Cooling system refurb - my alarm worked ;-)

[TheTree]

Hi,

My low coolant alarm started going off under slightly hard braking and cornering :wasntme:.

So when I got home I checked the coolant level and sure enough it was down about 20mm.

Investigation revealed a steady stream of coolant from the weep hole in the water pump, in fact it has continued to dribble all night :eek:

A search revealed an excellent thread on AULRO (where else) about the idler pulleys and bearings.

So I now have an airtex water pump and a nuline tensioner pulley on the way and I plan a trip to the bearing shop tomorrow ;-)

I had also already ordered a replacement fan after reading about their self destruct act when they get old and luckily it will arrive tomorrow or Tuesday with my ABS pump :p

So water pump, tensioner pulley and bearings, idler pulley bearing plus fan. Poly V belt was replaced a few months ago.

I am wondering is there is anything I have missed?

Steve

[Hoges]

Hi,

(snip)

I am wondering is there is anything I have missed?

Steve

A full night's sleep?:D

[davidsonsm]

One of the things that had just been done on mine (gems though) is a bypass of the air plenum preheater. Not needed in our climate. The tube from the header tank to the plenum was nearly through with an obvious scary result. Hence why its gone from 4 pipes to one - direct to the header tank without the air plenum being plumbed. A worthwhile upgrade that I wasn't aware of. Maybe everybody else out there is already. It's certainly recommend it.

[TheTree]

One of the things that had just been done on mine (gems though) is a bypass of the air plenum preheater. Not needed in our climate. The tube from the header tank to the plenum was nearly through with an obvious scary result. Hence why its gone from 4 pipes to one - direct to the header tank without the air plenum being plumbed. A worthwhile upgrade that I wasn't aware of. Maybe everybody else out there is already. It's certainly recommend it.

Hi Mate

Mine is plumbed to my LPG evaporator, but I was looking at it the other day and wondering what state it is in. It's pretty hard to see it all, I might get a better look once all the other stuff is off.

Regards
Steve

[wayneg]

A lesson to all here without a low coolant alarm. I too have had a warning which enabled me to stop without any signs of overheating. Again it was the water pump leaking.
I have just spent $4 on the parts for an alarm for the new ride, 2 flashing led`s and a float switch, I already have a spare relay in the tool box. Got to be the cheapest insurance ever.
The throttle body heater on the new car has already been bypassed however I shall remove the alternator to get the hose direct from the expansion tank to the inlet into the block and make it a much neater job.

[davidsonsm]

A lesson to all here without a low coolant alarm. I too have had a warning which enabled me to stop without any signs of overheating. Again it was the water pump leaking.
I have just spent $4 on the parts for an alarm for the new ride, 2 flashing led`s and a float switch, I already have a spare relay in the tool box. Got to be the cheapest insurance ever.
The throttle body heater on the new car has already been bypassed however I shall remove the alternator to get the hose direct from the expansion tank to the inlet into the block and make it a much neater job.

I don't suppose you could post what you bought and how you intend to install the level sensor, and wire it up. Cheers. Sean.

[TheTree]

Sean

If you want to take a few pics while you do it, I am happy to add them and a little text to my web page on low coolant alarms

Steve

[wayneg]

I have posted about this countless times before but here goes again

Get a float of e-bay like this, should be $2 shipped
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/682.jpg

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mVIbtI-QSMWeqQyrL8S-CHg.jpg

Get a warning device, I get flashing LED`s get what suits you. ( these were $A$2.09 for a pair Yesterday )
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/683.jpg

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/m/mVh5Nc-PRC8LP92Xcrw5LPg/140.jpg

You will also need a 5 pin relay. A$2.57 today Shipped
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/684.jpg


Drill a hole in your expansion tank, Please make sure its as close as possible to the shank of the sender. Fit the sender in through the expansion cap orifice, wire up through the relay to your warning device. The float is on in the coolant full position and switched off when low on coolant. You need to keep the sender float as low as you can in the tank so you cant just turn it upward. the relay resolves this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XHsm3x7mkY

[TheTree]

Hi Wayne

I have lifted your pics and text and put them on a page here

P38 Range Rover Low Coolant Alarm Float Version (http://p38.hts.com.au/low_coolant_alarm_1.html)

Regards
Steve

[TheTree]

Hi

Successful pump replacement with the much better quality Airtex pump.

I replaced the bearing in the left hand idler pulley as the old one had a bit of play. However once we had it running again, I noticed the pulley is not running completely true and having read on here about the issues with these pulleys, I ordered one of the newer metal ones

Maybe worth having a look at the one on your car?

Steve

[wayneg]

Hi Wayne

I have lifted your pics and text and put them on a page here

P38 Range Rover Low Coolant Alarm Float Version (http://p38.hts.com.au/low_coolant_alarm_1.html)

Regards
Steve

Great, There realy should be some stickies on this section of the forum for similar so Its good someone is doing their bit to assist others.
I would think the 2 pictures of the float in Situe plus the Youtube link would make it far easier to understand what I did.

[TheTree]

Great, There realy should be some stickies on this section of the forum for similar so Its good someone is doing their bit to assist others.
I would think the 2 pictures of the float in Situe plus the Youtube link would make it far easier to understand what I did.

Wayne,

Oopps, missed those embedded pics, I will add them tonight :angel:

As far as the stickies go, we have been down that road and it is one of the reasons I started my website

Regards
Steve

[TheTree]

Hi

Page improved:p

P38 Range Rover Low Coolant Alarm Float Version (http://p38.hts.com.au/low_coolant_alarm_1.html)

Steve