Help Please! Coolant Alarm Came on Yesterday

[bonglets]

We had the car in to our regular garage for a service as we are going to France in March. We used them as we trust them and they have serviced Bongos before. They replaced the engine oil, replaced the oil, air and fuel filters checked the brakes and all levels. Husband went to collect and the coolant alarm went up off on the 2mile drive home and temp was 105 usually its about 95. Worried it may have done some damage, is it likely to have damaged the cylinder head on such a short journey at that temp? I know we are going to be told we should have used a bongo specialist garage and we deliberated forcsomevtime but have used this garage for our cars for the last 6 years and trust them. Next time we will if only for peaceof mind!

Thanks Liz

[wonkanoby]

Only thing they might have done is not put cap back on expansion bottle right

has it lost fluid

[Bob]

It could also be coincidence and not conected to the service work.

I would suggest recovery to a Bongo specialist, though, as it will need bleeding.

Good luck.

[bonglets]

Hi and thanks have spoken to mechanic who did the work and he had drained and changed the coolant so he thinks airlock is likely problem and has asked me to take it in asap and he will check. Coolant level seems fine but there was some around the cap so hopefully it was just a loose cap. It was the engine temp alarm not the coolant level one that was on, its the TM2 alarm.

[wonkanoby]

get him to watch bleeding videos on utube

its not like any other motor to bleed

[Bob]

That's your problem, I'd certainly look at recovery rather than drive it.

Fingers crossed the head isn't damaged.

[helen&tony]

Hi
It really is a totally different vehicle to others to bleed, as the others have stated....maybe it hasn't clicked with your mechanics, but having the engine in the cab is NOT the same as most other cars, therefore it is essential to find out how to get the air out of the system...watching the video might not be enough...take it (flatbed) to a garage that knows what they are doing
Cheers
Helen

[Simon Jones]

Definitely don't drive it. It's worth learning how to bleed it yourself as you never know when it may be required. I had to do it in Poland once so knowing how to do it unaided is highly recommended.

[haydn callow]

This happens so often.....your garage changed the coolant and tried to bleed it like a ' normal' car.
The cooling system is different to almost all other cars and if it is no bled properly it can have very expensive........if you temp only went up yo 105 you may well be o.k.......get it to someone who knows what they are doing and hopefully all will be well......you bleed a bongo via a special tube under the passenger seat......if it is damaged it is down to your garage,

[bonglets]

Thanks all for the advice.

[Gasy]

Didn't say if the garage changed the coolant
Or did anything other than check levels to cooling system
Did you lose coolant
What was level of coolant when stopped
105 c I've had mine at that temp before with no probs

[haydn callow]

Didn't say if the garage changed the coolant
Or did anything other than check levels to cooling system
Did you lose coolant
What was level of coolant when stopped
105 c I've had mine at that temp before with no probs

See post above......coolant was drained

[Gasy]

Yep
Didn't see that
Get it back

[suejj21]

Hi, we have just bought a Ford Freda and its overheating and coolant was drained, have topped up with water for now to get home but can see system needs bleeding. Lots of conflicting advice on how to bleed system, what is the best way? How do we tell if head is damaged?

[Bob]

Hi and Welcome.

1 Do Not Drive It

2 Do Not Drive It

3 Google You Tube Bleeding Bongo, or similar. 3 Videos on how to do it yourself.

Once recovered to a Bongo Savvy garage they will advise on the head, or if you are a good DIYer you will likely know.

4 Don't drive it.

Edit: I do mean this to be positive, but the real way to know the head is damaged is it won't go or there's clouds of steam and smoke.

Possibly not in that order.