out as it should.
The plug doesn't have the sensor fitted just the bare black plug.
I will post a photo tomorrow, just incase it's a plug for something else .
Cheers
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 19 Jan 2014, 23:38
by MidLifeCrisis
If the sensor plug is disconnected that would (should) cause the LED to flash continuously (i.e. not just for the first 6 secs).
It's possible that the sensor was removed and the connector plug has had its contacts shorted together to simulate a sensor dipped in coolant, or the relay do-dad that monitors the coolant level was also removed (it's mounted above the earth crowns near the fuses in the glovebox)
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 20 Jan 2014, 06:15
by itchyfeet
As said If relay 43 is missing the light won't flash from the level sensor
It will operate as normal
Not 100% sure about what the guage does with that relay missing but I think it works as normal too
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 20 Jan 2014, 09:31
by MidLifeCrisis
itchyfeet wrote:Not 100% sure about what the guage does with that relay missing but I think it works as normal too
Yep - gauge works fine with the relay removed.
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 20 Jan 2014, 13:04
by itchyfeet
I was trying to find a fault with what2ds van at the weekend, sensor unplugged relay in place and still no flashing light, wiring looked shorted to the body so I thought that's it ( as you say a link to ground is the same a a sensor in water) but wire cut and still no flashing LED, a mystery so far but if roozle's relay is in place maybe the same fault.
anyway yes get a new tank and refit it, check the relay is there.
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 21 Jan 2014, 20:30
by roozle
Header tank
Plug (presumably the level sensor plug)
Relays - no number 43 in sight
It doesn't look like the plug has been shorted either.?
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 19:22
by roozle
It that all the relays for the early fuse board only 5 sockets.?
Dosent seen enough as per the diagram on brick yard?
Is this a typical relay count for early fuse-board?
Cheers
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 19:52
by newkid
Relays - no number 43 in sight
43 is to the side of the fusebox near were all the earth wires are connected.
Off subject as I've just had to replace my mums fusebox, you couldn't happen to take a pic of the wiring side of the relays in the pic above and you are correct in two is all that is on the fusebox.
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 20:18
by itchyfeet
Sorry may have given you duff info if your van has a different relay setup
Looking at Bentley 1982/3 diesel has very few relays in the wiring diagram
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... k#p7865232" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 20:28
by itchyfeet
newkid wrote:
43 is to the side of the fusebox near were all the earth wires are connected.
.
Could it be this hard to see but number of wires shoul be four and colours are hard to see but could be right
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=127075" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 20:55
by newkid
itchyfeet wrote:newkid wrote:
43 is to the side of the fusebox near were all the earth wires are connected.
.
Could it be this hard to see but number of wires shoul be four and colours are hard to see but could be right
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=127075" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Yes that's location for relay 43.
Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 21:16
by itchyfeet
Result

Re: Coolant level sensor (or lack of one)
Posted: 22 Jan 2014, 22:06
by roozle
newkid wrote:Relays - no number 43 in sight
43 is to the side of the fusebox near were all the earth wires are connected.
Off subject as I've just had to replace my mums fusebox, you couldn't happen to take a pic of the wiring side of the relays in the pic above and you are correct in two is all that is on the fusebox.
I didn't think they were related as they were separate to the main relay group. I will have a look to see what is plugged in
ok no worries newkid - i will take one tomorrow.