Help a novice who is overheating

[Ian Aitken]

Can you help me? Yesterday as I arrived home my Bongo sounded like a boiling kettle without any water in it. When I checked it today I found out that that is exactly what it is - there is nothing at all in the coolant resivoir. I've read through a lot of the postings about overheating which I've found pretty helpful despite the fact that I don't understand half of what is being said (I know nothing about engines), but I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing.

Obviously I need to take it somewhere to find out why this problem has happened. But before that I plan to go and buy some coolant from Halfords and stick it in. I've looked at Taxiback's pictures that he posted last May (thanks for that) so think I understand about the bleed pipe and that I have to take the plastic bung off the end and stick it in a bucket whilst I fill it. Is that right and easy enough? I'm worried because of the brown notice under the bonnet saying that I should follow the manual and so maybe I'll miss something.

It also worries me because clearly the whole coolant system is a bit of a nightmare in Bongo's and so I don't want to take it to a garage where they'll muck it up (in fact I'm a bit worried that might have already happened). I know there are now a number of bongo's in sunny Aberdeen so does anyone recommend anywhere?

Thanks for your help.

Ian from Aberdeen

[Veg_Ian]

Ian - any problems prior to the boiling kettle episode? Obviously you need to determine the cause of the problem but to do that you need to fill the system first. Don't get too hung up on the 50 or so point filling procedure. Essentially you need to fill the system slowly and expel the air. Fill the rad at a very slow rate through the rad cap. Also fill the expansion bottle to the full line. Suspend the bleeder pipe at a point higher than the engine and remove the stopper and warm the engine up, warm not hot ie. just to get the stat to open. Switch off and let it cool down then check the rad level again. Top up if necessary. Never remove the cap when hot

Repeat a couple of times then try 'burping' the coolant by lowering the bleeder pipe until you just get the coolant to flow, not too much and keep it away from you, upholstery and paintwork. What you are trying to do is get any trapped air out of the system. When confident you have all the air out of the system, topup refit the caps and the bleeder tube. Now run the engine until hot and progressively check for leaks. You might want to move the van to a new dry position to help you see any drops on the ground. If ok then let it cool. Check the oil, any water on the dipstick or in the oil filler cap? From cold, first remove the rad cap (not the expansion bottle cap) and start the engine. Look for evidence of air bubbles coming out of the coolant. If there are you could have a head gasket problem. Your next step is to get the engine pressure tested to prove that this is indeed the case. let's hope it doesn't come to that ...

Good luck.

[Ian Aitken]

Thanks veg_Ian that's all really helpful. About 3 weeks ago I started getting clouds of steam coming from under the bongo. I had a small piece of hosing replaced which I believe was part of the cooling or heating system. I thought the mechanic had checked the rest of the system at that time but that might have just been a presumption on my part.

I've also had some corosion under the van which resulted in it failing its MOT. The hole needed welded but it was rught next to the aircon pipes so they had to be stripped back to get at the hole. Again that may have been the source of the problem. Or maybe it's just old and I should expect to get all these problems coming all at once - on which case it might be time to say bye-bye to our bongo - something I'd be loathe to do.

Thanks again. I'll let you know how I get on.

Ian from Aberdeen

[Ian Aitken]

Sorry for being a completed idiot, but where is the radiator cap?

Thanks

Ian

[Dabs]

Hi Ian,
Radiator cap is where it should be under front bonnet but its hidden by an air intake which unclips/hinges off.The cap is in the center ontop of the radiator.
There is also a coolant expansion tank over on the right as you look at the vehichle under the bonnet.

Whatever You do, if You take the caps off dont loose em!

Cheers Dabs

[Ian Aitken]

Cheers Dabs. If I hadn't heard from anyone I was going to try uncliping that thing and having a look - maybe I'm not as incompetent as I thought (although it has just taken me an hour to get thebung out of the end of the bleed hose - don't think it had been out in a long time - maybe that's the problem!).

Thanks

Ian

[Veg_Ian]

I forgot to add, when bleeding the system make sure you have the heaters set to on. Also if you are convinced you don't have a headgasket problem and you can't see any leaks, bear in mind that it is possible to have a leak only when hot and the coolant escapes as a mist. Also it may be a small drip only when cold so check for puddles before driving off. If you still can't find a leak then get the cooling system pressure tested. You can do this yourself but ask again if you get that far.

[Peg leg Pete]

You have had some excellent help advised I would not waste putting in fresh coolant till you have repaired any leaks(if any) and would give the coolant system a thorough flushing out. When you are confident you have no leaks and no gunge in the system, then replace with good quality coolant Good luck