Bongo Fury

BongoBongo123 wrote:Well out I go so will find out soon !

Ok we are entering the BS zone. (and this is a listed Garage on the Bongo "ok'd" list.

So within 15 minutes driving it went to 101C. The guy said he had driven it in the day and it went to 97C.

http://s23.postimg.org/n1t466ye3/temp.jpg

So I will phone him tomorrow morning. Not an easy call when you have lost trust in what is being said.

I will mention ", as a matter of interest did the garage/mechanic test the thermostat / rad for cold spots, or carry out a sniffer test."

Any advice on the approach to what is clearly starting to become a tense situation.

Another thing that made me concerned when I got in the Bongo was the Air conditioning was on... and the heater temperature swung right over to the red.

An unusual arrangement of controls.

As I gather having the heater on cools the engine. I am not sure if having the aircon does ?

I think I can recall someone saying it does. I am concerned that this was done in order to get the vehicle back to me. I said it felt hot in the cabin in an earlier post. It was 67C when I turned the ignition, that is rather hot for a Bongo that has been standing at 12C for 2.5 hours.

Also the words "Keep an eye on the fluid level and temperature it should be alright but if not give us a call and we'll take another look at it, but I am not sure that there is much more we can do." were mentioned in final. Still taken in optimism and good faith at this stage, given he had made it to me in the Bongo and said it has only reached 97C on a big long hill.

That last part of the sentence is the most worrying of all as it suggests that beyond what has been done, mechanical knowledge has expired.

I am actually sh*tting it now.

BongoBongo123 wrote: ...
As I gather having the heater on cools the engine. I am not sure if having the aircon does ?
...

aircon turns on radiator fans which helps cool the coolant flowing through the radiator.

Sorry to hear your news. I suspect the outcome of your next chat with the garage will demonstrate how good they really are. We all know that all overheating problems are fixable and you can be so specific about its normal running temp before the garage did the coolant change that there is little room for bs. It isn't as if it went in with a problem!

It is normal for the level to drop once cooled after a bleed session, so definitely check it again in the morning & if necessary, top it up so it's about half way between the min & max points. Leaving it with heater controls on hot & the A/C on would be the combination you'd use to try to get the most heat out of the coolant...

cmm303 wrote:

BongoBongo123 wrote: ...
As I gather having the heater on cools the engine. I am not sure if having the aircon does ?
...

aircon turns on radiator fans which helps cool the coolant flowing through the radiator.

Sorry to hear your news. I suspect the outcome of your next chat with the garage will demonstrate how good they really are. We all know that all overheating problems are fixable and you can be so specific about its normal running temp before the garage did the coolant change that there is little room for bs. It isn't as if it went in with a problem!

The smell of the BS arises from:

Mechanic: "It hit 97C and was stable up hill" I rarely reach that on a motorway hill 2 miles long in summer. I went out and within 10-15 mins driving hit 101C local. For now I just say that is an incredibly strange and disparate result from what the mechanic experienced during the day time.

In addition the suggestion that the temperature sensing bolt is in his opinion not in a good place (on cylinder clock rear) as it is near the exhaust seems rather odd given that it has been the reference for the temperature of my engine (typically 89-92C around town) since I installed it. Why mention it at all ? To me it had a whiff of being defensive for some reason.

Simple facts:

Temps before going to garage 89-92C

101C after work has been performed on cooling system.

Temperature sensor bolt irrelevant point. (same bolt position before and after work done)

Regarding the outcome of tommorrows conversation. I sincerely hope so, but when someone's last words are "I am not sure what more we can do." it has a tendency to give you a worried feeling after seeing it hit 101C shortly thereafter.

Will check that Simon, thanks...

" Leaving it with heater controls on hot & the A/C on would be the combination you'd use to try to get the most heat out of the coolant..."

That is my concern, in a possible attempt to get it to me without seriously over heating.

I will run with good faith, despite clear inconsistencies in his and my findings within hours of each other.

For a good mechanic are the procedures of:

1)Sniffer test

2)Checking Thermostat

3)Checking for radiator cold spots

basic and routine diagnostics ?

I would have thought at the absolute least draining it and flushing it and following Hayds method for refill and bleed would be a more appropriate response for a competent Bongo mechanic than "I am not sure what more we can do"

Is that agreeable ?

Hatching a little plan to hopefully get things under control here. (I think it is a well known thing when a Bongo garage has had a bit of bother getting a job completed)

A level headed approach required. I maintain an approach where I continue with trust and that everything said is in good faith at this time.

haydn callow wrote:

Northern Bongolow wrote:now a lot of new faces have bongo.s this maybe a good time to give a few bleeding demo.s at the bash at stourport, it would be good if we could drag haydn out of retirement (inc jo of course) and all get together and show the high alarm, the low alarm and maybe more of the newer ones in the flesh fitted and working. this was done in previous years with some interest.

the bleed vids were filmed by my mrs and she has the view figures, you wouldnt believe how many times they have been viewed.

I would try and be there if I can be a STAR again......and perhaps Kirsty.

you will always be the main man mate, it would be good to show some alarms and give some straight forward honest advice to those who wish to listen.

BongoBongo123 wrote:For a good mechanic are the procedures of:

1)Sniffer test

2)Checking Thermostat

3)Checking for radiator cold spots

basic and routine diagnostics ?

I would have thought at the absolute least draining it and flushing it and following Hayds method for refill and bleed would be a more appropriate response for a competent Bongo mechanic than "I am not sure what more we can do"

Is that agreeable ?

If we are talking about Specialists,after the vehicle was returned to the garage it would probably been worthwhile for the mechanic to eliminate possible overheating causes. Does the garage have the Vacuum system kit.?

PS I have heard lately of few garages that wont touch these vehicles with a barge pole for various reasons in particular "Developing Over heating issues".

Anyway Good Luck.

Thanks Rita, questions I do not know the answers to at this time. Though specialist is in the name of the the garage.

I am working in good faith and trust as I should do and as the garage should and we shall try our best to get to the bottom of it. I will respond on here when appropriate.

I really do salute you guys the knowledge and support is very helpful.

Just as an idea if you have an old smartphone available consider putting tracking on (use one of the fitness apps) and leaving it maybe hidden in the vehicle preferably plugged in to charge then you will be able to track your vehicle when the garages take out for a run, having the evidence available there and then or maybe even mentioned to a garage before hand that the vehicle is tracked might work wonders on there honesty!!!

g8dhe wrote:Just as an idea if you have an old smartphone available consider putting tracking on (use one of the fitness apps) and leaving it maybe hidden in the vehicle preferably plugged in to charge then you will be able to track your vehicle when the garages take out for a run, having the evidence available there and then or maybe even mentioned to a garage before hand that the vehicle is tracked might work wonders on there honesty!!!

Well done "Columbo" Geoff..

Have read this post several times now.....I assume you have the temp sender to your TM2 fixed as per instructions on the rear of the cylinder head. You say the max temp recorded was 107C after you stopped. 7C of that would be heatsoak.....these temps are not really excessive, just the circumstances when they were recorded.....I have achieved 110C towing a small caravan up a long hill on more than on occasion.
Sounds to me that a good bleed done correctly could be the answer.....I hope so!!