Coolant alarm/ temp gauge rising

[cmm303]

OP states Van only alarms which corresponds to temp gauge after driving for about 5 minutes.
I take this to mean that both the Bongo gauge and aftermarket device agree and alarm after 5 mins. There is room for misunderstanding but it is enough to justify caution pending more specific information.

I dont think we know yet whether the AM device is a temp sensor, LCA or both.
I agree the garage could have damaged a temp sensor but damaging an LCA is quite hard! Damaging two sensors would be careless.
Need to know more!

[Jonny Tunnel]

To confirm, the lca and temp gauge both alarm/ move to hit after 5 mins. Where is the temperature sensor? I can't see the garage doing anything to the lac as they wouldn't have been working near it. Should i ask the garage to bleed the system, i'm really stuck and missing my bongo, just want it back in one piece.

[haydn callow]

What do you mean....move to hit?? Hit what, move how far.....

[mikeonb4c]

OP has said

, i have the standard temp gauge in van, plus the after market coolant alarms. Van only alarms which corresponds to temp gauge after driving for about 5 minutes

If the STANDARD gauge, which doesn't have an alarm, is not staying at the 11 oclock position then the OP probably has a problem. But as we've seen on other threads, things that disturb LCA voltage can falsely trigger it. I've no experience of the combo lca/tm2 alarm but maybe haydn can advise.

As said, we need clarification.

[haydn callow]

He hasn't got a combi alarm.....just a LCA AND THE STANDARD bongo alarm. ( I think)

[Jonny Tunnel]

No combo alarm, didn't mean hit, i meant move to high!

[Fassi]

No combo alarm, didn't mean hit, i meant move to high!

When i first got mine the temp gauge would move high after 5 mins driving. The coolant system had about half air in it. I was lucky. I wouldn't drive it if i were you and do the bleed process that someone already mentioned by way of the youtube video instructions.

[Jonny Tunnel]

Thanks Fassi, i'll ask the garage to try that first.

Jonny

[Bob]

Make sure they watch, and understand, the videos.

The bottom hose must get HOT.

If we had a pound for every time we've heard of garages fobbing peeps off with, "Yeah, yeah, I've been a mechanic for 30 years... just leave it with me..." Next post is cracked head.

[cmm303]

I see others have got in quicker. So a bit of repetition in here but helps emphasise what is important!

For the temp gauge to move anywhere in five minutes from cold surprises me - probably a bit more than a few air bubbles in there. With this accompanied by the LCA alarming at the same time says to me "genuine problem".

The garage should be sorting it out since it appears that they have messed up. Though bleeding the cooling system is very specific to the Bongo, temp gauges etc are bog standard. Jonny, you obviously know your garage better than anyone, but I would be concerned by their inability to fault find this problem further. You need to make a judgement call as to whether you trust them to carry on with the job.

First step would be to try to fill and bleed the cooling system. The unique approach takes about an hour, MUST be followed, no shortcuts. See youtube vids x 3. Get feedback, how much coolant did it need, did it sort the overheating.

Why is it necessary? Unless there is a leak or fault, the coolant does not need topping up from one year to the next. This must be answered before you consider this job done or it will come back to bite you hard. This forum may be able to help with suspicions or pointers if you give some detailed background:

• What work was done (you need to clarify which gasket was replaced)?
• Why was the work necessary in the first place?
• What symptoms did you have before it went in to the garage?

[cmm303]

P.S. If a garage quotes elf and safety when they realise they have to play with a funnel of hot water for 45 mins, a jug also works, and a valve makes it more controllable. (All to fit 8mm internal diameter, in case you want to obtain the bits!)


and can bring a smile to the user's face!!

[Jonny Tunnel]

Thanks tribal elder, i have never had a problem with this garage, and have told them to watch the youtube vids. If all else fails, i have a bike!

[cmm303]

Thanks tribal elder, i have never had a problem with this garage, and have told them to watch the youtube vids. If all else fails, i have a bike!

Excellent.

Youtube video links:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

[mikeonb4c]

I remain deeply puzzled about all this, if garage hasn't been near the cooling system. Whatever they've done wrong, it is important not to be blaming them for things they are unlikely to have caused (like air in the coolant system)

After 5 mins motoring, my standard gauge is heading to the 11 oclock position. It used to be 10 mins, until i fitted a new thermostat.

If standard gauge moving to high and lca also going off then it does sound like there is a possible cooling system problem

[Northern Bongolow]

Please help, my bongo is at the garage and has had some bits done, new glow plugs, exhaust gasket. After i collected it, the coolant alarm keeps beeping and the temp gauge is reading high despite the car not overheating. The current garage do not know what prob is and have taken it to another nearby garage who are stuck too. Its really frustrating bevause otherwise the bongo works amazing!

Many thanks, Jonny

calm down calm down. .

ask the garage that changed the glow plugs to carefully check the work done, if your bongo had long plugs fitted originally and they replaced them with the more easily available shorter ones then there is a chance that the bar connecting the top of the plugs is shorting out on the injector pipe returns, these are metal and could be causing an electrical short giving weird results. the metal connecting strip on the plug top is plastic coated but burns/wears through if its too near the injector pipes, simply bend the connector away.

the bongo temp gauge is nearby so stray voltage may be being picked up through the sensor earth.

.