Bongo Fury

Picked up the kids from school on Monday with my niece's Bongo, just as the snow was starting to fall. Journey back is only 2-3 miles so Bongo was only just starting to get to working temp.

However, when I pulled in at our house and was about to turn off the engine, I became aware the rad fan(s) had just fired up and were whizzing merrily away. I lifted the bonnet and felt the front rad - stone cold.

I haven't had a chance to look further since then 'cos of the weather, other than to turn on the ignition to check it wasn't still spinning (as in a short in the thermostat circuit) - it wasn't.

I've just had the cambelt and pulleys replaced by a local garage, and noticed that the bill included a litre of antifreeze - does (can) the cambelt job involve removing a hose/draining fluid?

The proprietor is familiar with Bongos, and when I dropped the car off I asked him - as part of a general Bongo chat - if he knew about Bongo cooling systems and bleeding them. He went on to give good details indicating a sound knowledge.

What could have made the fan come on when it was clearly not needed - journey was short, and rad felt cold?

Why was anitfreeze needed as part of the cambelt job?

Cheers.

The front rad is for the air con and it wouldn't be surprising if it was cold. Is this the one you felt was cold?
You don't usually touch the cooling system when doing the cambelt, even on the V6. You say they've charged you for anti freeze, so it's likely they've done something with the cooling system. I'd ring the garage and explain what's happened, they'll be able to sort it for you.

Cheers for that, Doone.

Yep, it was the front rad I was feeling...

I'll call the garage and ask.

Thanks.

I've had/am having a similar problem. A fortnight ago, coming back from the Rufty Tufty meet I noticed that the Mason adjusted gauge was reading quite high (had been for a few days to be honest, but not enough to be a major concern. I stopped & checked the radiator - like you the main radiator (behind the A/C one) was cold & the fans were whirring merrily. I guessed a stuck shut thermostat & gave the thermostat housing area a few taps with a hammer handle, after which the radiator warmed up & normal service resumed. It was still fine last weekend, so looks as if a sticking thermostat is the cause on mine & I'll be replacing it in due course. It sounds as if you might have the same problem.

Luckily the Mason mod means that I can keep an eye on the actual temperature & should spot if & when the problem re-occurs. Otherwise I'd be replacing the thermostst as a priority.

The thermostat lives under the passenger seat in the metal housing where the lower radiator hose comes in to the engine. I needed a long implement to give it a few taps, hence the hammer handle. Mines a 4WD - it may be easier to reach on a 2WD without the front propshaft.

Thanks, all - great stuff

hi trouble,check your alternator belts,i went to rescue a workmate today i picked him up and the mason went mental and the gauge went off the scale,i stopped and let it cool down....after 20 mins i started up and went to carry on half a mile down the road i heard an odd noise (i thought was snow dropping off) and off went the mason again on investigation both alt belts shredded........thats when the snow really came down....anyway probably should have replaced when i did water pump....ordered some and will return sat morn tooled up to do belts and bleed just in case...... . just a thought...edit.... god bless you mr mason...

Thanks all.

Took it for a good run yesterday, and all was well. Rad was warm to touch, but fans never came on. Heater going well - pretty powerful, ain't they?!

I'm putting it down to 'one of those things'...