Club 80-90 Forums

Jambo is an '84 van so uses early coolant system . Yesterday I had the warning light come on and managed to stop within seconds.
I have an issue with the system pressurising which every so often causes the level in the tank drop which causes the light in the pod to flash and needle to swing over.
Without a full strip of the engine ( I fear a cracked head) I doubt if I'll get to the root of the problem. It has been like this for 2 1/2 + years.
Now the light flashing and needle swing works fine but, would it be possible to wire in a seperate buzzer ?

You need to get a 'sniff' test done on the coolant reservoir. That would tell you for certain whether you have combustion products leaking into your coolant - it certainly sounds like that's the case. Worse case scenario is as you've guessed a cracked head or block, but it might just be the head gasket. Replacing the head gasket can still be a bit tricky as you don't know whether you'll find anything when you take the head off, but is much less terminal, and can often be done be done with the engine in-situ.

Sorry I can't help you with regard to your buzzer query.

Hi cliff, ive read up on what's involved with a head strip down and it fills me with dread . The problem hasn't got any worse since I first noticed it and im constantly checking fluid levels etc.
A buzzer would just be as a second line of defence, while i stick my head further into the sand.

jed sells a warning system for the coolant
http://campervanculture.com/shop/gowest ... alarm-kit/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers lloydy , not wanting to give you mega head swell, but , love your van, you've done a cracking job.

That's just what I need

Are you sure =

Note: This alarm sounds due to overheating — it will NOT sound.... if your coolant level is low.

There was a guy on here, (summat like angel-eves) who had a simple circuit and buzzer that sounded whenever the red light came on, but only whilst the engine was running. (so it didn't sound on turning the key to on). With my background in electronics I should be able to reproduce a circuit that would do this. I will get a scrap of paper on the go.

I'll not order one yet then

Going back to first post, low coolant level shouldn't put the needle over, the low coolant "relay" sends pulsed ground signal to the gauge which flashes the light but only moves the needle slightly. Needle suddenly going right over when not overheating suggests a short to ground somewhere between the gauge and the temp sender.

ghost123uk wrote:Are you sure =

Note: This alarm sounds due to overheating — it will NOT sound.... if your coolant level is low.

There was a guy on here, (summat like angel-eves) who had a simple circuit and buzzer that sounded whenever the red light came on, but only whilst the engine was running. (so it didn't sound on turning the key to on). With my background in electronics I should be able to reproduce a circuit that would do this. I will get a scrap of paper on the go.

AngeloEvs? Hasn't been on for a while, nothing in his last visited date. Can't find anything in his posts either.

Angelo EVS is/was an electronics teacher I think. Worked in the Warwick area during term time but came from Norfolk I think. I visited him some years ago but not heard from him since. Very knowledgable man with the best (by far) LPG system I've ever seen - real pro job which he fitted himself and had indicators for everything that was going on at any given time, plus the best ignition immobiliser I've ever seen too (which I'll say no more about). Nice fella.

I'm not sure what to conclude as he just stopped posting.

Marks owner:
The needle sits just to the right of the LED once warm . It only ever swings full over when the level drops and the LED flashes , if there was a short wouldnt it be permanently like that ?

This needle swinging over thing (when the low coolant sensor is triggered) seems to be a "two types" thing in my experience. Some vans don't move the needle over to the right when the low coolant warning is triggered, and some do. I think it might be summat to do with the two different types of control box that are fitted, the thing that looks like a relay on the relay panel, but isn't. The two numbers for that little box of tricks are 42 and 43. Mine has a 43 fitted and does move the needle to the right if I deliberately trigger the low coolant warning.

That's interesting, mine has a 42, I also have a spare 42 and with both the needle hardly moves with a low coolant condition.

I'll and look see if I can find it and report back .