Word of warning for new owners.

[Fassi]

I've been really paranoid about overheating issues since I first got the bongo. Even after fitting the low coolant alarm i have been checking every other day that the coolant level has not dropped in the header tank. Two days ago I did another check, again no problems.

Today I opened the bonnet to make permanent my inverter connection and nearly cried Instantly. There was no cap on my header tank!!!!!!

I immediately thought it would be some 200 miles away and collapsed into the area in front of the leisure battery. Head right in amongst it thinking how stupid I must have been the days before.

But as I beat myself up, head in engine, I spotted the cap on the plateau just behind the nearside headlight. So bloody lucky.

Don't do what I did.

[Simon Jones]

You're not the first & you won't be the last .

[mikeWalsall]

Been there ... done it ........... and still got a 0.9 bar cap on instead of the proper 1.1 bar to prove it .. as it was the only one (off an Honda Fireblade) I could find in my garage !!

[Simon Jones]

I always carry a spare cap of each type just in case of emergencies on the basis that if I've got one I'll never need it .

[Fassi]

I'll order some spares

[KMH]

Someone I know (okay, it was me) had just pulled onto the M25 and noticed steam from under the bonnet. My heart hit the motorway when I opened the bonnet and realised what I had done; I'd done the paranoid check and top up before leaving, and who knows where the cap went, somewhere between home and the M25. I like to think I won't make the same mistake twice. . .

[Simon Jones]

The advantage of a low coolant alarm is that you really have no need to keep taking the cap off to check the level.

[mikeonb4c]

The advantage of a low coolant alarm is that you really have no need to keep taking the cap off to check the level.

Indeed - mine's rusted on and anyway I've forgotten which way you turn it to get it off

[blueskink]

I did exactly the same as the first post. Checked the levels before a run, didn't put the cap back on, went for a drive, discovered I'd been all over with no cap on, panicked, then found the cap next to the near side light.

[jockenglish]

Maybe a bit OCD, but when I check coolant / screenwash / top up engine oil etc. I put any removed caps in a (empty!) ice cream container next to where I am working. This has twice in recent times stopped me driving off in my car with the oil filler cap not refitted...........my memory is not what it used to be !!