Coolant hose failure - how to get to the garage

[keycare]

A coolant hose split in my Bongo over the Xmas period and as there were no garages open, I got recovered back home. I have no idea which hose has split or where the leak is - fortunately, the coolant alarm went off and I pulled over straight away before any overheating occured.

Question is I have now got to get said Bongo 1.7miles to my local garage for repair, how do I do it?

It's an auto, can I tow it? Should I drive it very carefully whilst topping in the system up with water every few yards? I haven't got home start on my breakdown cover so I would have to pay for a low loader.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Richard.

[the laird]

Can you not get the garage you use to come out and do a check over at you location and then decide as to what route to go down ?

[Simon Jones]

You can usually tow an automatic as long as you keep the speed down, but if it's 4WD then it would have to be trailered.

Is your local garage familiar with the Bongo cooling system? If not, you may wish to consider taking it further afield to somewhere that has more experience. There are quite a few in the south Wales area.

[mikeWalsall]

How about a mobile muchanic .. ??

Just be 110% sure they know how to 'manually' bleed a Bongo .. or have a compressor and a vacuum bleed system suitable for mid engined cars ..

[keycare]

Thanks for the replies.

It is a 4WD auto - so I assume that towing is out of the question - be good to know why though

They are a bongo specialist and I have used them before now so I feel they are quite trust worthy - they did say that towing should not be attempted and also that the cylinder head is quite fragile.

They are unable to do a home visit.

I was wondering about rigging up a 20 litre water container and a hose to keep topping up the system. I will try to ring a couple of recovery companies on monday - I suppose the cost will be cheaper than replacing the cylinder head.

Thanks.

[francophile1947]

If you fill and bleed it yourself first, I would have thought that a drive of only 1.7 miles would not be a problem, unless there is a lot of traffic for you to queue in.

[Simon Jones]

It is a 4WD auto - so I assume that towing is out of the question - be good to know why though

It varies from vehicle to vehicle, but you need to be careful towing an automatic, and if its 4WD you can potentially do a lot of damage to the transfer box. Lots of info on the subject such as this:

http://www.independent.co.ug/society/mo ... heel-drive

[helen&tony]

Hi
Page 170 Bongo Glovebox Handbook says you can tow if the speed is less than 30 KPH (18 MPH). It states that you can't tow a 4x4 ONLY in the case of transmission fault.
Anyway, I towed our Bongo 7 Kilos from the next village at 15 MPH a couple of years back with no problems, so your 1.7 miles will be no problem Gearbox in neutral, and ignition switch on sufficiently to ensure the steering doesn't lock.
Best of luck
Cheers
Helen

[Muzorewa]

Don't forget though that without the engine running you'll have no power steering and no servo brakes - all the ingredients for a disaster

[Bob]

My understanding is as above, no more than 18mph, 4wd shouldn't be a problem as the transmission is ok.

I'd tow it with a rigid bar to overcome the brake servo issue - these can be had for 20 quid upwards, just remember Bongy will run about 2 tons.

[Bob]

Mulling this over I've an idea that the myth that you can't tow a 4wd has grown from the fact that you can't use a spec lift or suspended tow without disconecting the prop shaft(s).

The wheels on the ground would turn the suspended pair.

[briwy]

I believe the no towing reason is because the gearbox has plain metal bearings, not ball or roller, much like the bearing shells in the engine.
These need a pumped supply of oil to lubricate them so if the engine is not running the gearbox internals don't get lubricated and could seize up.
Obviously removing the prop shaft/s would alleviate this problem as the gearbox internals wouldn't be rotating.

[M 80NGO]

Ring you breakdown people and explain nicely to them that at point of failure no garages were open to take your bongo so the safest place was yourhome address, now you have managed to get it booked into a local garage you need it total lifting to the garage as it is undrivable without potentially damaging the engine beyond repair, in these circumstances they should move it for you.

[Poohbear]

You say you got it recovered to home which suggests you already have breakdown insurance. If so you just ring them up and get them to take it to the garage for you as that's what you have breakdown insurance for

[rita]

So I believe,



The Bongo 4WD models (regardless of gearbox fitted) can be flat towed with both axles on the ground at a maximum speed of 20 mph (engine running or not).
They must not be towed with either the front or rear axle off the ground.
This info is from the 2010 AA recovery operators manual.