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Low water sensor problem.

Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 02, 2003 at 19:08

Kev - (Cairns,QLD)

Has anyone had a radiator low water sensor fitted ?

I had one fitted a couple of months ago and i check it now and then by pulling the wire off the sensor to see if it works and thought all is good.

Last week i flushed the radiator and thought it would be a good time to see if it realy works with the radiator empty and found that it didn't.

The probe was too long and was touching the core of the radiator and earthing out with or without water so in fact it was useless.

Of course i wasn't impressed as the 4.2L turbo diesel engines don't last long without water !!!

Just thought id let you guys know incase you have one too and trusting it to work.

Kev.
ThreadID: 5784 Replies: 2
Views: 562 FollowUps: 8
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AnswerID: 24076   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 02, 2003 at 22:15

Billowaggi replied:

Hi Kev, I think the intallation was stuffed up , sender should be as high as possible in the top tank,a modern cooling system with correctly operating recovery system should keep the radiator full to the top at all times
Regards Ken.
Reply 1 of 2
FollowupID: 16187   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 02, 2003 at 22:24

Kev - (Cairns,QLD) posted:

Yeah but the reason i had the sensor fitted is to alert me if a total loss of coolant due to a hose bursting ect, it dosn't measure the temp.

Even with the radiator empty it still did not activate the warning buzzer.
FollowUp 1 of 7
FollowupID: 16198   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 08:49

Billowaggi posted:

Just another thought Kev, check that your radiator is earthed, most are mounted on rubber these days, the sensor will have to have an earth return to the battery.
Regards Ken.
FollowUp 2 of 7
FollowupID: 16199   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 08:52

Billowaggi posted:

By the way I have fitted many of these to tractors and machinery and they all work ok.
Regards Ken
FollowUp 3 of 7
FollowupID: 16202   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 09:21

Kev - (Cairns,QLD) posted:

Earthed it myself as i did all the wiring, i had the shop install the sensor.
FollowUp 4 of 7
FollowupID: 16206   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 11:36

Truckster (Vic) posted:

Kev..

I think it would be better to have the sensor HIGH up in the radiator. 3/4 of the way up the rad from bottom would be the lowest I would have it.

No use telling you when its MT, you want to know earlier than that!!
FollowUp 5 of 7
FollowupID: 16208   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 11:58

Kev - (Cairns,QLD) posted:

Yeah but you don't want it to high either.

I found when adjusting it that if it is too high and the radiator is slightly low (but not enough to worry about) the buzzer would sound when turning a corner as the water would drain to one side.

Which is anoying !
FollowUp 6 of 7
FollowupID: 16210   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 12:27

Truckster (Vic) posted:

Should the radiator ever be anything but full anyway?????
Suppose when its been sitting and you start it in the morning sometimes the water seems to go down, but yea I wouldnt want it lower than 3/4, if its lower than that, it needs filling.
FollowUp 7 of 7
AnswerID: 24079   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 02, 2003 at 22:37

Phil R replied:

I'd rather find out after losing a little bit rather than finding out after the tides gone
out. A slow leak could fry the motor before the buzzer buzzes.
Reply 2 of 2
FollowupID: 16221   Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2003 at 13:43

Gordon posted:

Rotronics make an engine block temperature warning device with the sensor simply mounted to the block. After adjustment (simple), any rise in block temperature for any reason (which could include a non operating water pump) will give a warning. It does not rely on coolant loss and also has a fail safe feature. There are no intrusive holes to be made in either the radiator or hoses.

Can't remember how much, but probably around the $200 mark. Yes that is more expensive than coolant level monitors, but heaps cheaper than an engine rebuild.

Gordon
FollowUp 1 of 1

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