Uh oh got a sinking feeling my new bongo is poorly

[bongolou]

New bongo as you know covered 400 miles in last two weeks but water is low used two cups in that time.

[Jim the Box]

As long as the header tank did not empty, it may not be as bad as you think, however it seems you have a small leak, (fingers crossed that's all it is) you need to find where you are losing the coolant from.

[corrour]

Are you coming to the 2013 bash? Hayden will be there and may be able to fit you an alarm.
I am sure there will be plenty of people who will have a look at the common places
Or search the forum for coolant leak.
Can you see any drips from underneath?
Carry water and top up daily when cold.

[bongolou]

When where is the bash not sure I've seen that.
I've got a tm2 alarm here waiting to be fitte. Just noticed this in the mean time
Called garage as it's got warranty they said keep eye on it and bring it in in few weeks when there looking at parking sensors that don't work but not to worry.
But I do worry since having car nightmare after car nightmare lately I just wanted a bit of luck with this one.
Losing water worries me most when I brought it it was on just above min coolant but told is ok but it's dropped below so I added 600ml to bring it above min that's gone. love this car so much just want it to be ok for a while. Had so much fun in two weeks of owning her.

[corrour]

Its got its own forum heading Bongo Bash 2013
19 june til the following mon
There will be plenty of "Bleeding" experts to help
Do both your heaters get hot?
That is a good indication if you have an air lock in the system
John

[Simon Jones]

It could be a leaky radiator where the plastic top and bottom covers are crimped to the aluminium core:



Alternatively, it could be leaky rubber or metal coolant pipe. Easily fixed, but you would need to track it down first. TM2 alarm is good for keeping an eye on the temperature but you should seriously consider getting a Haydn low coolant alarm as that will warn you when the level drops.

[Northern Bongolow]

Called garage as it's got warranty they said keep eye on it and bring it in in few weeks when there looking at parking sensors that don't work but not to worry.
But I do worry

you are right to worry. take it back to the dealer asap. any coolant loss needs sorting.

[bongolou]

They said wait a bit and drive it more but check. The coolant alarm I brought is for temp and low coolant or so I thought from talking to haydn. Not much use yet as it's not fitted. But my eyes tell me is losing water a bit somehow. I hope it is something simple. If I knew where how to look in mean time I would I don't mind getting dirty just wish I knew more.

[haydn callow]

In the morning before you start the engine and everything is cold....take the cap off the header tank and top it up to the FULL line with coolant mix if possible, if not water will do.
Then check it every morning before you start the engine......if the level has dropped, top it up again.
But if it has dropped you must find out where the loss is coming from and get it fixed. If you let that header tank empty ...DO NOT DRIVE THE BONGO.....UNTILL SOMONE who knows what they are doing sorts it out and bleeds it.

Do get your alarm fitted asap......

[bongolou]

Alarm is booked to be fitted next week. But now as it's losing water wondering if I should get dealer to sort it all. I luckily don't drive it everyday as still got a car at min but it does seem like it doesn't lose coolant unless it's driven. Was told not to top up to max mark my dealer so gone half way and it used that and back to min in 400 miles so think must be leaking out slowly. I will be watching it like a hawk got water on board but not an antifreeze mix cause I'm unsure what sort is already in it etc

[mikeWalsall]

I still can't understand why we buy a 'bargain' model' Flat screen TV .. washing machine .. fridge or what ever from the likes of Currys or the local lecky shop .. and expect it to be OK .. with a decent warranty .. that we expect to be honoured without fuss ..

But when it comes to motors .. rather than buying private at a more realist price .. a lot buy from a dealer .. at the dealers price .. for peace of mind .. in case some is not right .. it gets fixed .. by them ..!!

[helen&tony]

Hi
Reality Check:
Bongos are what they are in the eyes of the motoring world....old bangers
Comparing new with old is a no-no.
If you want to use a shop selling consumer durables and compare it with one selling old cars, then use a second-hand shop as a guideline...i.e. one selling used goods, then there's a straightforward guide as to what an arbiter might say in an argument with a seller
The simple truth is that it's a case of caveat emptor (nothing to do with empty guinea pigs [cavy=guinea pig...emptor= empty ])....HOWEVER, a few dealers have a reputation for honesty, because honesty brings more custom , and custom equals good business (profit)....
In reality, I doubt that many dealers think of a Bongo as any more than a fad vehicle that'll turn a quick buck!
Reality Check:
Bongos are NOT motorhomes...a motorhome is built and sold new by a firm who buys a bare bus or a chassis/ cab and REALLY builds a motorhome...a Bongo, VW, or what have you , is only a van or MPV with added flat-pack furniture as after-market accessories.
VW, in its heyday, when they started to be sold to be sold by private firms who added bits of interior trim, NEVER approved any of the conversions...the only one they "recognised" as a proper "conversion" was a Westphalia....and having had a VW Type 2 conversion other than a Westie, I'll agree with them.
BUT...like many other owners, I reckon that my Bongo is the bee's knees, and so was my Type 2...great vehicles with huge potential for a break away from the day-to day, and the Bongo has to be the most flexible of the lot.
We all reckon our Bongos are a cut above the motoring drudge, where every car sold is just a Euro Blob of a creation that looks like a blancmange mould with wheels...some of which are blown out of all reality as a LIFESTYLE-CHOICE by Continental manufacturers with a hard task to sell cars at all....not naming any particular manufacturers, but they're made in Germany, and the manufacturers pay huge sums and , I guess, give the odd product as a freeby to TV motoring productions, to rave about their latest goods....after all, who in REALITY would want a jelly-mould that travels faster than legally permitted?????
So....getting back to where we were, all we can do when buying a Bongo is to trust the dealer to do the honest thing....and if they want a good reputation, like a fair number of stalwart vendors and converters mentioned on here, then they'll sometimes have to fork out a bit on some decent aftermarket service!.....OTHERWISE...anything untoward, and WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE....even if we don't name names!
Cheers
Helen

[winchman]

I also don't use my Bongo much just for best and days out, I had a new rad fitted and it lost water for the next few trips only a couple of 100mills, but as said above I checked it before every journey to be certain and have a coolant alarm fitted, I also checked it for days and couldn't find any leaks its now fine so looks like it was a bit of air in it, both heaters worked fine too

[bongolou]

This afternoon i am going to try and look around and under to see if i can see anything wet. Is it best to do this cold and then get her warm and look again?
Should the fans get really really warm if i wack them up to max temp? I did think that at 22 degrees they seemed very cold even on eco mode, i just put this down to the climate control on a bongo being different to my car.

[g8dhe]

A leak is more likely to show up when its hot and under pressure, but its also more likely for a small leak to evaporate more readily!
I would take a very close look when cold, and then run it up and get it hot and look again, it s often the case that once you have found one you may find others!