Front & Rear Heater Issues

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Front & Rear Heater Issues

Post by Northern Bongolow » Fri Jan 15, 2016 9:55 pm

thanks for posting the pics.

pic 1, looks like someone has removed/replaced the standard metal pipe with rubber and jubilee clips. these will leak, especially when cold, the leak doesnt always leak water out, but when cooling down the cooling system will pull in air when contracting, (air locks) air in the coolant system kills bongos. towards the front of the van (to the left) the rubber pipe goes up to a T piece, off this T comes the little thin pipe that goes to the expansion tank,(the new pipe under the bonnet) check how this joint has been repaired.

the alternator looks like the adjuster is missing.

picture 2.
has the white plug at the top edge of the pic got 2 wires to it,?.
on the left of the pic is a black cotton reel sized valve, is it connected to the black thick plastic air pipe. its the vac dump valve, its not a standard one but should work ok if connected.
on the right is a jubilee clip on the coolant pipe coming out of the head, not good to use these on the large metal stub off the head, it may leak when it gets really hot then cools.

pic 3 has no battery clamp fitted.

pic4 has a jubilee clip on to the rad, these are not too bad on to the plastic stub but you can crack the plastic rad fitting. next to it is the proper clips that should be used on all connections on the system, these expand and contract with the heat and contraction.

to be fair the bongo doesnt loook bad just needs a little love and time.
if you use the top right search tab and put in phrases like jubilee and clips, and cooling and system, (the AND is important to search the words better) then click on the topics and have a read up you maybe able to learn from all our mistakes. #-o
Gdlee1976
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Re: Front & Rear Heater Issues

Post by Gdlee1976 » Thu Feb 11, 2016 6:54 pm

Just an update... We drained the coolant, replaced the thermostat (ended up pan testing ok) and replaced the front heater matrix. Refilled coolant, bleed the system and I now have front heat up to a proper temp. So, seems as though the front matrix was clogged. Not sure of the extent but the 2nd hand matrix was solved the problem.
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mikeonb4c
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Re: Front & Rear Heater Issues

Post by mikeonb4c » Thu Feb 11, 2016 10:55 pm

Gdlee1976 wrote:Just an update... We drained the coolant, replaced the thermostat (ended up pan testing ok) and replaced the front heater matrix. Refilled coolant, bleed the system and I now have front heat up to a proper temp. So, seems as though the front matrix was clogged. Not sure of the extent but the 2nd hand matrix was solved the problem.
Excellent news. I was 'hoping' it might be that. With luck, things will now settle down. I might be tempted though to fit an engine block temp alarm if the budget will run to it, just to keep a watching eye on engine temperature. I eventually got round to fitting one on mine and find it very reassuring. :roll:
Gdlee1976
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Location: Ystradgynlais, Wales, SA9 1RL

Re: Front & Rear Heater Issues

Post by Gdlee1976 » Fri Feb 12, 2016 12:28 am

mikeonb4c wrote:
Gdlee1976 wrote:Just an update... We drained the coolant, replaced the thermostat (ended up pan testing ok) and replaced the front heater matrix. Refilled coolant, bleed the system and I now have front heat up to a proper temp. So, seems as though the front matrix was clogged. Not sure of the extent but the 2nd hand matrix was solved the problem.
Excellent news. I was 'hoping' it might be that. With luck, things will now settle down. I might be tempted though to fit an engine block temp alarm if the budget will run to it, just to keep a watching eye on engine temperature. I eventually got round to fitting one on mine and find it very reassuring. :roll:
Thanks Mike. I'll look into that.
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