Bongo Fury

Do a search on Simon Jones experiences doing his, or drop him a pm, it's easy to get it wrong.

What about discount trucks NEWBURY....Call out the recovery boys.

I'll just pick a handfull of 50's off the money tree!!!....

I've just phoned a Mazda/Ford specialist in Gosport. After all the explanations he's still not convinced that its the head as I don't appear to be losing any water...no steam from the exhaust etc.... He said that I should try bleeding and running it with the stat out and note what goes on. He was a really nice bloke and was really helpful. Even said that I could look at all of his technical manuals. I would appreciate your thoughts?

.so we decided to do the emission test again while the header tank was bubbling a little....this time the liquid turned green and went to yellow.....indicating at best a head gasket failure..

Clutching at straws ??

thinking about it.......Combustion gases could very well get into the coolant without loss of coolant. Could be just a one way thing.

Aunt Trumpet wrote:

What about discount trucks NEWBURY....Call out the recovery boys.

I'll just pick a handfull of 50's off the money tree!!!....

I've just phoned a Mazda/Ford specialist in Gosport. After all the explanations he's still not convinced that its the head as I don't appear to be losing any water...no steam from the exhaust etc.... He said that I should try bleeding and running it with the stat out and note what goes on. He was a really nice bloke and was really helpful. Even said that I could look at all of his technical manuals. I would appreciate your thoughts?

He might be a Mazda/Ford specialist, but does he know Bongos, if you've got exhaust gases in the coolant they're getting there somehow - one last straw for you - turbo maybe?

Clutching at straws ??

Well, maybe. But I phoned him just to explain the situation and give him my thoughts about the head/gasket and get a worse case senario price for the work. It was HE who said hold on and do another diagnosis by putting an emmissions probe (that you would normally up the exhaust) into the header tank and get a reading from that. I didn't want or expect him to blow smoke up my a@*e by suggesting it could be anything other than a head failure. I'm just relaying to the good folk on here the latest developments just in case it might help them if they have similar experiences. I would, and have posted constructive and hopefully helpful comments to aid them based on my experiences.

I very much welcome and take on board any comments from anyone on any of my threads, as people have taken the time to read, think and post it's only right that I take the time to read it.

To be honest, I have noticed several threads where someone has experienced overheating problems and the first couple of posts in reply have been "head failure!" or "gaskets gone"....although this may well turn out to be the case, sometimes it isn't. By just stating take it to a garage doesn't really help, IMHO. Some people seem to enjoy posting the worst case senario straight away...present company exepted Haydn...


With regards to my present senario, if the head's gone it's gone. It'll be fixed and I'll learn and share my experiences. Although it's annoying and expensive, worse things in the world are happening and I'm sure there are people out there who would gladly swap my problems for theirs.....hey ho.....

He might be a Mazda/Ford specialist, but does he know Bongos, if you've got exhaust gases in the coolant they're getting there somehow - one last straw for you - turbo maybe?

You're absolutely right Kirsty. I got the impression he knew his stuff as he used to work for a Mazda dealership and has gone out on his own. He also mentioned a few "Bongo quirks" that only someone that has worked on one would know about. Not as much as the people on this forum obviously.... but compared to a so called specialist I spoke to yesterday he was an expert!

If I'm honest, I still think its the head, I saw the yellow liquid with my own eyes unfortunately.

The only person to mention Head gasket/head failure in ths whole topic is yourself.(unless I missed somthing)(always posibble)
I think suggesting you get it to a reputable Bongo garage is a extreamly constructive comment....Not doing so could well mean you start chucking money into the breeze.

The only person to mention Head gasket/head failure in ths whole topic is yourself.(unless I missed somthing)(always posibble)
I think suggesting you get it to a reputable Bongo garage is a extreamly constructive comment....Not doing so could well mean you start chucking money into the breeze.

You're correct, I did. I said in several other threads I've read recently. In fact in a thread I read only yesterday someone said the exact same thing and tried to reasure someone with overheating problems that "all was not lost" if your Bongo does overheat. Advising someone to go to a garage is constructive but maybe a bit obvious. A bit like advising someone with toothache to go to a Dentist. I don't mean to criticize anyone's advice but I just wonder if when a member posts a problem with overheating it could be frightening if the next time you look several people have said "get it to a garage" or "your head has gone". I don't mind personally as although I'm far from being a mechanic, I do know my way around an engine and can work the spanners if need be. I think that in my situation the head has probably gone but it's not always the case and perhaps other diagnosis could be explored first?...just a thought.

Aunt Trumpet wrote:

"your head has gone".

Ohhhhhh you must be talking to me,, as you you know it's official, and I've got it in writing ....

Fingers crossed that the head on my bongo is OK though

....seriously, if there was an "Allans" near here I'd do it.

Any idea of cost

You are consulting local garages who may or may not do a good job on a Bongo....How many times on here do we hear about Bongo's going into garages with coolant/head problems and £2000 later the problem is still there......IMHO it is better to consult a "approved" Bongo garage and get Bongo in there if required....It will almost always be cheaper in the long run and as their reputation within the Bongo Community is on the line they will look after you if things do go wrong...

I belive this is sound advice.

You have combustion gases in your coolant by your own tests...this can (I think) only be a gasket/Cyl head/ "possibly" block problem.....once you have ruled out the Turbo which I belive can cause problems in this dep't.

Ohhhhhh you must be talking to me,, as you you know it's official, and I've got it in writing ....

Fingers crossed that the head on my bongo is OK though

Aunt Trumpet wrote:

"your head has gone".

Ohhhhhh you must be talking to me,, as you you know it's official, and I've got it in writing ....

Fingers crossed that the head on my bongo is OK though

You really are an Aunt aren't you.... .......do you think you could phone the Doo Doo up again?, say 3am?..she'll enjoy that...... .......see you next week...if you can get the day off.....

....seriously, if there was an "Allans" near here I'd do it.

Any idea of cost

You are consulting local garages who may or may not do a good job on a Bongo....How many times on here do we hear about Bongo's going into garages with coolant/head problems and £2000 later the problem is still there......IMHO it is better to consult a "approved" Bongo garage and get Bongo in there if required....It will almost always be cheaper in the long run and as their reputation within the Bongo Community is on the line they will look after you if things do go wrong...

I belive this is sound advice.

You have combustion gases in your coolant by your own tests...this can (I think) only be a gasket/Cyl head/ "possibly" block problem.....once you have ruled out the Turbo which I belive can cause problems in this dep't.

Absolutley. I don't disagree with anything you've said. If I could find an "Allans" near to me I'd give them a ring, especially having explored all other options and exhausted my knowledge. The guy I spoke to this morning certainly seemed to know the various quirks the Bongo has, you never know, he might be an "Allans" for the south. Until I can speak to him at length personally we won't know. I certainly won't recommend any work he does until I can be sure he knows what he's doing, but on first impressions, he seems ok, and very approachable.

Anyway, could you elaborate on the Turbo problem?..would this force emmissions into the coolant?..thanks.

Over to you Kirsty....

Though I think it has somthing to do with the Turbo being watercooled...A internal leak could put pressure into the system..Wether this includes combustion gases I don't know.