Engine temperature alarm

I have noticed that some of the Aussie landrover guys fit coolant temperature alarms. Given all the 1.8 freelander problems has anyone tried one of these:

Haydn Coolant Alarms - TM-2 Digital Temperture Gauge/Alarm (Powered by CubeCart)

Seems like it could be a good idea in that you can decide the temp at which the alarm triggers. They suggest monitoring the usual running temp & setting the alarm a few degrees higher so that you get a very early warning of overheating.

Nice idea but at £80 from Aus

You could probably wrap a simple thermocouple around the outlet on the head and have a simple alarm from the likes of Maplins.

It's so easy not to notice the temp gauge rising & £80 is a lot less that a HG. I did have a look at Maplin but I could not see anything that could be adapted to give an audible alarm. One could link a buzzer (with an off switch) to the fan but it would not be as good.

there are a few MG enthusiasts that have done an audible alarm for a low coolant level mod, same principle for temp only different components, a couple of logic gates and you are sorted.

£80 is still a fair wack, £150 will buy you the basic parts for repair.

More than likely a temp rise will be non-HG related, pump failure or split hose dumping coolant.

i installed the 'engine saver" low coolant alarm in my 1.8 Freelander couple of months back, sensor screws into heater hose bleed, measures conductivity of coolant, no coolant alarms goes off. inexpensive 'piece of mind'

looking at finishing off the install by putting the alarm diode into one of the spare dash warning lights, does anybody know where i could get a "coolant" symbol to suit?

Regards,

Carl