Bongo woes (cooling leak)

[BongoBongo123]

Thinking I had done well buying this Bongo but seems there are problems. Might be related to the top I had to do when expansion tank seemed low. It took 1 litre of fluid.

Got the air con done (at Kwik Fit) and I... by chance... passed by my local garage (not bongo conversant) and asked if they had any spare wheel nuts hanging around cause one is missing. Then mechanic comes in and says I think it needs more than wheel nut mate it's pissing water out....

So I go out and look and he puts finger in and smells it and say yep.... thats water from your engine.

So I am thinking can air con recharge mess engine up??? I would have thought not.
I have booked it in with them and will have to make sure they know about the bleed procedure.

Is there a point by point bleeding procedure guide in members area that I can print out and give the mechanic ?

I will have to trust the local garage to do it cause the bongo conversant one is too far away and I fear a severe overheat running it more than the 1/2 mile to the garage from cold.

I know you have to do reg maintenance but feeling a bit dejected at the mo.

[Muzorewa]

I would strongly recommend against letting anyone touch the coolant system who isn't fully conversant with what they're doing. They'll send you on your way and it'll overheat a few miles down the road when they haven't bled it properly

[BongoBongo123]

Hmm ok.. maybe I had better think.... I suppose I would have to run it down to the other place and stop every few miles ? Avoid rush hour jams etc.

I suppose from cold a 2.5 lump takes a good few mile to warm up... though not sure when the coolants dropped out.

[Steptoe]

+1. Happened exactly like that for me. Either bleed it yourself or expect to pay for an hour's labour to get it done properly by ther them.

[BongoBongo123]

Ok thanks chaps... will cancel local bloke and get it done by proper bongo people that are on the list in the members area.

I am a bit worried about doing the 3-4 mile to get it to them any ideas on damage limitation ?

[Muzorewa]

Tow truck. If it's 2WD, rear wheels off the floor. If it's 4WD, all four wheels off the floor. If you just tow it without the engine running you won't have any lube to the transmission and no power steering and no brake servo.

[mikeonb4c]

Thinking I had done well buying this Bongo but seems there are problems. Might be related to the top I had to do when expansion tank seemed low. It took 1 litre of fluid.

Got the air con done (at Kwik Fit) and I... by chance... passed by my local garage (not bongo conversant) and asked if they had any spare wheel nuts hanging around cause one is missing. Then mechanic comes in and says I think it needs more than wheel nut mate it's pissing water out....

So I go out and look and he puts finger in and smells it and say yep.... thats water from your engine.

So I am thinking can air con recharge mess engine up??? I would have thought not.
I have booked it in with them and will have to make sure they know about the bleed procedure.

Is there a point by point bleeding procedure guide in members area that I can print out and give the mechanic ?

I will have to trust the local garage to do it cause the bongo conversant one is too far away and I fear a severe overheat running it more than the 1/2 mile to the garage from cold.

I know you have to do reg maintenance but feeling a bit dejected at the mo.

Where are you based. Before Tom Dick and Harry start taking bits of money off you for nothing ofvalue, you could use a decent assessment on overall spend that may be needed, from someone local to you. there might even be a BF member who give useful thoughts, as many are very savvy on Bongo mechanics and general condition. On the basis that a real bargain is rare, be prepared to hear things you might rather not have heard! Best it be said though, regardless

[BongoBongo123]

Sure but a bongo conversant garage would probably be the best bet, the towing thing is a good idea of course, maybe the garage has a tow option (I am just waiting their reply). Thing is I have minimal interest in mechanics myself just normal basic maintenance. I can do the basics and from then onwards I am afraid I will have to hand it over to the experts.

Glad we have not got any weekends away planned for a little while otherwise that would be up the swanny with this particular problem.

It had to go in anyway cause I have a cam belt kit coming.. so in that respect at least they will already have apart.

[BongoBongo123]

Ok awaiting cam belt bits then I spoke to conservant garage and they said they done plenty of coolant issue jobs.

Seems odd Kwik Fit had it in there hands and then water is pissing out within 10 mins of leaving their forecourt. (and someone was moaning that they were not the best in the world on another thread)

I might take a look under the bonnet and see of is anything obvious wet

sigh....

[BongoBongo123]

Drips seen coming from here (circled) passenger side of bay:





Engine still seemed pretty hot since this happened 3 hours back, hot but easily touchable. the cabin is also easily 50C inside cause of the sun on it directly.

Just thought it best to visually identify to give the mechanic something to go on.

Top and bottom rad hoses seem dry as far as can be seen from rad end, no obvious damages under the bonnet.. all pipes except this small one with the circle dry.

[Northern Bongolow]

thats the turbo coolant pipe. dont drive the bongo anywhere get it lifted or bled first.

[BongoBongo123]

thats the turbo coolant pipe. dont drive the bongo anywhere get it lifted or bled first.

Thanks for IDing...

I will heed your good advice, I won't be driving it anywhere. It is gonna be carted off on a low loader once my cam belt parts come and the bongo garage confirms when I need to get it there.

Fun and games eh ?

[rita]

As you said .....

"Got the air con done (at Kwik Fit)"

Can you give the address of the branch please.

Thanks.

[BongoBongo123]

As you said .....

"Got the air con done (at Kwik Fit)"

Can you give the address of the branch please.

Thanks.

Well I am not certain that they had anything to do with this coolant leak issue. As I gather aircon
should not be related to the engine cooling system (being pressurized gas) and I could not see any obvious damage to the pipes on the Rad all looked dry even after the leak and he definetely did not have the engine bay open. So I cannot blame KF yet.

It was some kind of engine coolant leaking. My mate said turbo is normally oil coolant, is that true of the Bongo Diesel ?

The fluid pouring out was a gloopy water without a strong smell, it possibly had a slight oily feel to it.

Expansion tank is now empty. I am getting it carted off Friday to for cam belt preventative change and to sort out the leak and get it filled and bled. I only hope no other damage has been caused.

I have got to be looking at close to £300.00 bill at the very least.

[mikeonb4c]

Sure but a bongo conversant garage would probably be the best bet, the towing thing is a good idea of course, maybe the garage has a tow option (I am just waiting their reply). Thing is I have minimal interest in mechanics myself just normal basic maintenance. I can do the basics and from then onwards I am afraid I will have to hand it over to the experts.

Glad we have not got any weekends away planned for a little while otherwise that would be up the swanny with this particular problem.

It had to go in anyway cause I have a cam belt kit coming.. so in that respect at least they will already have apart.

Indeed they would but it's hard to recommend one (unless someone already has) without knowing your location. Also I'd venture one or two on here are more knowledgeable on bongos than a local garage and they have no interest in taking your money. But there's no substitute for inspecting a machine 'in the flesh'. Good luck getting it sorted.