Radiator leaking - common problem?? - UPDATE

[Alacrity]

It's not a good time for me at the moment it seems, having lost the Bongo key (now sorted see previous post) the beast has now developed a coolant leak where the radiator header tank is crimped onto the radiator core. Is this a common problem & if so is there a fix or is it a recon rad??

[mikeonb4c]

It's not a good time for me at the moment it seems, having lost the Bongo key (now sorted see previous post) the beast has now developed a coolant leak where the radiator header tank is crimped onto the radiator core. Is this a common problem & if so is there a fix or is it a recon rad??

There have been some occurrences of this, yes. I seem to recall past stories have had reference to something to do with a plastic section that splits (BF member mobilecat was one I think). Have a search, as I know the debates also talk about getting the right replacement rad. (some being sold have some extra outlet that needs blanking off) and also getting a good quality one as they cool more efficiently than some cheapo ones.

Good luck.

[missfixit70]

Someone recently had this & managed to crimp it back together in situ, I don't know as i'd be happy with that as a long term solution, but I guess if you have a coolant alarm & are prepared to stop immediately it goes off.
Personally I'd want to replace the rad with a new one, not sure if anyone'll recon it with the plastic ends, or if it's economically viable.
Make sure whatever you do it's bled properly, there's a fact sheet in the members area as well on one for the rad repalcement I think

[mikexgough]

mine did the same at the bottom of the Radiator.....plastic comes away from the ally core with age..wear & tear...
I did the usual surf the interweb place.....and found that some cheapies need a take off plugging and other oddities......I went for one from....... http://www.mazdabongoshop.co.uk/Shop/Cooling.html these guys.....

bit of a mess up with the weekend delivery but all good stuff........as for the Rad....... brilliant....apart from being new, you couldn't tell it apart from O.E....all fitted....including cleaning up the housing,fans,changing hose clips in 2 hours...then around an hour to bleed the cooling system/top up ATF if needed......

When I did mine last summer I went ahead and did a 50% Red coolant/Water mix while I was there......what I should have done is changed the Thermostat for the cost of it and the hassle it can give, especially the important part if plays with the Bongo Cooling system

[missfixit70]

Good point Mike always worth sticking a new tested stat if you're doing anything on the coolant system, a decent flush won't go amisss either.

[brorabongo]

Had the same happen to me a year last November, so got a replacement from ebay ( cheapie ) but will need to find a decent one sometime as shown in the link below the new one has started to split.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... or#p313939

[Alacrity]

Bought a new radiator from my local supplier (Brighton Radiators) at a cost of £149.00 + Darling's 17.5%. Was a perfect fit & identical to the original. Fitted a new 'stat & belts at the same time (both looked nearly new but as the car is fairly new to me I would rather be sure) then filled the system using a vacuum filling tool we have here at work. So far so good, heaters started blowing hot fairly quickly (I filled it with hot coolant) & the gauge is reading normal. Gentle driving & lots of checking the level is the order of the day now. I have told the damn thing now to behave itself now as £350 + in a week is getting naughty (mind you it was me that lost it's keys ) - & that is without my guys labour cost, good job we are a little quiet here at the moment!

[mikeonb4c]

Bought a new radiator from my local supplier (Brighton Radiators) at a cost of £149.00 + Darling's 17.5%. Was a perfect fit & identical to the original. Fitted a new 'stat & belts at the same time (both looked nearly new but as the car is fairly new to me I would rather be sure) then filled the system using a vacuum filling tool we have here at work. So far so good, heaters started blowing hot fairly quickly (I filled it with hot coolant) & the gauge is reading normal. Gentle driving & lots of checking the level is the order of the day now. I have told the damn thing now to behave itself now as £350 + in a week is getting naughty (mind you it was me that lost it's keys ) - & that is without my guys labour cost, good job we are a little quiet here at the moment!

Fingers crossed that'll be you sorted. Did you run the engine to get it hot and ensure the thermostat opened? Even with a vacuum device I'd guess its best to have it open, to ensure no entrapped air?

[mikexgough]

then filled the system using a vacuum filling tool we have here at work!

mmmmm this is close to my technique....

[Alacrity]

You can only use the vacuum tool with the cooling system empty, so the thermostat would be closed. If you were to vacuum the system afterwards you would suck all the coolant out again! It seems fine temp wise & both heaters are working well & it has now done about 30 mile since. Water level in the expansion tank ws just above low when checked cold this morning. I get the impression that I can smell something possibly hot but there is no evidence anyware that anything is hot. Of course other work was done at the same time so bits that get hot may have got dirty & are burning off. I do tend to be a bit paranoid about smells etc. after this sort of work so it may be just that.

[missfixit70]

What have you got measuring temperature? bearing in mind the standard gauge is so dumbed down it's not a lot of use to give you any useful info.

[mikeonb4c]

If you were to vacuum the system afterwards you would suck all the coolant out again!

Ah! That's rather what had concerned me. Is there a risk then (with thermostat closed) that it might not pull out air that is stuck down a dead end 'branch line'?

[Alacrity]

To be fair I have been using its own gauge mainly - although I have poked a laser thermometer about & it all looks OK. No air is present in the bleed pipe & the level is staying up + heaters are working. Is there anything more to do???

Doesn't the thermostat have a bleed hole in it anyway - I thought I saw one with like a little loose 'toggle' in both the one that came out + the new one??

[missfixit70]

If the heaters are working ok, & level is maintaining itself in the expansion/header tank, chances are it's ok http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=22830 .
You're right, there's a jiggle pin jobby in the stat.
May be worth investing in a Mason alarm to modify the gauge so it actuallly gives a decent indication of what's going on http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =1&t=34208 or there's a mod that can be done with a bit of wiring adjustment & a resistor on the back of the gauge, low coolant alarm form Haydn Callow, or any of his external monitoring devices/alarms, or just get a cheap temp gauge or two.