Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
Hi I have a Mazda bongo friendee 2.5 diesel manual . I was driving about 5 mins from cold. Suddenly the temp gauge shot up above 1/2 and the to 3/4 . I stopped the van straight away waited 30mins and the slowly took the van home whereby it didn't shoot up. Upon opening the bonnet I found water by the radiator cap? Frothing and resisting on the radiator I presume. I've not driven it since, I can post some pictures. Can anyone help? I'd love to get my beloved bongo back on the road and I'd like to find one local to Bromley Kent to fix it.
Re: Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
The all-knowing (!) Google Maps suggests Bromley is little over 20 miles from Dormans Garage, just north of East Grinstead. I've been there a couple of times and they were good. I lost count of the number of Bongos there the last time I went!
Re: Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
Thanks I'll look them up. : )
Re: Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
Don't want to teach you to suck eggs but if you're not familiar with the Bongo cooling system have a good search round on here.
Not least have a look at the three You Tube vids explaining the bleed process, made by some of our best techie experts.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?sclient ... wB6SHbwGKk
This process is a Right Royal Pain but vital if the coolant drops below the header tank.
Do ask anything else you want to, the Gang will help and we've all had lots of help on this Forum.
Mickey taking is reserved for 'Old Lags' - ie Mike will be rude to me. And Ady, and Ian...
Not least have a look at the three You Tube vids explaining the bleed process, made by some of our best techie experts.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?sclient ... wB6SHbwGKk
This process is a Right Royal Pain but vital if the coolant drops below the header tank.
Do ask anything else you want to, the Gang will help and we've all had lots of help on this Forum.
Mickey taking is reserved for 'Old Lags' - ie Mike will be rude to me. And Ady, and Ian...
Re: Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
I am not far away from you and have been through the leaking radiator, replacement and bleeding routines but thankfully not the head gasket sub plot.
If you can be sure that you haven't got an airlock the drive to Dormans Garage is doable via safe non motorway routes if you need to stop every so often to check.
A radiator change is not difficult, nor is the bleeding if there are at least two people who understand exactly what is happening. Any competent garage should be able to change the rad, I found it much easier tan I dreaded, particularly with regard to releasing and refitting hoses and with minimal loss of transmission fluid (which I assume is not cooled anyway on your version) but the bleeding must be done by someone who fully understands it.
If it is a 1990's Bongo the chances are that the radiator is leaking along the plastic to metal interface. However it may be losing water somewhere else like the water pump or any of the exposed pipe work. look for drip clues where you are parked.
I will try and PM you my cellphone number. I'm not currently on line except where I can pick up free wifi, like at the moment.
Frank
If you can be sure that you haven't got an airlock the drive to Dormans Garage is doable via safe non motorway routes if you need to stop every so often to check.
A radiator change is not difficult, nor is the bleeding if there are at least two people who understand exactly what is happening. Any competent garage should be able to change the rad, I found it much easier tan I dreaded, particularly with regard to releasing and refitting hoses and with minimal loss of transmission fluid (which I assume is not cooled anyway on your version) but the bleeding must be done by someone who fully understands it.
If it is a 1990's Bongo the chances are that the radiator is leaking along the plastic to metal interface. However it may be losing water somewhere else like the water pump or any of the exposed pipe work. look for drip clues where you are parked.
I will try and PM you my cellphone number. I'm not currently on line except where I can pick up free wifi, like at the moment.
Frank
My schoolmates idolised Biggles, I wanted to be Alcock & Brown
They flew, I took up naturism
They flew, I took up naturism
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Re: Kent/south London based bongo repair needed.
I am dropping my Bongo to Dormans (AVA Leisure) on Saturday. Speak to Vaughan 01234 480808. I've just had the whole cooling conversation with him - I have a potential leak - and he knows what is what. They are sensibly priced too.