Bongo Fury

Just had a panicky phone call from my hubby. Temp gauge has crept up towards "overheating" on his journey back from a dive (scuba). He has pulled over and switched off to let things cool down and try to get some advice.

There's no heat coming into the cab despite the engine temp being high. All fluids are topped up full.

While he was on the phone he heard a fan kick in which had not been running before. Is this a fan to cool the engine which has been sticking? Does he need to call the RAC and get towed/trailered back home?

Any advice would be very gratefully received as I don't want my baby to suffer (the Bongo not the 'old man')

Thanks muchly

Is the temp gauge un-modified, or "mason'd" ?

Un-Masoned. Just normal, standard, not-very-accurate, hovers at 11o'clock all the time...

...til today.

unsure ?? but it sounds like the scavenger fan has kicked in to me
can anybody confirm this

sounds that way to me too
no heat from the cab heater means airlock = get it checked

OK. Just had an update.

On further investigation he has discovered there was no water in the rad!!!!!! Must have been a slow leak/incorrect top up at last service.

Has now filled rad with water, filled feeder tank with water, squeezed all hoses to push air bubbles through, taken cap of rad again to release air.

Temp gauge has dropped back down to 11o'clock and there is heat in the cab.

He is crawling back home. Is this OK?

belly_bongo wrote:OK. Just had an update.

On further investigation he has discovered there was no water in the rad!!!!!! Must have been a slow leak/incorrect top up at last service.

Has now filled rad with water, filled feeder tank with water, squeezed all hoses to push air bubbles through, taken cap of rad again to release air.

Temp gauge has dropped back down to 11o'clock and there is heat in the cab.

He is crawling back home. Is this OK?

Strictly speaking, the answer has to be 'No', though I suppose he might get away with it. People will tell you the temp gauge is absolutely useless because it only moves off the 11.00 position when its too late. It's possible that it may give SOME warning before its too late if he spots it moving even the slightest bit.

But I think he is skating on thin ice. Better to get a recovery if possible.

I suppose a low coolant alarm wasn't fitted?

You may get lucky and not damage the engine (Harry and BigDaddyCain have both survived brew-ups). Fingers crossed for you

First ...find and fix the leak Then itNeeds a proper bleed and then hope all is well.

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.

mikeonb4c wrote:
Strictly speaking, the answer has to be 'No', though I suppose he might get away with it. People will tell you the temp gauge is absolutely useless because it only moves off the 11.00 position when its too late. It's possible that it may give SOME warning before its too late if he spots it moving even the slightest bit.

But I think he is skating on thin ice. Better to get a recovery if possible.

I suppose a low coolant alarm wasn't fitted?

You may get lucky and not damage the engine (Harry and BigDaddyCain have both survived brew-ups). Fingers crossed for you

He's back! (Was back before many people had had chance to reply).

He did spot that the gauge had moved just a smidge beyond 12o'clock and knew something was amiss so stopped straightaway.

Thanks for all the help and advice. He has a fun day ahead tomorrow trying to get it all sorted out. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that it's not terminal.

Thanks again.

there is a garage on the A51 that sells bongo's G+P i think its called i would get the rac to take you to them (on a low loader not towed) if they can do the job

failing that give ian taylor a call at market drayton and he will do the job for you (prob while you wait) BUT under no circumstances drive the bongo until bled through as damage will occur

ps if you need ian's phone number pm me and i will pass it on to you or look under japcarinports on for sale section

if you can get it to him and you have to go back home tell him to contact me ( carl) and as long as its this week i will give you a lift back to home

belly_bongo wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:
Strictly speaking, the answer has to be 'No', though I suppose he might get away with it. People will tell you the temp gauge is absolutely useless because it only moves off the 11.00 position when its too late. It's possible that it may give SOME warning before its too late if he spots it moving even the slightest bit.

But I think he is skating on thin ice. Better to get a recovery if possible.

I suppose a low coolant alarm wasn't fitted?

You may get lucky and not damage the engine (Harry and BigDaddyCain have both survived brew-ups). Fingers crossed for you

He's back! (Was back before many people had had chance to reply).

He did spot that the gauge had moved just a smidge beyond 12o'clock and knew something was amiss so stopped straightaway.

Thanks for all the help and advice. He has a fun day ahead tomorrow trying to get it all sorted out. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that it's not terminal.

Thanks again.

Fingers crossed you will be OK - no point worrying now anyway!!! But don't drive it any more until the leak has been fixed and it has been properly bled. Also, fitting a low coolant alarm has to be a sensible investment.

Interesting the gauge moved to 12.00 oclock and gave your husband warning. I'ts hard to know what that means in actual engine temp. terms as the gauge appears to be heavily damped in the mid-range, but it does suggest it is a bit more use than a chocolate fireguard (as its stronger critics have described it!).

Keep us posted and good luck.