Bongo Fury

Hi people - I could use a bit of advice from the seasoned cooling system experts. On Friday I replaced the waterpump on the van, and drained out and put back @8.5 litres of new coolant. I read the numerous threads on the subject of system bleeding and decided to stick to the workshop manual procedure. I went literally by the book, but I have to say I was a bit put off by how hit and miss it all seemed. I got several “burps” from the bleed pipe right on cue, but I had to have several goes at getting the airlock shifted in the bottom radiator hose (took nearly 1 hour). It did eventually shift and the radiator and the hose gets hot as it should. Just to emphasise it doesn’t overheat and there are no leaks, it all seems fine. I’ve been away (on the Train), this weekend so I have only managed to test drive for a few miles. The question is I feel a bit distrustful of it at the moment, so how can I be sure it’s done absolutely right? – I can’t afford any problems.

You can't really Chris. Just keep checking the level after every trip after it's cooled down. If you are travelling far, take some coolant with you. If ok after about a week I would think it safe to assume you've 'cracked it'. Also if you haven't done so already, when the engine is warm try the front and rear heaters. If cold then you have an airlock. Probably worrying unnecessarily but with all the panic on here about cooling problems in the last few months you have to be a little concerned .......

Thanks for the reply Ian.
Yes I probably am being a bit over cautious
I've got a 50 mile round trip tomorrow so that should show if it's ok or not.
Discovered another annoying fault on the van tonight, the drivers door window switch only works now when the doors completely closed. Open it a few degrees and it stops working. So I guess that's a broken wire in the loom then.

If you read how bigdaddycain bleeds his bongo, great way and you are sure that no airlock in the system, I use another method where you see-saw the bleed pipe to assist air removal, good luck with your trip, sure it will be fine

Put your mind at rest. Fit a coolant loss alarm.

Was waiting for your reply Haydn

Hi Pete - yes I was tempted to try bleeding it using the hose pipe method, but I wanted to measure the qauntity of coolant coming out and ensure that the same amount was going back in afterwards
I can appreciate your see saw method too, as that cooling system is a air lock magnet.
Haydn I will almost certainly buy a coolant loss alarm but it's just going to have to wait for now - the old plastic card just can't take anymore captain!

chris-m wrote: So I guess that's a broken wire in the loom then.

Yep, it's a fairly common problem and easy to fix - usually between the door and the pillar.

Whilst developing the alarm kit I drained and refilled the system at least 6 times. I found the see/saw method very easy and I was always very confidant the job was done. A lot less faffing about than the book way. Important the heaters are run at some point in the process to make sure they blow hot.

Yes chris, you are in the "er, i dunno" doldrums at the mo...

If you are confident that you have done all you can do,then i'm sure it'll be fine... as suggested earlier,take some top up around with you for a while... and your mobile phone (just in case)

good luck