Radiator Problem

[susan]

I have a problem,if anyone could give me there help.I drove from portsmouth to london but got stuck in traffic,where then i saw white smoke .I parked up phoned the AA and he said that the bracket at the bottom right hand side had come off or broken which he said it would be fine to carry on my journey,but to top up with water before heading off back home the next day,as i wasent losing much water at all,but i would need to get a new rad,would anyone be able to tell me that hes told me the worse case of all,and it would be fine with somthing the garage could do,or should i get one soon???

[haydn callow]

Sounds as you need to get your Bongo to a garage that knows how to deal with a Bongo cooling system...Most garages and AA men will not have a clue......hopefully no harm has been done.....It will need a new rad and bleeding properly..
Take these instructions with you and INSIST they follow them to the letter.
Fingers crossed you will not have done any serious damage.

Bongo BLEEDING Instructions (use yourself or INSIST your garage follows them)




NOTE.. (Before you start) Get a large funnel and cut the spout so the bleed tube will push up into it nice and tight.. Don't take the bung out of the pipe yet.

1..remove the plastic air scoop from under the bonnet.
2..remove the pressure cap off the expansion tank.
3..remove the pressure cap from the rad and fill to brim if it is not already full.
4..replace rad cap.
5..fill the expansion tank to the FULL line.
6..release the rad cap till coolant overflows and tighten rad cap.
7..top up expansion tank to FULL
8..under the passenger seat ..find the coolant bleed tube...remove the bung and push up into funnel.
9..half fill the funnel with premixed coolant.

Note..by raising/lowering the funnel and adjusting the engine revs you will from now on be able to control the level of the coolant in the header tank & funnel.
At no point from now on allow the funnel to empty or the header tank to drop below FILL.

10..start the engine...switch on heaters.....rev to 2500 for 3 mins....idle for 1 min.
11..keep repeating this cycle until the heaters blow hot and switch the heaters off.
12..carry on with the rev 2500/idle cycle..raising and lowering the funnel...you will have to do this for about 30/40 mins.....UNTILL THE BOTTOM HOSE GETS GOOD AND WARM..(stat open).

Once this happens carry on till all bubbles stop and replace the bleed tube bung (wear gloves..very hot)put the bung in as coolant is flowing out so no air can sneak in.

Top up the tank...replace the tank cap.....go for a drive and keep a eye on coolant levels for a few days....should be o.k. If job was done properly.

THE SECRET IS TO GET THE BOTTOM HOSE HOT WHILST BLEEDING (STAT OPEN)

ANY PROBLEMS PHONE ME 01458 270230 AND ASK FOR HAYDN