Bongo garage north east

[Ovingham]

Can anyone recommend a bongo specialist in the north east.

I am about to give up on my Bongo. It had turned into a steam engine so I had a local garage replace the head, radiator, hoses etc at significant cost after testing found a crack in the old head.

But lo and behold now it overheats (it didn't actually overheat previously). They can't get it to work and neither can I.

Can anyone out there help before I give up and sell it for scrap and go back to VWs in desperation.

Jonathan

[Peg leg Pete]

Have they bled the coolant system correctly

[Ovingham]

Yes, I have tried too, following the manual exactly.

It does something strange though which does not follow the theory. Once it gets hot and the thermostat opens, after a couple more minutes it empties in a constant stream through the bleed hose into the bucket. I have kept the bleed hose pulled up and then pointing downwards into the bucket.

I have studied the circuit on the Overheating factsheet and I can't see how this can happen as the bleed hose is on the inlet (low pressure) side of the of the cooling pump.

I am worried that the new head may have been cracked to due to being overheated several times already but I can't see that a crack would have the above effect. I thought at first one or two of the hoses could have been re-connected wrongly but I think it all looks correct.

[mikeonb4c]

Could exhaust gas pressure in the system (from a leaky head gasket) push the coolant out? You ought to get the coolant tested for exhaust gas traces as that would confirm/clear things up. Pain in the butt though - you have my sympathies. Good luck & keep us posted.

[splitpin]

Bridge garage, front street Annitsford. 0191 2500091. Ask for John.

[Jacqui]

Just had a new head fitted to mine, told the bloke how difficult it can be to get the air out of the system, he gave me the standard "I am a trained mechanic" look, picked it up, drove 1.2 miles to my door, temp gauge went nuts, so I bled it as follows (done it 3 times before);

Engine hot, carefully remove header cap, it will be pressurised and hot use lots of rags to protect your pinkies.
Top up to the brim with coolant.
lift passenger seat and unclip head bleed hose
Fit a bucket in the gap twixt engine & chassis or sit it on the step.
Put a couple of litres of coolant into the bucket
start your engine
Remove bung from bleed hose whilst directing open end into bucket, keep end under coolant level and you will see bubbles emerge (some big, some small.
Now it would be handy to have a second person to keep topping up your header, what I do single handed is, let the bucket fill for a bit then bung the end of the bleed hose then transfer some of the coolant from the bucket backinto the header then start again. DO NOT LET YOUR HEADER EMPTY.
Do it til no more bubbles are emerging and it should be OK.
Remember everything will be hot, I did mine in a furious temper so did'nt feel the pain til I calmed down about an hour later

[helen&tony]

Hi Ovingham
Silly question, maybe, but you have got the cap OFF the plastic tank, haven't you?
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi jaqui
You're right, indeed, there are TRAINED mechanics....They can stand on a chair, flap their flippers, and balance a ball on their noses....then there are QUALIFIED mechanics, who are usually pretty good, and get reccomendations on the Forum here
Cheers
Helen

[Jacqui]

He is qualified and Mercedes trained (emphasis on diesels). Don't matter much if he thinks he knows better than you. All I did was offer a little hint and I got that look. Now he's almost a mate and will just have to take it every time I see him cos he knew better. Please don't get chippy about it I didn't mean it as a swipe at all mechanics there are lots of good'uns (but not may Bongo compliant ones in the N.East)