Head Gasket Woes

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 7:34 pm

2 weeks into ownership and this morning there was clouds of steam out of the exhaust, and a slow reducing coolant level.

Hope it is just the gasket. Want to do it myself but can anyone reccomend a bongo friendly mechanic in the Wolves/Telford area? It may be worth getting a quote.

Sam

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:44 pm

Will let you know how I get on.

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:46 am

So what is the deal here with regard my rights as a consumer? I am only 2 weeks and 600 miles into ownership.

Do you think this is a warranty issue?

The warranty only covers upto a max of £300. It excludes cracks in the head.

However, it is my understanding is that if the fault was already there when I bought it then it comes under my statutory rights. So, if the head gasket was already on it's way out, then despite what the warranty says, surley the dealer needs to get it sorted. If it has happened within six months of purchase, then the dealer needs to prove that the fault was not there when the vehicle was sold. How would he be able to do that?

Also, the dealer has said that I need to get it back to him. Obviously I do not want to drive it very far with a failing head gasket for risk of further damaging the engine. Is it not his reponsibility to pay for the work to be done elsewhere? ie. a Bongo friendly garage?

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:34 pm

I'm sure there will be a strong feeling here BongoMTBer that any dealer valuing his reputation will attend to a problem like this on a car bought as recently as yours. His guarantee may say it doesnt cover cracked heads (which I find of itself a bit cynical) but your purchase is well under 6 months old and there must be some obligation on the dealer to prove the car was fit for purpose when sold. Unless you have done something obviously negligent to cause a cracked head, then one has to ask why the head cracked (and when). But you ought to get advice, maybe from the local trading standards office.

I suspect that, being realistic, you probably have to get the car back to the dealer. Is it possible to tow it back there?

out of interest, how big/well established is this dealer (no names required)

Good luck with it and keep us posted.

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:31 pm

Good news... so far anyway.

The dealer is part of a large reputable firm, and having spoken to someone further up their food chain this morning, they have agreed to entrust it to a Bongo specialist ie. Ian Taylor in Market Drayton.

This guy guy came highly reccomended so I wait pretty comfortable that the issue will be sorted. I have evry confidence in Ian and his mechanic and it would appear that my dealer is now prepaqred to take responsibility. Just a shame it all happened just before Christmas, as now I shall be Bongo-less until new year.

Out of interest, one of the exhaust manifold studs is broken and it is blowing from there. This would suggest to me that the head has already been off before. I can only guess that it has been overheated, had a gasket replaced but no head skim or crack check as a result, hence why the problem has come back.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:57 pm

Really good news BongoMTBer esp. about the manifold stud as it is strong circumstantial evidence this Bongo had a problem before you bought it. Make sure the broken stud is confirmed by an impartial witness. Don't take any nonsense at all. If Ian Taylor has any concerns about what is needed to effect a full repair then make sure the main dealer is held to this. They are not doing you any favours. They are simply putting right what should not have been sold to you in the first place. You want to know what the fundamental cause of the problem was when it first happened, and what needs to be done to restore it to the condition it was in before any of that happened.

Good luck

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:09 pm

Cheers Mike. I feel a whole lot better now that I have Ian on side too.

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:14 pm

Got it back

Shiny new head and cam belt thanks to Ian Taylor (Top Bloke) and orignal dealer. Also some nice silcone hoses thanks to Flippa.

However.... drove it back (40 mins) no problems.

Drove again tonight for abut 30 mins and just as I was about to stop, gauge climbs to 1 o'clock. I shut down imediatley and listen to gurgling noises. After about five minutes I put both heaters on full and I started up again and cautiousy opened the full expansion tank. Lots of bubbles and gurgles came up and it emptied down back into cooling system, so I filled it up again (about 2 litres) to full.

Took it for another 20 mins of driving and opened up again, another small gurgle and level drop. 0.5 litre top up back to full.

Is this normal after a full hose and head replacment, or have I still got a leak?

Can't smell or see one, and no plumes of steam, so hoping for the best.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:36 pm

I'm surprised at this as Ian Taylor would know how to bleed a Bongo system. Maybe give him a call and see what he says?

patmckenna · Post by **patmckenna** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:43 pm

Hi BongoMTBer,

I agree with Mike - it does sound like a problem with air in the system. I take it Flippa's hoses were replaced by the same guys who fitted the new cylinder head? I would also be tempted to worry about the state of the radiator. If you read the (many) posts on overheating problems, members often end up replacing the rad ...

Hope it sorts out. Double check all the hose connections in the morning.
Pat

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:48 pm

Cheers guys. I will be on the phone first thing in the moring and shall have a good look at all connections in the daylight.

The hoses and head were done as a oner.

With no evidence of leakage or steam, I am sure that it is just one of those things

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:56 pm

Were the radiator (maybe the rear heater rad too) and system flow tested? I'm not an expert on this but the dealer must appreciate the root of the problem has to be addressed and checking for free flow would seem important in this respect

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:09 am

I would guess it just wasn't bleed as it should have been. Hopefully no harm has been done. Lets hope it's now sorted.

paul9 · Post by **paul9** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:15 am

patmckenna wrote:Hi BongoMTBer,

I agree with Mike - it does sound like a problem with air in the system. I take it Flippa's hoses were replaced by the same guys who fitted the new cylinder head? I would also be tempted to worry about the state of the radiator. If you read the (many) posts on overheating problems, members often end up replacing the rad ...

Hope it sorts out. Double check all the hose connections in the morning.
Pat

whenever a head needs replacing its always a good idea to replace the radiator and thermostat at the same time.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:16 am

BongoMTBer wrote:
Took it for another 20 mins of driving and opened up again, another small gurgle and level drop. 0.5 litre top up back to full.

Is this normal after a full hose and head replacment, or have I still got a leak?

After having my head replaced & system bled, it took a few days for the system to settle down & find its own level.

A couple of weeks back, I suffered a leaky hose, detected by the coolant alarm thankfully and needed another bleed. Again, it took a couple of days & a few good uphill runs to purge itself. Needing maybe another litre of coolant eventually.

All's been well since.

I'd say you shouldn't have too much to worry about, even a thorough bleed can leave enough trapped air to cause a few burps & as they work their way out the coolant level reduces.

Don't fret, keep a daily eye on it until you get it checked over.