Water leak ...., help ...

csermanni · Post by **csermanni** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:25 pm

New Bongo owner ..., new member ..., old problem ...

Stopped to fill with diesel, noticed coolant dripping from underneath the body, just behind the drivers door.

There are two rubber pipes which run parallel to the sill from the engine compartment.
Both go up into the rear interior.
As far as I can tell, the rubber hoses are good, and the leak appears to be above the floor of the van.

The Bongo has a side conversion, so I am unable to see where they go. I am guessing it is a heat exchanger for the heating of the rear.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

Charles

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:38 pm

Yep !! you are spot on. There is a small heat exchanger above where those pipes go in. As a stopgap you could disconnect both pipes and join them together. This would bypass the Little rad. Do not let air into the system or if you do make sure it is bled properly by someone who knows hoe to do it. Lots of peeps have not had it done correctly and overheated.

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:38 pm

Sounds like the hoses to the heater matrix. If you are loosing coolant, make sure you get the leak sorted and if in any doubt bleed the coolant system once you have stemmed the leak

Dabs · Post by **Dabs** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:39 pm

Having a guess its a hose or pipe problem with the rear heater.Same thing happened to me 18mths ago,mechanic sorted in no problem.As a precaution raise the drivers seat and have a look at the hose that goes over the starter motor to the rear heater these can perish it may be leaking and running down the hose toward the rear heater.Its the pipe with the sleeve over it check right up near the engine block on it.

Good Luck
Dabs

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:42 pm

The alternative to that is to get to the heat exchanger and it might be just a loose circlip. Depends how much dismantling you have to do. I never use the rear heater so putting a bypass between the rubber pipes could be the answer. Don't let youe coolant level drop to much in the header tank or air can get in that way.