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orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:34 am

I was towing on the flat and had only traveled around 20 miles, so if they already have a cooler on the transmission maybe it's not working as it should? I had a coolant leak recently so the coolant system has been emptied and filled a couple of times getting that sorted, maybe it hasn't been done properly and has air in it? I've just had an engine temperature alarm fitted and it usually runs around 95 degrees. On the day we were towing it went up to around 105, does that sound 'normal'?

And would old ATF fluid make a difference to running temperature?

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:39 am

orangepeel wrote:I was towing on the flat and had only traveled around 20 miles, so if they already have a cooler on the transmission maybe it's not working as it should? I had a coolant leak recently so the coolant system has been emptied and filled a couple of times getting that sorted, maybe it hasn't been done properly and has air in it? I've just had an engine temperature alarm fitted and it usually runs around 95 degrees. On the day we were towing it went up to around 105, does that sound 'normal'?

And would old ATF fluid make a difference to running temperature?

Something not right there then I think. Can't see that old ATF would have big influence on running temp (of autobox) but lak of ATF probably would. Don't think engine temp would affect gearbox temp / function significantly. What caused the coolant leak, and was the garage that dealt with it experienced with Bongos?

Diplomat · Post by **Diplomat** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:46 am

Presumably the air cooled transmission heat exchangers are similar to the retro-fitted ones supplied by Kenlowe etc. often advertised in caravanning magazines.

Anything lessening the complexity of Bongo radiators would be welcome.

Frank

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:15 am

The leak was due to a rusted rear heater pipe, which I had replaced. The garage hadn't done Bongos before so I sent them info on draining and refilling the system, which they were fine with, however I have no idea if they followed it or not. Is there an way to check for air or is it a case of taking it to an experienced Bongo garage and having it redone?

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:21 am

Oh and, I'm confused, is the engine cooling system separate from the transmission cooling system, or do they share components that would make one have an affect on the other?

Post by **g8dhe** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 12:01 pm

There are two sections to the radiator normal coolant radiator at the top and then a section at the bottom for the AT oil cooler.

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 12:19 pm

Ah, I see. So they share the radiator but the piping system is different, with the engine having water as a coolant and the transmission cooler has oil in it. So a problem with the engine cooling system shouldn't really have an affect on the transmission anyway.

Northern Bongolow · Post by **Northern Bongolow** » Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:51 pm

the gearbox has a heat switch inside it, it stops the gearbox going into top gear until its up to temp so in theory if the coolant is too hot it wont cool the gearbox oil via the radiator, this could then flag up a over temp fault in the box.

how old is the radiator ??.

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:50 am

The van's a 1996, it's the radiator that was on the van when we bought it 6 years ago, I don't know if it was changed previous to then.

mikeWalsall · Post by **mikeWalsall** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:08 am

The oil (fluid) cooler is a simple affair .. fluid is pumped from the box via two very long pipes (flow & return) through the bottom ('colder') part of the cars main radiator ..

If the radiator gets hot .. latent heat get transferred to the fluid ..

Transmission fluid degrades over time particularly if it gets overheated ..

Flow / return pipes that pump the fluid from the box and back ..

http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... mgno=.html

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:23 am

I see, so it's possible for the radiator to transfer heat from the engine to the transmission if it's not cooling properly and the radiator is getting hot.

I've just had a Haydn temperature alarm fitted, currently the two sensors are on each side of the engine, I'll move one to the transmission so I have a clear indication of what's going on temperature wise.

I'll change the ATF too as it hasn't been done while I've owned the van.

Also, I checked the ATF level yesterday after a 20 min run, engine on, van in 'park', handbrake on. The level seemed to be quite a bit over the notches on the dipstick, like there was too much fluid in there? The were also small bubbles in the fluid on the dipstick. Could it be boiling?

mikeWalsall · Post by **mikeWalsall** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:51 am

The fluid needs to get hot .. not boiling

After a 20 minute run the fluid would not boil any way .. the gearbox is vented to the air .. any moister getting into the system would soon get evaporated out ..

The only time I have had an auto box over heat was on my Toyota Estima

That was while taking the gradkids and a Globetrotter caravan from Northampton to Birtley (Chester le Street) County Durham .. and that was side by side of lorries for miles on the two lane A1M ..

Quick stop at Scots Corner and it was fine .. as a precaution I changed the fluid when I got back to home to Walsall ..

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:03 am

Bit of an update. I thought Id check to see if the radiator fans were coming on so I had the bonnet open for the first time since towing. It looks like it might not be the transmission after all, the wiring that had been put in for the towbar electrics was totally burned out, insulation melted and earth and live wire to the battery burned right through. The grey socket in the towbar is melted inside too. The hold light fading in and out must have been an electrical fault and the loom has also melted into existing wiring in the bongo that it was cable tied too, including the lead to the lpg ecu. It all looks expensive. I haven't had either checked professionally yet but I'm guessing the fault lies in the caravans internal wiring.

Gasy · Post by **Gasy** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:24 am

If it's the caravan check the plugs that plug into the car sockets
The cables can get pulled when reversing and pull the cables out of the plugs

Or caravan rear lights can get full of rain water
Or battery can be connected wrong way ( reverse polarity )

orangepeel · Post by **orangepeel** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:31 am

Thanks. I was going to get the electrics and gas checked by a professional anyway as its an old caravan, I wish that Id thought not to hook up the grey socket until I'd done that. Hindsight eh.

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