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MG MGF Technical - Thankful I bought my Coolant Alarm!

Travelling to work the other day, travelling down an A road at 60mph, everything running smoothly.... Then a sudden shrill beeping sound started - I paused momentarily, then the cogs in my brain engaged and I thought "WATER!!!". My eyes fell to the dash and my cat overheat light was glowing red (the spare bulb that I wired my coolant alarm into)....

I slowed slightly and started to look for somewhere to pull over, instinctively turning on the heater and resting my left hand over the centre vent, reassured that a warm blast of air was being emitted!! Just as I pulled into a side road, the warm air turned cold and I knew the coolant must be pumping out fast!!! Neatly came to a stop as the remainder of the coolant dumped itself on the road, no overheat, no engine bay fan, no ticking engine or steam.

Phew!!! The alarm I fitted 4 years ago has finally played it's part and saved an almost certain catastrophy!! Even though coolant had been pouring out everywhere, there was no sign of it in the car and without the alarm I would have just merryily motored along until the car overheated (and no doubt the head gasket failed). I can see now how easily that can happen!!!

Interestingly, it was one of my front radiator to underfloor coolant hoses that had split along it's length. What was concerning was that I replaced both hoses 4 years ago when I replaced the radiator and underfloor pipes (and fitted the alarm). Initially I thought HGF, pressurisation of the cooling system but on closer inspection both hoses are completely perished, with cracks all over them - Just can't understand what has caused it (contamination??). I know they are low down to the road but can't imagine what would do this??

Anyway, persuaded the RAC to tow me home, rather than try to fix at the roadside (backwards tow with rear wheels off the ground) so I've ordered the parts and will have a closer look at the weekend...
Mark Clayton

At a rough guess you just got a 1000% return on your investment, nice going ;o)

For a 4 year old hose to fail so dramatically is very unusual, I agree. They're likely to get sprayed by the wheels going through puddles etc and maybe the odd stone, but if the perishing is severe then I'm wondering whether they were already 'old stock' when you fitted them. Fingers crossed the replacements have a longer lifespan ahead of them!
bandit

The B&G coolant alarm is simply a brilliant thing. It's alerted me to low coolant situations on a number of occasions, and would have saved my original cylinder head had it become available in time (similar situation to yours Mark - split hose, dumped coolant, heater became cold, cylinder head overheated and toasted it :o()

The advice must be to fit one of these things. I've not tried the alternatives, but they are hugely useful and money saving - not to mention car saving - purchases in the long term.
Rob Bell

Where do you get these alarms and are they easy to fit?
R Appleton

The kits are straightforward to DIY install, or you can get a garage to do it forward if you don't want to do it yourself. The supplied instructions are excellent.

The Brown and Gammons kit, which is the one I have and the one that Mark has is available from Brown and Gammons themselves - http://www.ukmgparts.com/product.aspx?CID=a6438a2a-06ce-45d6-a18f-943e9e1c4240&SID=ebec95df-7260-440a-8983-8643a1d15510&PID=91827d9b-18de-491e-b074-a1f29941307a

There is also a LoLarm kit - available from here: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tim.fixit/capy/

Not got experience of the latter, but I am sure is perfectly good...
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 19/05/2010 and 24/05/2010

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