Low coolant alarm?

**wayneg** · 31st May 2013, 11:36 AM

I have fitted one of the $2 float sensors from ebay. After an initial hic-cup all is good and I would not be without it. Saved the engine once when the water pump gave up on a beach.
My 1st attempt was to put the whole sender in the expansion tank with just a hole for the wires. This worked for a few months but it started to loose insulation and I started to get false alarms. I then used a slightly different sender and fitted it onto the wall of the tank below the filler cap. This is still going strong with out problem. I like the fact that the warning goes off when very little coolant is lost as the sensor is at the highest point of the system and not in the top hose or there abouts. Total cost was about $10 for the sender, 2x flashing leds in housings and a 5 pin relay. Would be the very 1st job I did on a P38 if I was to get another.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/p38a-range...ant-alarm.html

**TheTree** · 31st May 2013, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by wayneg

I have fitted one of the $2 float sensors from ebay.

Out of curiosity, how long was the float switch you used?

Steve

**TheTree** · 31st May 2013, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

I see from the RR.net threads that I fitted the LBB IN 2007.

Ron

It's good to know that the float switches survive, a "plan b" for my rangie

Steve

**wayneg** · 31st May 2013, 03:05 PM

This is the one I used which still works fine.

New Liquid Water Level Sensor Right Angle Float Switch | eBay

**WilkoP38A** · 31st May 2013, 08:30 PM

Hi. I put in the v8 model from "Dave's interesting things"

http://www.davesitshop.com/davesitsh...ewCat&catId=30

I'm not sure which one it was but it isn't listed on the web site. Just send an email and you will get pointed to the right one. Definately works and has saved me twice, both times I had burst hoses. Once I was waiting at a servo to pump up the tyres when it started screaming and the other time I started the car in the morning and got the same warning. It is money well spent.

Easy to fit with a hose joiner piece that fits in the top radiator hose ( cut the hose and insert the hose joiner with electrode going through to the coolant inside.) and a couple of wires with a small alarm and light that sit behind the dash.

Cheers
Wilko

**p38arover** · 13th March 2014, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

The temp rating of the float valve doesn't seem to have been an issue - I've had mine for over 5 years.

The unreliability of the probes seemed to be related to water conductivity as it used a single screw in the tank and the current path was from that to chassis/engine block.

I've since found out from Chris Fox of Little Black Box that I should have had two screws into the tank, spaced about 20-30mm apart with one of them connected to a body ground.

I've now done that and it is now reliably alarming on low coolant level.

**TheTree** · 13th March 2014, 08:54 PM

HI

I used two 316 Stainless screws as my probes and they have worked well so far, the odd false blip from the alarm under hard braking

Steve

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