Bongo Fury

Can anybody help me?
I have a reoccurring problem with overheating on my Ford Freda.
It has been in the local garage on numerous occasions and the problem won't go away.
So far:
The system has been flushed twice
The thermal sensor has been bypassed so that the fan is on all the time (the garage did this)
The system has been pressure tested twice with no water loss
The water pump has been checked
The thermostat has been replaced
Most of the time the vehicle is fantastic but then it suddenly overheats. Twice this happened in the same place on the motorway. I had driven 50 mins, parked for 3 hrs, then 5mins into driving back, it overheated very suddenly.
The garage have given up and tell me to get rid of it!
Please let me know if you have any ideas to solve this or have experienced the same problem
Thanks
Justine

I've moved this to the Techie Section, as you're more likely to get a reply.
Put your location in your profile - somebody local may well be able to help you.
It sounds as if the cooling system may not have been bled properly. It's a totally different procedure to most vehicles and your garage may not be aware of what's required. There is a factsheet in the Member's Area that fully explains the procedure. If you're not a member yet, it's well worth the £12 per year - click on the Bongo picture, at the top left of the screen, to join.
Oh - welcome to the madhouse

Justine you will also find in the members area a list of recommended garages that know Bongos inside out. If you put your location on your profile we will be able to direct you to your nearest one.

Tony

Thanks for info and for re-directing the post. I have just signed up to be a member and put my location in. Not sure how long it takes to become a member - to be able to access the fact sheets and info.
Looks like I'll have to give up on the garage that is located on my doorstep and find one that actually knows about these vehicles!
Justine

Hi Justine
If you've now joined, give Ian a ring - he'll probably be able to give you the password to enter the Member's Area.

You are in luck Justine. I have just checked the database and there are two bongo friendly garages just 17½ miles from where you live.

Tony

Hi,

Give Fred a call at Discount Trucks, it's near Newbury but they are very good. You'd need to nip up the bypass to the M4 and head west for around 30 mins.

Justine wrote:Can anybody help me?
I have a reoccurring problem with overheating on my Ford Freda.
It has been in the local garage on numerous occasions and the problem won't go away.
So far:
The system has been flushed twice
The thermal sensor has been bypassed so that the fan is on all the time (the garage did this)
The system has been pressure tested twice with no water loss
The water pump has been checked
The thermostat has been replaced
Most of the time the vehicle is fantastic but then it suddenly overheats. Twice this happened in the same place on the motorway. I had driven 50 mins, parked for 3 hrs, then 5mins into driving back, it overheated very suddenly.
The garage have given up and tell me to get rid of it!
Please let me know if you have any ideas to solve this or have experienced the same problem
Thanks
Justine

HI Justine I have just sent you a PM as I am near you Bongo Bri

Apart from the possibility of incorrect bleeding, the other item not mentioned in your post is fitting a new radiator in case the old one is clogged. Out of interest, is the coolant in the header tank nice and clear (well - tinted antifreeze colour, but clear), and is the header tank plastic free of rust staining?

Also, since it has overheated, it might be best to get coolant checked for traces of exhaust gas in case the head gasket has started to go and is allowing exhaust gas to blow into the cooling system (lets hope it isnt that though)

Oh and welcome

mikeonb4c wrote:Apart from the possibility of incorrect bleeding, the other item not mentioned in your post is fitting a new radiator in case the old one is clogged. Out of interest, is the coolant in the header tank nice and clear (well - tinted antifreeze colour, but clear), and is the header tank plastic free of rust staining?

Also, since it has overheated, it might be best to get coolant checked for traces of exhaust gas in case the head gasket has started to go and is allowing exhaust gas to blow into the cooling system (lets hope it isnt that though)

Oh and welcome

Won't be radiator Mike. Runs OK for 50 minutes on Motorway to get there - cools for 3 hours - overheats after 5 minutes on way home. Blocked rad would have it overheating on the outward trip on the motorway.

Wow am impressed with all the replies and advice. Thanks for the warm welcome too.
Apparently the local garage know of the "correct procedure" to bleed the cooling system of a Bongo/Freda - but I have my doubts.
At least I know where to take it next. As a first time owner, I did not realise it would require specialist knowlege. Think this would have saved me lots of £ especially last year with other major problems!

Message for Bri: What does is a PM? I saw a white 4x4 Bongy today - maybe this was you?

Justine

francophile1947 wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:Apart from the possibility of incorrect bleeding, the other item not mentioned in your post is fitting a new radiator in case the old one is clogged. Out of interest, is the coolant in the header tank nice and clear (well - tinted antifreeze colour, but clear), and is the header tank plastic free of rust staining?

Also, since it has overheated, it might be best to get coolant checked for traces of exhaust gas in case the head gasket has started to go and is allowing exhaust gas to blow into the cooling system (lets hope it isnt that though)

Oh and welcome

Won't be radiator Mike. Runs OK for 50 minutes on Motorway to get there - cools for 3 hours - overheats after 5 minutes on way home. Blocked rad would have it overheating on the outward trip on the motorway.

Appreciate that franco but there's been stories on here that suggest things are not that simple, so I include it for consideration simply so all contingencies are covered. But I agree, its an outside runner in this case.

Justine wrote:Message for Bri: What does is a PM?

PM is a private message - look at the "new messages" at the top of the green bit of the screen

Justine wrote:Wow am impressed with all the replies and advice. Thanks for the warm welcome too.
Apparently the local garage know of the "correct procedure" to bleed the cooling system of a Bongo/Freda - but I have my doubts.
At least I know where to take it next. As a first time owner, I did not realise it would require specialist knowlege. Think this would have saved me lots of £ especially last year with other major problems!

Message for Bri: What does is a PM? I saw a white 4x4 Bongy today - maybe this was you?

Justine

Hi Justine I sent you a private message with my telephone number
I used to have my e-mail address in my profile but its not there now.
I would like to have a natter as apart from Windswept I dont Know of another round here.
I have just had a new thermostat and the dreaded bleed at a local garage. All ok so far.
Brian

Sounds like an airlock to me...The air pocket seems to be attracted to the stat area in this case. Discount trucks have a rock solid rep...