full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Edinbongo · Post by **Edinbongo** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:28 pm

and now needs new radiator....

What I am wondering is there a connection - could the garage (found on Bongo friendly garage list here) have mucked things up to the point where the overheating caused a sudden huge leak in radiator 2 days later?

Have had to leave Bongo (Diesel 2.5 1977 bought from member on this site 3 months ago) in Berwick on Tweed for fixing- I live in Edinburgh. When the recovery person came there was no coolant in the tank at all and anything he poured in came straight out again thru radiator.
Am quite gutted thought I was doing right thing getting full service (Plus Cam belt change) in preparation for summer; but dont want to blame Edinburgh garage if it just a bad coincidence - there seemed to be no coolant issues previously (or any others, Bongo was running great) tho I don't have low coolant alarm (yet)

Would really value experienced members input on this please...

winchman · Post by **winchman** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:36 pm

To be honest first priority is to fit a low coolant alarm and additional temp gauge with any Bongo that hasn't got one..
You may well now have a cracked head, so this needs to be looked at by a garage who knows what they are doing to be certain as its easy to wade in and spend a fortune when it could be just an old radiator giving up the ghost.
You may well have another issue that has burst the radiator.
EG if the rads getting old and has a weak spot and the head gasket starts to go then the rad may well fail due to the pressure before the header tank cap lifts, I have had a hose blow off after a head failing.
I once had a small leak from the radiator and it took weeks to catch it so I would give that garage a chance to offer any explanation first.
Take your time with a scientific approach and prove what it isn't then let us know
I am sure some one who knows more about Bongo cooling issues than me will be along in a moment

mikexgough · Post by **mikexgough** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:20 am

A Full service shouldn't cause a radiator leak.... as your's emptied on filling up the header tank It suggests that the radiator had a seam or other issue.... even a stone through it. This is unfortunate I know and I hope you get it sorted.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:29 am

My radiator gave out last year and if it hadn't been for the northwest crew spotting it I wouldn't have known until the lca had gone off. I think a lot of these old gals are due for radiator trouble in the next period - which is why an lca should always be fitted. Fingers crossed its only the radiator. Good luck and keep us posted.

BongoBongo123 · Post by **BongoBongo123** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:30 pm

I am no expert but I am convinced that mid engine mounting = more likely cooling problems, no natural airflow across the engine itself. Also long pipes from rad to engine is precarious especially when many of these vehicles are quite old.

I think regular preventative maintenance and the coolant alarm is the only way to go really.

I am really sorry to hear that the people on the list did not do you a good job. It could have beena coincidence but I would probably be on the phone to them to say just been on a journey and had serious problems. Would they to a gratis look at it and see if what they did had any likely cause.
They are likely to say "not our fault mate could be anything" Bt if they have a conscionce and want to keep their good rep as a Bongo service competent they might cut you a deal on repairs (if you wanna trust them with it) Anyone can make a mistake afterall, no ones perfect.

Stressful and you could well do without it.

Right now ordering my coolant alarm, I have put it off and really should not.

I am sure you will get it sussed out in the end and be off on your travels again shortly.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:36 pm

BongoBongo123 wrote:I am no expert but I am convinced that mid engine mounting = more likely cooling problems, no natural airflow across the engine itself. Also long pipes from rad to engine is precarious especially when many of these vehicles are quite old.

I think regular preventative maintenance and the coolant alarm is the only way to go really.

I am really sorry to hear that the people on the list did not do you a good job. It could have beena coincidence but I would probably be on the phone to them to say just been on a journey and had serious problems. Would they to a gratis look at it and see if what they did had any likely cause.
They are likely to say "not our fault mate could be anything" Bt if they have a conscionce and want to keep their good rep as a Bongo service competent they might cut you a deal on repairs (if you wanna trust them with it) Anyone can make a mistake afterall, no ones perfect.

Streassful and you could well do without it.

Right now ordering my coolant alarm, I have put it off and really should not.

It's a bit hard to see how the servicing and this incident are linked, to be honest and it would be wrong and possibly counter productive to implicate the garage without any firm evidence. On design, I'm not convinced that mid engine is an issue: old age and old pipes are though as is neglect. You're right that an lca is invaluable.

BongoBongo123 · Post by **BongoBongo123** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:45 pm

The Bongo overheating stories a keep on coming.......... To the original poster I had something similar but caught it early luckily... mysterious low coolant level in expansion tank when purchased... topped up all seemed well 3 days later on short joureny after air con recharge at quik fit had coolant pouring out 1 mile from home. Limped it home and got it carted off on a low loader a few days later for cam belt and a new turbo coolant pipe, coolant system flush and refill. I am not expert but can offer moral support to a fellow bongoloid.

Edinbongo · Post by **Edinbongo** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:55 pm

Thank you for all your thoughts and moral support.

I am going to pick up the van with its new radiator tomorrow and drive it back to Edinburgh from Berwick, about 60 miles. A bit nervous about that to say the least The garage who recovered and fixed say it was a split radiator caused by old age (I checked and by good luck they are also on the Bongo Friendly list for what this is worth) and it is now fine. Hopefully they are right!

Will do as someone suggested and have a conversation with the original garage and take it from there.

Thanks again and will welcome any more thoughts/stories/advice

BongoBongo123 · Post by **BongoBongo123** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:08 am

Edinbongo wrote:Thank you for all your thoughts and moral support.

I am going to pick up the van with its new radiator tomorrow and drive it back to Edinburgh from Berwick, about 60 miles. A bit nervous about that to say the least The garage who recovered and fixed say it was a split radiator caused by old age (I checked and by good luck they are also on the Bongo Friendly list for what this is worth) and it is now fine. Hopefully they are right!

Will do as someone suggested and have a conversation with the original garage and take it from there.

Thanks again and will welcome any more thoughts/stories/advice

If there is no serious damage that sounds like a result to me.... drive on, smile on !

Poohbear · Post by **Poohbear** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:18 am

Edinbongo wrote:Thank you for all your thoughts and moral support.

I am going to pick up the van with its new radiator tomorrow and drive it back to Edinburgh from Berwick, about 60 miles. A bit nervous about that to say the least The garage who recovered and fixed say it was a split radiator caused by old age (I checked and by good luck they are also on the Bongo Friendly list for what this is worth) and it is now fine. Hopefully they are right!

Will do as someone suggested and have a conversation with the original garage and take it from there.

Thanks again and will welcome any more thoughts/stories/advice

You need to ask them whether they bled the system properly and question them on how they did it to make sure they know what they are doing. If they haven't bled the system properly, you will have air in the system and you will break down again, possibly with head gasket problems or even cracked head. Don't leave anything to chance. Make sure they know that if it overheats again you will hold them responsible.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:34 am

Hi
Agree with Poohbear...check out their bleeding method!
Cheers
Helen

Edinbongo · Post by **Edinbongo** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 8:20 pm

Ok lovely Bongo people,

i now have my van back in Edinburgh having survived the 60 miles drive from Berwick with no problems - phew! Could not take my eyes off the temp guage and had to stop and check coolant under bonnet 3 times on way home. The garage in Berwick, Greenwoods, were fantastic, Bongo savvy and all round good people.They are on the Bongo friendly list and I would highly recommend them. They knew all about the potential issues raised here.

Still need to approach the Edinburgh garage who did the original work I didnt mention in my original post they also did cam belt change at same time as service and I don't know if that could have caused coolant issues? Another mark against them may be that they didn't seem to know what a coolant alarm was tho it states on the Bongo friendly garage list here that they do coolant alarm fitting. I was going to get one fitted at the same time as everything else but put it off cos they didnt seem to know about what it was. Won't name them here till I have had another chat with them but any techically minded souls on here may be able to tell me if cam belt change stuff could be significant to burst radiators.

Anyway thanks again for all the info and support - looks like I lam having to learn about the inner workings of the Bongo whether I wanted to or not!

full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway

Re: full service, 3 days later overheated badly on Motorway