bite the bullet...

[Aunt Trumpet]

hi all, thanks for all your advice - both sides of the fence voiced : )

I agree that if it aint broke don't fix it, but it defo needs a new rad - maybe i'll do the four main hoses as well. It had the cambelt done in april + a few other bits, so that should be ok.

I'm going to get it over an inspection pit at the weekend and have a good poke around all the nooks and crannies - that way i can see all those little hard to get to hoses and connectors : )

If the rad is that bad then prevention rather than cure is the better option obviously. I'd be reluctant to change stuff that is working ok for fear of disturbing something and making it worse.

Also if you're going to have a good look around inspect the offside coolant rail that runs between the front heater matrix and the rear one, especially where the rubber hoses connect. I caught mine just in time.

[swerve]

i was looking at the coolant alarm etc, but every bongo own i've come across i've asked do you have one fitted? if so can i see it? so i can see where it fits and how it works. i have not found anyone in my area who has had one fitted even one guy has had his bongo for like 6 years never does anything with it even down to changing the oil, which i know seems madness. now i'm still looking at getting these units but what i don't get is if they are that important why can i not find anyone with one i can look at
if anyone lives local that has one whats to meet up, so i can see if running on their bongo I'd be more than happy.

Peanutcrusher.... We will be over at a well known Swedish furniture store in Southampton next weekend, not sure if Sat or Sun 8/9th yet. If you want to see a coolant alarm working (but hopefully not in operation!) give us a shout and we can meet up in the car park.

Peter

[oshkosh]

hi all , after reading jeds description about the expansion tank boiling because it was a 'dark tea' colour had me wondering.
About three weeks ago, I went down to Hayle in Cornwall for two weeks holiday (approx 400+miles there and the same again back) not counting the milage I covered while I was there, so well over a 1000 miles.
after reading some of the coolant nightmares on this forum, I took my Bongo to Allans garage in Plymouth ( on the tues of the first week) and had a coolant flush out and replacement as I didn't have the bottle to do it myself!
Allan did a great job on one of the hottest days of the year! I am now back home in Yorkshire and the Bongos run fine with no problems (touch wood) and no leaks or anything. but I have noticed the expansion tank is a dark Tea colour, making it hard to see the level without taking the cap off. could this have happened as the coolant was being replaced? Allan did say the car was extremley hot as he was flushing it out .inside and outside of the car. (and the tank wasn't that clear to start with.

[Aunt Trumpet]

on one of the hottest days of the year!

When the hell was that!!....

Seriously, when I flushed mine out it was a horrible browny red rusty colour, obviously due to the inside condition of the rad I suspect. I wouldn't necessarily be over worried about it being due to a bubbling expansion tank, but there are probably more experienced people on here that may know more...

[oshkosh]

yes, your right. it hasn't been a good year so far . and you probably blinked and missed this particular day
as I have said, I haven't had any trouble, but with all these reports about the cooling system problems, I think I'm getting paranoid.

[Doone]

after reading jeds description about the expansion tank boiling because it was a 'dark tea' colour had me wondering

I asked Allan. The difference in colour won't be due to the 'flush through'. But it may be due to the change of anti freeze - previously you had yellow-green antifreeze, now you have long-life red antifreeze. Other than that, I can't think of a reason why the colour would change. The colour of the expansion tank is often discussed as sometimes it discolours when a Bongo boils up (sometimes it doesn't discolour). As yours hasn't boiled up (and speaking form experience, believe me you would have noticed ) I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[oshkosh]

thanks for that Doone, as I said, I haven't had any problems (touch wood) I just can't see the coolant level without taking the cap off first.