Contactless low water coolant level alarm project. use original expansion tank

Mattfarnell wrote:

Hi, sorry for jumping on someone’s thread. Is it possible to buy the later tank with built in sensor and fit directly with the dash light for the gearbox warning without the kit, or does it need the control unit with it? I love the idea of the browns and gammons kit but it is quite pricy.

There has been lots of discussion about this recently on  this informative thread .

Alternatively, you could save yourself a load of money by contacting me by private message for one of my contactless low coolant alarm kits.

Bruce.

" Is it possible to buy the later tank with built in sensor and fit directly with the dash light for the gearbox warning without the kit, or does it need the control unit with it? I love the idea of the browns and gammons kit but it is quite pricy. "

Despite there being lots of information on this forum about low coolant alarms which the search facility will swiftly find it seems quite a perplexing though strangely regular occurance for newbies to ask the question often either in the context of the rare OEM setup that was on some late cars or the Brown & Gammons kit. Many regulars here have just gone for one of Bruce's alarms. Cheap & reliable

Hiya Matt , thanks to Roverlikes knowledge and a friend who had a spare appropriate coolant tank ( and time! )to test with , I discovered I'm fortunate enough to have a car that has the wiring and the dashboard warning light to give me a "factory" low coolant warning set if I fit the appropriate expansion tank. However, while doing the research I'd bought one of Bruce's alarms. He provides excellent , very easy to follow fitting instructions. It can be fitted in a couple of hours. There's no need to loose any coolant at all . It's far more affordable than the alternative. And here's the thing. If the coolant drops the alarm will be almost instantaneous. With the factory set up there's apparently a 35 second delay! That's a long time driving oblivious to what damage may be happening to your engine compared to knowing virtually immediately. Next time I change the coolant on my car I'll change the expansion tank so I'll have both systems, till then I'm more than happy driving with the confidence Bruce's solution gives should the worse happen. Others may obviously disagree, but to be honest , given the time delay difference between the two systems, I believe Bruce's set up makes the "factory" set up redundant.

Keeping it in proper perspective, he B&G kit is cheap compared to a buggered engine, but then Bruce's kit is cheaper still!