head gasket probs LOLARM ALL

[ongie]

HI ALL I'M THE DESIGNER OF 'LOLARM' - (LO COOLANT ALARM)
I'LL HAVE A STAND AT AT 'F' FEST IN ON 5th & 6th AUG. SEE LOLARM FITTED & DEMONSTRATED AT THE SHOW. £5 DISCOUNT
AT THE EVENT. I'LL ANSWER QUESTIONS & TALK 'F's. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND . TO TALK H/G PROBS CALL ME 01582 832305. MOBILE [phone] ANDY C

[Geoff F]

The B&G Kit is the one to go for. It may cost another half tank of petrol but then it is well worth the money.
Geoff F.

[sniperpenguin]

Bit harsh, Geoff! especially when you dont say "why" its better....

I'm after a coolant alarm, but Im considering both. B&G are notoriously expensive for bloody anything , so its build quality that matters to me, as well as how it looks in the car.

If the LOLARM looks like a piece of velcro and an LED on the dash from Maplin, ill walk away

[jonbaker]

Bit harsh Geoff considering the posts I have seen on various sites about replacement circuit boards needed for it, why is the B&G kit better ?
I have the 2005 coolant tank in mine with the circuit from apttony.co.uk site, so no axe to grind either way.
Ongie can you explain how your alarm works given, I believe, that it doesn't require replacing the coolant tank or cap ?

[jonbaker]

In the interests of fair play B&G are the cheapest place I found for new wheel nuts Sniper!

[charless]

If it is build quality and how it looks, then B&G win. For peace of mind, cost difference scarcely enters into the equasion; and they don't advertise on forums. Boots on.

[jonbaker]

Lets be fair the coolant tank and built in float switch is all standard 2005 MGF parts all B&G add is the alarm circuit and LED which several customers have had problems with.

[sniperpenguin]

SO B+G are basically doing the same as LOLARM, and throwing in some OEM bits to complete the kit? Hardly groundbreaking....

If the problems are with their own bits, then it really isnt any different from the LOLARM, is it?

[Chris Tideswell]

It's great to have a choice in the market place. The fact that a low coolant alarm of some description could be considered a must fit item all the better to have choice.

When I wanted to fit one 18 months ago there was only one option and that was the B & G kit as the 05MY tank was on an indefinite back order at the time.

If I were going to fit another my first choice would still be the B&G one or buy a new 05MY tank and build a circuit.

But as I say any is better then non.

[himself]

low cost is a s/hand collant tank ( ala tf/z 's, pleanty in scrappers) including sensor. one side to earth line to neon ( or buzzer or both )on dash the to live on ign. cost and time £20.00 ( or in my case much less) for the parts 2 hrs including stops ...pee time..rolls and bacon...talks with next door.
if you want to be 'deluxe' put in test overide link. cost pennies.
you dont need fancy bitsa unless you want to spend more money.

worked for 3 years now. the number of false alarms is very low as long as level is correct to start with. you may get couple of flashes in a track situation, but most people's minds will so be able to tell if its surge for a second or a fault for more than 5/10 seconds.

its all about cost .

simple one ...very cheap

one in bottle cal with ' false alam elimination'.....dearer

b + with buzzer and f'alse alam elimination' very dear mucho profit.

[charless]

For me, peace of mind is more valuable than cost and false alarms are certainly not wanted. B&G may cost more to start with, but are a very comfortable permanent fit, tested every time you switch on the ignition.
Compare the saving to the cost of cockpit shiny bits many seem to find justifiable and it is a no brainer. Has anybody out there had a long term problem with the B&G?

[andrew]

I have had a B&G alarm since they first advertised it and bought it because it was the only one at the time. It is wired without the warning light just the buzzer, which can be heard at speed with a crash helmet on. It paid for it's self within the first four weeks of fitting when the level went down due to a faulty water pump.
So for me a great bit of kit that reassures me that its working by beeping every time I start my car.
PS I also don't like being shouted at.!!!

[ongie]

LOLARM CONSISTS OF A BRASS FLOAT SWITCH WHICH DETECTS LOW COOLANT LEVEL. THE CONNECTING WIRES TO THIS SWITCH PASS OUT THROUGH THE INTERNAL FLUTES OF THE STANDARD BLACK FILLER CAP. THE FLOAT SWITCH HOLDS THE ALARM CIRCUIT 'OFF' WHEN THE COOLANT LEVEL IS 'NORMAL' AND TRIGGERS THE ALARM AT 'LOW' COOLANT LEVEL. SEE LOLARM DEMONSTRATED AT THE MGFest. ONGIE

[andrew]

ongie certainly likes the sound of his own voice, why does he keep shouting were not deaf!.

[Geoff F]

Andrew,
Market traders always shout.
Geoff F.