Problems in France

[lou]

Last Thur the engine alarm went off in the bongo. Once I got out of the car, all of the coolant was splashed all over the floor underneath. It's currently in a Mazda Garage in Perpignan (SE France) They were supposed to take a look at it today but have told me they probably won't get around to it until tomorrow.

Should I be concerned? The head was reskimmed last winter, a full service was done before coming here, including a flush through..

Sorry that there's no more technical detail

Thanks

[Muzorewa]

The biggest problem will be that even though they are a Mazda dealer, they won't have a clue about Bongos as they aren't allowed to be registered in France - so the quirks of the cooling system will be new to them.

[lou]

That was what I'm worried about...hmmm

Has anyone any ideas how I can help them please?

[daveblueozzie]

That was what I'm worried about...hmmm

Has anyone any ideas how I can help them please?

If your a paid up member you could download the fact sheets on how to bleed the coolant system.

[haydn callow]

NOTE.. (Before you start) Get a large funnel and cut the spout so the bleed tube will push up into it nice and tight.. Don't take the bung out of the pipe yet.

1..remove the plastic air scoop from under the bonnet.
2..remove the pressure cap off the expansion tank.
3..remove the pressure cap from the rad and fill to brim if it is not already full.
4..replace rad cap.
5..fill the expansion tank to the FULL line.
6..release the rad cap till coolant overflows and tighten rad cap.
7..top up expansion tank to FULL
8..under the passenger seat ..find the coolant bleed tube...remove the bung and push up into funnel.
9..half fill the funnel with premixed coolant.

Note..by raising/lowering the funnel you will from now on be able to control the level of the coolant in the header tank & funnel.
At no point from now on allow the funnel to empty or the header tank to drop below FILL.

10..start the engine...switch on heaters.....rev to 2500 for 3 mins....idle for 1 min.
11..keep repeating this cycle until the heaters blow hot and switch the heaters off.
12..carry on with the rev 2500/idle cycle..raising and lowering the funnel...you will have to do this for about 30/40 mins.....UNTILL THE BOTTOM HOSE GETS GOOD AND WARM..(stat open).

Once this happens carry on till all bubbles stop and replace the bleed tube bung (wear gloves..very hot)put the bung in as coolant is flowing out so no air can sneak in.

Top up the tank...replace the tank cap.....go for a drive and keep a eye on coolant levels for a few days....should be o.k. If job was done properly.

THE SECRET IS TO GET THE BOTTOM HOSE HOT WHILST BLEEDING (STAT OPEN)

ANY PROBLEMS PHONE ME 01458 270230 AND ASK FOR HAYDN.

[Matt&JoyBongling]

Do you know where the coolant came from? Burst pipe, rad, expansion bottle? Even with correct bleeding, you may still have an issue that requires a new part to be sent to you.

[haydn callow]

Slightly amended instructions....any translate into french ??

NOTE.. (Before you start) Get a large funnel and cut the spout so the bleed tube will push up into it nice and tight.(in emergency use a large "pop" bottle and cut off the bottom). Don't take the bung out of the pipe yet.
Pre mix your coolant......30% min/50%max.

1..remove the plastic air scoop from under the bonnet.
2..remove the pressure cap off the expansion tank.
3..remove the pressure cap from the radiator and fill to brim if it is not already full.
4..replace radiator cap.
5..fill the expansion tank to the FULL line.
6..release the radiator cap till coolant overflows and tighten radiator cap.
7..top up expansion tank to FULL
8..under the passenger seat ..find the coolant bleed tube...remove the bung and push up into funnel.
9..half fill the funnel with premixed coolant.

Note..by raising/lowering the funnel and controlling engine revs, you will from now on be able to control the level of the coolant in the header tank & funnel.
At no point from now on allow the funnel to empty or the header tank to drop below FILL.

10..start the engine...switch on heaters.....rev to 2500 for 3 mins....idle for 1 min.
11..keep repeating this cycle until the heaters blow hot and switch the heaters off.
12..carry on with the rev 2500/idle cycle..raising and lowering the funnel...you will have to do this for about 30/40 mins.....UNTILL THE BOTTOM HOSE GETS GOOD AND WARM/HOT..(Thermostat open).

Once this happens carry on till all bubbles stop and replace the bleed tube bung (wear gloves..very hot)put the bung in as coolant is flowing out so no air can sneak in.

Top up the tank...replace the tank cap.....go for a drive and keep a eye on coolant levels for a few days....should be o.k. If job was done properly.

THE SECRET IS TO GET THE BOTTOM HOSE HOT WHILST BLEEDING (THERMOSTAT OPEN)

ANY PROBLEMS PHONE ME 01458 270230 AND ASK FOR HAYDN.

[daveblueozzie]

Slightly amended instructions....any translate into french ??

NOTE.. (Before you start) Get a large funnel and cut the spout so the bleed tube will push up into it nice and tight.(in emergency use a large "pop" bottle and cut off the bottom). Don't take the bung out of the pipe yet.
Pre mix your coolant......30% min/50%max.

1..remove the plastic air scoop from under the bonnet.
2..remove the pressure cap off the expansion tank.
3..remove the pressure cap from the radiator and fill to brim if it is not already full.
4..replace radiator cap.
5..fill the expansion tank to the FULL line.
6..release the radiator cap till coolant overflows and tighten radiator cap.
7..top up expansion tank to FULL
8..under the passenger seat ..find the coolant bleed tube...remove the bung and push up into funnel.
9..half fill the funnel with premixed coolant.

Note..by raising/lowering the funnel and controlling engine revs, you will from now on be able to control the level of the coolant in the header tank & funnel.
At no point from now on allow the funnel to empty or the header tank to drop below FILL.

10..start the engine...switch on heaters.....rev to 2500 for 3 mins....idle for 1 min.
11..keep repeating this cycle until the heaters blow hot and switch the heaters off.
12..carry on with the rev 2500/idle cycle..raising and lowering the funnel...you will have to do this for about 30/40 mins.....UNTILL THE BOTTOM HOSE GETS GOOD AND WARM/HOT..(Thermostat open).

Once this happens carry on till all bubbles stop and replace the bleed tube bung (wear gloves..very hot)put the bung in as coolant is flowing out so no air can sneak in.

Top up the tank...replace the tank cap.....go for a drive and keep a eye on coolant levels for a few days....should be o.k. If job was done properly.

THE SECRET IS TO GET THE BOTTOM HOSE HOT WHILST BLEEDING (THERMOSTAT OPEN)

ANY PROBLEMS PHONE ME 01458 270230 AND ASK FOR HAYDN.

this is probably not 100% translated, but should help.
NOTE. (Avant vous commencez) obtenir un grand entonnoir et couper le bec ainsi le tube de soutirage soulèveront dans lui gentil et fortement. (dans l'utilisation de secours un grand " ; pop" ; mettez en bouteille et découpez le fond). Don' ; t prennent le bondon hors de la pipe encore. Mélangez pré votre liquide réfrigérant ...... 30% min/50%max.
1.remove le godet d'air en plastique de dessous le capot.
2.remove le chapeau de pression outre de la cuve d'expansion.
3.remove le chapeau de pression du radiateur et de la suffisance à déborder si elle n'est pas déjà pleine. bouchon du radiateur
4.replace.
5.fill la cuve d'expansion à l'en trait plein.
6.release le bouchon de radiateur jusqu'aux débordements de liquide réfrigérant et serrent le bouchon de radiateur.
7. refaites le plein de la cuve d'expansion à COMPLÈTEMENT
8.under le siège de passager. .find le tube de purge de liquide réfrigérant… enlèvent le bondon et soulèvent dans l'entonnoir. suffisance
9.half l'entonnoir avec le liquide réfrigérant pré-mélangé. Augmenter de la note. .by/abaissant l'entonnoir et commandant le moteur revs, vous pourra dorénavant commander le niveau du liquide réfrigérant dans le & de réservoir d'en-tête ; entonnoir. À aucun point permettez dorénavant à l'entonnoir de vider ou au réservoir d'en-tête de se laisser tomber au-dessous de la SUFFISANCE.
10.start que le commutateur de moteur… sur des réchauffeurs ..... rev à 2500 pendant 3 minutes….tournez au ralenti pendant 1 mn.
11.keep répétant ce cycle jusqu'aux réchauffeurs soufflent chaud et coupent les réchauffeurs.
12. .carry on avec rev 2500/idle le cycle. .raising et abaissant l'entonnoir… vous devrez faire ceci pour environ 30/40 de minutes ..... JUSQU'À CE QUE LE TUYAU INFÉRIEUR OBTIENNE BON ET WARM/HOT. (Thermostat ouvert).
Une fois que ceci se produit continuez jusqu'à ce que toutes les bulles arrêtent et remplacent le bondon de soutirage de tube (gants. .very d'usage chauds) mettent le bondon dedans comme le liquide réfrigérant sort ainsi aucun air ne peut partir furtivement dedans. Refaites le plein du réservoir… remplacent le chapeau de réservoir ..... vont pour une commande et gardent un oeil aux niveaux de liquide réfrigérant pour des quelques ould de days....sh pour être bien. Si le travail était réalisé correctement.
LE SECRET EST D'OBTENIR LE TUYAU INFÉRIEUR CHAUD TOUT EN SAIGNANT (LE THERMOSTAT OUVERT)

[haydn callow]

Bloody 'ell Dave....if that means "wot I did writ" that is super and should be stored as a travel aid fact sheet..
However it ciuld be double Dutch as far as I'm concerned...
Seriously....well done nice to meet you again at the Bash and to finally meet BDC even if he was rushing off for a pee !!

[lou]

Thank you all for your great help. Especially the translation - a lot better than what I could do. Should they find the problem (and hopefully if will only be a minor one) I will certainly pass on the details about flushing the system through. I'm hoping that if they do need parts sending out they find out sooner rather than later, but according to the garage "it will be fine", I will believe that when I see it. I'm imaginging a frantic search for the parts and a courier delivering them....hehe...apparently the breakdown cover will sort all that out too....that I will also believe when I see it.

Thanks again.

Will keep you updated.

[ScubaBongo]

be careful with line 2 of the translation - the negative hasn't been translated (i.e bung removal)

I THINK it should be:

Ne prenez pas le bondon hors de la pipe encore

[lou]

Just got a call from the garage - apparently the heads gone (again!!) (don't get me started on the mechanic who allegedly sorted that out) and it's going to take 3 weeks and 2000eur to fix. (haven't got 3 weeks as I'm due to be back in work on Monday..lol)

Am waiting for a call from the recovery people, hopefully telling me that they can get the bongo back to the UK, where I can get someone who knows about them to take a look and if that's whats needed, at least it will be done by an expert.

We shall see

[ScubaBongo]

That's shocking news, sorry to hear that.

If you need any *ahem* 'retrospective' Breakdown Insurance, I've got some good cheap companies noted down somewhere.

[lou]

Thank you Scuba bongo but that's all going to be covered by my breakdown insurance. Just about as they've told me that my bongo is only worth £1,900. Begging the question, should I just scrap him or get him home and pay for him to be fixed. I'm still leaning towards the side of getting him home and getting him fixed as I'm sure he'll last much longer once the job is done properly.

Here's hoping

[lou]

Latest update on my saga - breakdown company valued my bongo at just about the same price as it will take to get him home. Phew, was a bit touch and go. Have spoken to my mechanic who has said it will cost less than the French garage quoted. Phew again but not as much as I'd like...lol.

I am now in possesion of a hire car to get me around and up to Calais to return home at the weekend. The biggest problem has been the dog. The breakdown company would only pay for a car to Calais and myself and the other half to get on the boat as foot passengers, then a hire car home. Nothing about the dog. Their only suggestion was I take the car over on the boat, drop my dog and other half off in Dover, I then return on the boat with the car to France, drop the car off then head over as a foot passenger, all at my own expense. Checked all other options, but there were none until a very good friend of ours said they'd drive over on the chunnel and pick the three of us up. Whilst this is also at my expence it will be a hell of a lot cheaper and less hassle than the other options (and quicker).

My mechanic, who was good enough to take my call despite being on holiday himself will take care of it all once the bongo is dropped off with him. (By the breakdown company which is great news). Thank f&^%k for breakdown cover. Saved my bacon this time.

Roll on the time to book again for a week down here in Sept...lol...hopefully the new and improved Charlie will get me from A to B and back again, without the use of a recovery service....hehe

Thank you all again for the help and giving me a forum to just tell someone about what has happened...