Hissing sound !!

[gasace]

So It's a split top hose on the drivers side. split at the other end at the the joint (so the bloke at my local garage told me!)

Do I need one of these?

http://www.bongobits.com/Main.asp?PageN ... roduct=234

and where would i get a low coolant alarm?

[Insert shameless plug here]

http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk/

[sub123]

Oh crap!

so I'm having a bit of a nightmare with my first Bongo..

Sorted out the hissing sound.. Replaced the top engine hose. Then the garage found that the water pump was not circulating the coolant properly and leaking, so replaced that too and all seemed ok.

Just driven it this morning when I spotted the heat gauge shoot up and suddenly I heard a gargle sound followed by more dreaded hissing. the temperature dropped and steadied until I got home. Opened up the bonnet and literrally saw coolant pissing out of a hole in the bottom section of the radiator hose onto the road. I must have driven less than 30 miles since the 1st rapair!

any ideas as to what could cause this repeated leakage?

*starting to slightly regret buying it!*

[missfixit70]

Was it bled properly?
What is the history of the vehicle? (eg, anything else not "quite right", any known problems/parts replaced before you bought it?, who/where from?, etc)

[skater]

The cooling system is the biggest "worry" with a Bongo, especially when you don't know the
previous history.

You've started fitting new parts.
If you can afford it then maybe just bite the bullet and replace all/most of the rest of the system.
Then you'll know where you are.

I've had a new rad and thermostat so far.

Rads get blocked after 15yrs depending on service history ( of which I knew nothing on mine )
and this will pressurize things and split hoses etc.

When it's running well you won't regret it.

Good luck.

[wonkanoby]

in terms of hoses i would for sure replace main 4 hoses

the one over the starter

and take a good look at the bleed hose

[sub123]

So it's escalated once again...

Replaced the radiator hose which was the last one leaking. Also, probably should have mentioned that the power steering has stopped working aswell and mentioned this to the garage thinking it was a minor!

have just been told that the steering rack is leaking fluid and probably needs a new one. Along with that the mechanic says
that not much heat is coming through the heaters and that this is a bad sign! "maybe the head gasket.."

.. Promptly phoned the dealer up and shared my mind. Now he wants a quote from the garage for the work and I have a feeling he will offer to 'contribute'

I've already spent nearly £500 on it and havent really had a chance to drive it much in the 3 weeks of owning it!

what would you do?

[widdowson2008]

So it's escalated once again...

Replaced the radiator hose which was the last one leaking. Also, probably should have mentioned that the power steering has stopped working aswell and mentioned this to the garage thinking it was a minor!

have just been told that the steering rack is leaking fluid and probably needs a new one. Along with that the mechanic says
that not much heat is coming through the heaters and that this is a bad sign! "maybe the head gasket.."

.. Promptly phoned the dealer up and shared my mind. Now he wants a quote from the garage for the work and I have a feeling he will offer to 'contribute'

I've already spent nearly £500 on it and havent really had a chance to drive it much in the 3 weeks of owning it!

what would you do?

Not much heat from heaters? Garage is right, it IS a bad sign. Suggests that it has not been bled correctly. Air still in there.

[haydn callow]

Take it back to where you got it from and tell them to fix it or give you a full refund

[skater]

Not sure how much responsibility the dealer should take ( morally or legally )
but he hasn't sold you a good one, yet

A properly running Bongo is a great vehicle but how much will it cost to get yours there?

Might not be much more

If a new rad and thermostat ( genuine Mazda ones I went for ) were fitted and the system bled
PROPERLY then you might be good.

It's a difficult situation if you don't have alot of spare money to throw at it and when do you call it quits?

See what the dealer will offer to help.
You may have consumer rights type options ( of which I know nothing )
People on here have returned an unsatisfactory Bongo for a refund or alternative one that does work.
" Fit for purpose " etc.

Having owned mine for 4 1/2 years I would say that I would spend ( almost ) whatever it cost to keep it running.

It's a shame you haven't had time to enjoy it yet.

Good luck.

( just read Haydn's post. Much more concise. )

[westonwarrior]

Take it back to where you got it from and tell them to fix it or give you a full refund

2nd that
A dealer must give you a warrenty

but should have done that with the first problem as they could try and say its been tampered with and that has caused the bigger issue, hopefully they won't

[mikeonb4c]

Not sure how much responsibility the dealer should take ( morally or legally )
but he hasn't sold you a good one, yet

A properly running Bongo is a great vehicle but how much will it cost to get yours there?

Might not be much more

If a new rad and thermostat ( genuine Mazda ones I went for ) were fitted and the system bled
PROPERLY then you might be good.

It's a difficult situation if you don't have alot of spare money to throw at it and when do you call it quits?

See what the dealer will offer to help.
You may have consumer rights type options ( of which I know nothing )
People on here have returned an unsatisfactory Bongo for a refund or alternative one that does work.
" Fit for purpose " etc.

Having owned mine for 4 1/2 years I would say that I would spend ( almost ) whatever it cost to keep it running.

It's a shame you haven't had time to enjoy it yet.

Good luck.

( just read Haydn's post. Much more concise. )

I'd 2nd this post. It always saddens me when someone has a bad experience with a Bongo. Mine has been simply outstanding from the first day I bought it. Any caring dealer should want to do right by you on this. If you need a reasonably local Bongo specialist, one that comes to mind (by reputation) is Steve at Outback Autos in Kings Lynn. Good luck and keep us posted.