Today's mucky job

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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helen&tony
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Today's mucky job

Post by helen&tony » Thu Apr 22, 2010 10:34 am

Hi
Oh, boy...just replace the thermostat......WHAT A BLINKING FIDDLE!!!!...We've got the alternator off, and the heating system in bits, the last 5 hoses, and the air is a funny shade of blue....every swear word has been worn out to the point it's irrelevant what word comes next...grazed knuckles, and a Stanley knife in the finger...and still some holes to drill in the bulkhead, and hoover the heater matrix....you know, the one that smells of old socks....It's full of dead things and old socks!!!!.....
If anyone has an easy way of replacing the thermostat....post it on here for others
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
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Doone
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by Doone » Thu Apr 22, 2010 10:53 am

It's been said on the forum that it's easier to change the thermostat from underneath.
...If you have doubts about the thermostat, it's easy enough to change, on my 2wd, I did it from underneath (the tray was off as I was doing the hoses anyway), undo the bolt holding the dipstick in place & push it to one side & then it was easy enough to do...
Stanley knife in the finger... Ouch.
I don't know about the easiest way to change the thermostat, but I reckon the most pleasurable could be:
1. Drive to Bulgaria.
2. Bribe Tony with whatever it takes to get the job done.
3. Go for a stroll and take in the scenery.
8)
I hope the rest of the job goes OK!
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
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Simon Jones
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by Simon Jones » Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:15 pm

It's quite easy from below, but a socket set with universal joint helps. The manual suggests you need to remove the driveshaft to front prop, but that is not required. The best tip is to remove the bolt holding the dipstick tube, which you can then move to one side as its on a sort of ball pivot at the bottom. Good luck.
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helen&tony
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by helen&tony » Thu Apr 22, 2010 2:43 pm

Hi
Job done...last 5 hoses (both heaters), and the one behind the alternator...just got to fit the alternator, and the undershields tomorrow, and bleed....Tony has used the full vocabulary, and the UJ on the socket didn't work for him,,,,BUT...I found our 3/8 drive set, and he managed the job!...We got the front matrix for the heater blasted with an air line....ABSOLUTELY choked....and bored a hole in the bulkhead for yet more wiring....The big round grommet on the driver's side is CHOKKA with wires :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ...anyway....the Bongo is now known as the Anti-Christ by Tony... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by daveblueozzie » Thu Apr 22, 2010 6:01 pm

The easiest way to change the thermostat is to ...............
get a garage to do it for you.
that is what i am going to do next time, after doing it myself, NEVER AGAIN. [-X
i didn't know i knew so many swear words, i even made bigdaddycain blush. :oops:
Lost without my Bongo.
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by brorabongo » Fri Apr 23, 2010 12:14 am

helen&tony wrote:....It's full of dead things and old socks!!!!.....
and theres me thinking it was washing machines that ate socks. :roll: :lol:
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Run your fingers over my Bongo, and I'll run my Bongo over your fingers!! :twisted:
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by Aethelric » Fri Apr 23, 2010 12:31 am

I've had my thermostat in and out quite a few times in the last six months. Just used a standard socket set from below. Mine is a 2wd though which may make access easier.
Bleeding, as usual, take the most time.
Dave
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helen&tony
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Re: Today's mucky job

Post by helen&tony » Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:08 am

Hi
I must say it's not the worst job , but it's not too clever, and moving the propshaft may help, but a 3/8 drive set is easier. Hopefully a successful completion today!
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
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