Dodgy temperature gauge?

[jimkath]

Hi,
We have an issue with the temperature gauge on our bongo. After about 5 miles or so the gauge will go from the 11 O' clock position up to the maximum and then comes back down to 11/12 O' clock. It is only at the maximum for a few seconds and may repeat this a few times in a journey. We took it to the garage, where they were going to change the cam belt anyway. they said that they had tested the water and found combustion gases in the coolant. They removed the head and tested it for a crack but it was fine. Apparently they had to striaghten some rods and machine the head a bit. All gaskets were replaced when it was reassembled. The garage is not really a bongo specialist, is there any other reason for this temperature spike? and is it something that should stop me using the vehicle for a while.

[westonwarrior]

May have been the gasket

best to keep checking the levels and use normaly and see if it happens again

[maxheadroom]

Hi jimkath, When me temp gauge kept going up and down, it turned out to be the water pump going but you would see signs of water dripping down the front of the engine.

[apole]

Hi,

Personally I'd get it checked out by someone that is familiar with bongos. Not worth risking cooking your engine.

Shouldn't cost much for someone in the know with the right tools to give you an opinion.

Whereabouts are you?

Andy

[jimkath]

Hi Andy,

We live near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. We took it out today to Swindon and back about 30 miles each way. The gauge went up once on the way there and once on the way back about 2 hours later. Each time the fan kicked in and the temperature came straight back down and more or less stayed steady for the rest of the time. When we got back I felt the hoses from the coolant expansion tank and they were hot, but not so hot that they could n't be held. We did have a leak on one of the coolant hoses a while back, could this have changed something that has led to this problem?

Jim

[maxheadroom]

Sounds like an air bubble in the system. Give it a good bleed and see how you go.

[mikeonb4c]

Welcome jimkath. As suggested by 'apole' above, I'd get a Bongo specialist to look at it. May just need proper bleeding and they'd know how to do that or advise if its something else. Tehre are one or two Bongo dealers around your way (Churchams is one - have a search for them on here or google or check recommended garages list in members area). Good luck.