Drove my Bongo in low gear and my coolant alarm went off

[dandywarhol]

I think we should be taking this post seriously -it's possible iBongo has a hearing impairment and couldn't hear the engine revving so hard.






















..............and possibly a vision impairment as to not notice the rev counter almost bouncing off the scale!

[iBongo]

Don't think you're too funny dandy,

[jaylee]

Come on Dandy..!!!

I wont be driving it until I get someone to see it. Didn't think doing 20 miles at 70 in low gear would be good I haven't a clue when it comes to cars

Just got the Bongo exactly how I wanted it New paint job, alloys, camper conversion, LPG conversion,

Well I guess I will get to try the mechanic I found by mistake in Edinburgh. Stopped by Bailfield Garage in Portobello to get them to fit my alloys, the mechanic told me that he had a Bongo, he also told me that lots of Bongos have been getting stolen recently. I will give him a call Monday, hopefully there'snot much damage

I'm sure it was just merely the practice of trying to lessen the chances of iBongo's van getting pinched by driving it like it was already stolen......?!!

[iBongo]

[haydn callow]

I think you will have got away without any damage.....these V6's have the edge in this department

[Simon Jones]

It would be useful to know what alarms you have fitted as both coolant and engine have been mentioned. To me it sounds like a split hose or possibly a leak around the seal on the expansion tank cap.

The V6 engines have so far had a very good track record when it comes to overheating problems (partly why I got one), but driving at speed in the L position is obviously going to run the engine at a much higher temperature than normal. This will increase the pressure which might highlight any slightly weak hoses in the system. Hopefully, if you can identify and rectify the source of the leak, then get the coolant flushed and replaced, you should be ok. May be worth considering changing the thermostat too while you've got the coolant out. Fingers crossed.

[mikeonb4c]

No not HOLD, was L on the automatic, noticed it when the alarm went off and I went to put it in to park.

Thanks for all the replies, I will have it towed to a garage next week and keep you updated

I WILL NEVER USE S AND L TO SLOW DOWN AGAIN

Just to be clear, does the engine still seem to be running OK? I ask, becuase the V6 is perhaps more forgiving of being run hot than the 2.5 diesel, and you have just have got away with it. Room for a bit of v. cautious optimism anyway. Good luck and keep us posted.

As a footnote, I have to say I use engine braking (combinations of HOLD and moving to S and v.low occasionally to L) all the time on my Bongo. The diesel has great braking power and it seems silly not to use it (although I try and avoid any major or sudden rev increases when I do it so as to keep strain on the engine down). The main reason I've become so keen is that once (under fairly extreme use mind you, heavily loaded, up and down steep hills in the Yorkshire Dales becuase I think the brakes just got too heat-soaked from a lot of heavy work) I did experience some brake fade on the Bongo. I now like to keep the brakes cool where possible.

[MountainGoat]

I will have it towed to a garage next week and keep you updated

Get in touch with Bill at Campercraft first. The first thing that he will tell you is that Automatics should never be towed, they need to be taken to the garage on a Low Loader.

Tony

[MountainGoat]

possible ***** has a hearing impairment and couldn't hear the engine revving so hard.

Looks like I owe you a foupenny one next time we meet up Alan. Watch out!

Tony

[MountainGoat]

ibongo... sent you a PM with some more info on the autobox in it.

Tony

[TerryG]

Way back in the day when most brakes were next to useless I used engine braking a lot - also in motor sport - so I got into the habit. Over the last few years I'v managed to wean myself off the habit, a. because brakes are so much better; and b. because brake pads cost a lot less than gearboxes!

[mikeonb4c]

Way back in the day when most brakes were next to useless I used engine braking a lot - also in motor sport - so I got into the habit. Over the last few years I'v managed to wean myself off the habit, a. because brakes are so much better; and b. because brake pads cost a lot less than gearboxes!

Its a good point. I wonder how much it actually bothers the autobox though provided you don't overdo it.

[iBongo]

Thanks Tony, got your message. And yes, will get on to Bill tomorrow, I knew that it couldn't be towed, read it on here before I bought my Bongo.

I was looking for a garage to put my alloys on, I stopped in to Bailyfield Motors In Portobello, Edinburgh. Walked in to the reception and there was 6 mechanics eating their lunch, they just stared at me silence I said I have a Mazda Bongo and "before I could finish they were all out the door looking at it" One of the lads just salvaged a Freetop 4x4 £800. It was stolen, twice! the second time they stripped the conversion out, insurance told them to scrap it.

So they have worked on Bongos before. Will gime them a call before I call Bill. Thanks for all the replies, will keep you up to date.

Scott

P.S Yes the engine seemed fine. Well it did when I got home.

[MountainGoat]

I heard about that stolen Bongo last year and a few unsucessful attemps. Don't forget to put a cat 1 alarm on your Bongo and locking wheel nuts on your new alloys.

Tony

[iBongo]

Got my alloys from Carl at Wheelbase. Locking nuts on all wheels, plus the nuts themselves need a special key. I live on a private road, got a cat 1 alarm, only person we see is the postie....

I e-mailed Bill and he's got back to me, I'm going to have it flat bedded over to him. Forgot I had breakdown insurance He reminded me.......