Over-temp lights questions

[jamescarruthers]

I've changed the dash bulbs in my new BX. It has the 1.4 TU engine. To my horror, I found that the bulbs for the over-temperature indication were missing. So should I have overheated I'd not know until too late.

I've popped two bulbs in but I would have thought with just the ignition on (engine off) these would light up as a test, just like the oil pressure warning indicator does. Should it light up a this point? Also, if it doesn't, how can I test the circuit. Can I just apply 12V or short the sensor out maybe to check if the bulb will light?

Also, in this intermediate, ignition on, lights off stage, should my brake pad worn light illuminate? Or, has my lowly 1.4 not got these pad wear sensors? Again, this had no bulb in it either.

Any help greatly appreciated, especially with the temperature one! I seem to have developed overheating paranoia and have gotten out in traffic twice to check when I've confused the car in front's exhaust for steam coming out of my bonnet!!! The car doesn't seem to overheat, in fact I'm only 90% certain I've ever heard the cooling fan.

[Dollywobbler]

They don't light up for test - which is really REALLY stupid. As if having a pair of 'oh your engine has cooked' lamps isn't stupid enough.

Yet I STILL haven't got around to fitting the temperature gauge I bought over a year ago...

[jamescarruthers]

Thanks. To fit a proper gauge: would this be difficult? I agree the lights are stupid! I have to take the instrument panel apart anyway at some time to either replace the clock or fit a rev counter.

[RobC]

you can test lamps by earthing them.

if i remember correctly the yellow warning light isn't even attached to anything on a bx14 - you only get the 'your engine's cooked' red lamp.

when i had a bx14 i came across a dashboard from a gti in a scrapyard and put the temperature gauge in, which is a direct swop for the warning light segment of the instrument panel. didn't stop my head gasket blowing though - but that was entirely my fault and is another story entirely.

the sensor's already waiting for it on the thermostat housing (or at least it was on mine), so all you need to do it send a wire from that to your new gauge.

[jamescarruthers]

Great! I'll keep an eye out on ebay; and post here too I guess

[citsncycles]

As no one's mentioned it, yes you should have the brake pad warning wiring, but I'd lay odds on the connectors at the front being knackered.

[MULLEY]

I wouldn't bother with the brake pad warning system, its crap & all it'll do is flicker on & off even though the pads don't need changing. As Mike has already said, its probably been either knackered or its been cut deliberately to disable it from being a nuisance.

[B-Hive]

! The car doesn't seem to overheat, in fact I'm only 90% certain I've ever heard the cooling fan.

FWIW, my warning light has come on a few occasions and (although I didn't go far with the light on) the engine never cooked or busted its boiler when stopped. This said I thought it may have been a faulty sensor/sender, until the other day I realised that I questioned whether I'd ever heard my cooling fans kick in on this BX. Low and behold a quick check found that the radiator fan switch harness was disconnected..

So yeah, my car didn't suffer from the "you've cooked your engine warning light syndrome, plus it proved the cooling system was efficient enough to handle itself even without the fans!!

All I can assume is that maybe my sender is actually (with age) a bit more trigger happy (as it should have been designed in the first place), or a lower temperature sensor has been installed by a PO, which, if available, should be something everyone here should install on their BX's. If they are available they'd make a much easier mod than a temperature gauge. BTW I too have a temp gauge ready to go in but have not found the time to do so..

[citsncycles]

Luckily the temp warning light works fine on Timex, and gives enough warning to avoid killing it. It's even connected to the test button.

[Birotor]

Why are pad warning lights crap? If they flicker you'd be criminally stupid not to check remaining pad thickness and if the wire is showing plan for a change in the next 500 miles.... If they are not down that far FIX the wiring!

[Defender110]

I do have my brake warning lights wired up but only because they are there, I don't anticipate ever relying on them. I take my wheels off a couple of times a year to fully inspect the brakes and all hub components. You would be ''criminally stupid'' just to rely on brake pad warning lights and not do a periodic visual check on all components on a car 20+ years old.

[Discoil]

One year I was going abroad with the caravan . 5 of us as well. Hot day and going up a long steep hill.
Had a little moment when both lights came on near the top of the hill.
Both radiator fans were going ballistic even when I pulled over .
Yes my lights were working thank goodness !!

[mat_fenwick]

Whilst the pad warning system isn't ideal (for that reason I'd never rely on it) it's handy but not a failsafe system. I.e. any break in the wiring will cause the lights NOT to come on when the pads are worn. TBH I've never known the BX to give flickering problems, unlike failsafe systems which come on if the wires are broken.

[mds141]

Was the BX one of the 1st cars to be fitted with a brake pad wear warning system?

[citsncycles]

The GS had it from at least 1974, if not from the start of production - it works well on mine, unlike any of the BX's I had, probably because of the inboard brakes