Bongo Fury

Set off for work this morning -6 outside travelled about a mile and the temp gauge went off scale drove back home, (down hill). Had to nick the wifes car to get to work!

Just got in and had a luck and found it's the bleed hose thats failed. Looks like I can trim it back till I can get a new one.
Then it's give it a whirl with bleeding. Bloody nuisance as I can't do it till weekend as it's dark when I go to work and when I come home.
Is there anything I need to check to ensure no damage anywere else?

And no I haven't got an alarm

Alarm is not going to fix your hose I would check all your hoses I reckon no harm done as you caught it early Good luck with bleeding the system

Just do as you say with the bleed hose...check all the others whilst your at it. Then refill/bleed with a 50/50 mix of coolant. Make sure you bleed it properly and get that bottom hose HOT. Then all things being well you have done no damage....If after all this you get bubbles/boiling in the expansion tank you have probably blown the head gasket. As soon as your gauge started to move you should have stopped and not driven a yard further till the problem was sorted. I note your comment about the alarm. It would have warned you long before the temp even started to "think" about raising.
Hopefully all will be well...fingers crossed.

I know I should have stopped but at 5:30 am on the moors at -6 and being so close to home
Sounds complicated for bleeding but at least I've got the fact sheet.
Thanks for the replies and yes I will be fitting an alarm.I'll get Mike at wheelquick to fit it.

Do you need any help to get it to mike. I know of a private recovery garage. i could offer more details.

If the credit crunch is not hitting you too hard consider getting a set of silicone hoses from Flippa and getting Mike to put them on for you. Mike changed my hoses last January when my Bongo was in with him for its service and MOT.

littlejobby wrote:Set off for work this morning -6 outside .........found it's the bleed hose thats failed.

Could the split be caused by freezing coolant? When was the last time it was changed?

MountainGoat wrote:If the credit crunch is not hitting you too hard consider getting a set of silicone hoses from Flippa and getting Mike to put them on for you. Mike changed my hoses last January when my Bongo was in with him for its service and MOT.

On which score, Mike was v. clear to me when I was there that there are 4 hoses on the Bongo that are almost always the culprits. So if you can't afford the full monty then ask Mike if he could focus on changing those hoses. Mike did also hint that a visual inspection, replacement of suspect hoses only, and fitting a low coolant alarm was the best and most sensible strategy. Which pleased me, as I think that too and to hear it from the mouth of someone whose experience and judgement I have great respect for etc.

Wheelquick now fit LCAs on all Bongos they supply. It saves them time and money in the long run they say, and they should know.

Was at Mikes last week for oil change and he had a quick look at the hoses and was going to replace the jubilee clips on them at the MOT next week.
Can't make my mind up whether it was insufficiant anti freeze. I was told it was done when I bought it in Januarey and I havent had to top up the system, or the hose (bleed ) had worn on the alternator.
I'm going to replace it at the weekend and try and bleed it and order some new hoses from flippa I think and get mike to fit them and an alarm.
Thanks for all the advice and comments.

Just picked the bongo up from Mikes only damage done was bleed pipe split. Had MOT done at same time apart from two drag links passed with flying colours and yes I have had Mike fit a coolant alarm

littlejobby wrote:Just picked the bongo up from Mikes only damage done was bleed pipe split. Had MOT done at same time apart from two drag links passed with flying colours and yes I have had Mike fit a coolant alarm

Good news all round

Good result, well done.

Glad it's sorted, it could have been a LOT worse!

All set for the winter now then?