Coolant Change Following Hose Replacement

[apssrf]

Hi everyone

Not a happy bunny! Bongo in yesterday for hose changes (slight leaks from some of them bu tnothing major). Garage is new to Bongos but good garage (experts in classic cars, recommended by other people, always done good job on other reparis to Bongo) and happily accepted helpsheet on changing coolant.

I collected last night - they commented that it had been difficult to bleed but the helpsheet was useful. Drove half a mile, Bongo temp guage shot up to 'h'. Pulled over immediately, coolant squirting out of that overflow pipe thing. Garage came out about half hour later -said they must not have managed to get all air out. Poured at least 10 litres of water in to drive it back to garage. Garage phoned this lunch time. Said it was now sorted - they had got air out of it and had been for a 25 mile test drive in it. Said all ok.

Husband collected. Went to Morrisons. Half hour later he went to test coolant, but said it was still too hot to test. I have just been out to look at it now (3.5 hours since last used). Engine still seems quite warm which is a bit weird and I think coolant has been coming out overflow pipe again though level does not look to be below low (can't see properly until husband locates torch!).

My question is.........does the above sound normal and how can we tell if they have bled it properly!!

Thanks (feeling glum after all these garage bills, thinking push bikes are the way forwards.....)

[haydn callow]

To test the coolant level......get a stick and mark it 2 cms from one end.....dip this stick vertically down into the tank and the level should be on the mark when the coolant is cold.....

Sounds as though the garage don't quite know what they are on about.....because of them the temp gauge has gone to HOT.....this is bad news for a bongo and harm to the cylinder head may have taken place......if you have anymore coolant related problems in the next 3 months it will almost certainly be related to this overheating.......I would pre warn the garage about this and expect them to put things right if things go wrong.........

[apssrf]

Oh dear, thanks for the reply. Coolant level appears ok now. How likely is it that cylinder head will have been damaged if I literally only drove half a mile? Although then they drove it back again after we were stopped for about half an hour and after topping it up with water...........

[missfixit70]

I hope they got the coolant back up to a decent concentration, but if they drove it again without bleeding, could be stuffed, could be ok. Have you just got a standard temperature gauge that normally sits at about 11 oclock on the scale? if it's not been modified in any way, it tells you nothing useful until it's already overheating unfortunately, there's a fact sheet in the paid up members area on temp gauges/alarms.

[apssrf]

Hi again

After the initial incident, Bongo appeared to be ok (we have got standard temp guage as we had a second one fitted but had to disconnect that as is was badly fitted by another garage and had caused a coolant leak!!)

We have driven a fair few miles in the Bongo since my initial post. We have been checking coolant level regularly and needed to top it up by half a litre about a week ago. Have not had to top it up prior to that. Garage did ensure the coolant was the correct strength btw after first incident.

Today have had another 'coolant related incident'. Was driving to work, heard a loud knock (was driving under trees at time so assumed was conker hitting car - this may or may not have been the case). Approx 2 miles later I heard a loud gurgling noise as if someone was swilling a large pan of water around (difficult to explain but not normal!) - I pulled in as quickly as I could, as I was pulling in the funny gurgling noise was accompanied by some other weird noises and a sort of loud whining noise. When I stopped, the fan come on and there was some coolant loss evident under the Bongo. I left the car and walked to work. A few hours later, husband went to collect the car to take it to the garage. He checked coolant and oil and said it was all ok. He then drove it to the garage without incident.

My question is - could this have been caused by us over-filling the coolant when we topped it up recently or does it sound more sinister? The garage are going to have a look at it but say it cannot be connected to the work they did on it as any air in the system or other probs would have been apparent a lot sooner than this. However the words are ringing in my ears "if you have anymore coolant related problems in the next 3 months it will almost certainly be related to this overheating".

Any advice greatefully appreciated.

[Northern Bongolow]

this could or could not be related really.
as you have said prev you have replaced some hoses in the past this may indicate that more hoses are past their best, and one may have sprung a leak and caused your latest incident.
it is also possible that the original problem that caused the initial overheat was not rectified,like a bad radiator, blocked heater matrix, leaking expansion cap.
it really needs taking to someone who understands the bongo. i would start with a pressure test to establish if the system is air water tight.test the cap.

[apssrf]

Thanks for that - will do as you suggest