Bongo Fury

Hi,

I have recently had a problem with my 1995 Bongo. I hadn't driven it for around a day while we had all of the snow and freezing conditions. I took it out for a short drive but got stuck in traffic. I saw the temperature guage shoot up and then the sound of boiling water coming from the engine bay. To my horror when I pulled over and checked under the hood I found that almost all of my coolant had been pushed out of the overflow pipe I checked the pipes coming from the antifreeze tank and they were hot.

I crawled into a local car park and refilled the coolant levels. I left it to cool down for an hour or so and then managed to get it home. It started to creep up again but I made it.

I have now taken it out for another short drive a few days later and the same thing has happened again. Temperature has shot up within about 3 miles and the antifreeze is starting to boil. I managed to get into work after pulling over three times to let it cool down. The strange difference is that now the pipes coming from the bottom of the antifreeze tank are cold.

Please help me, it is my only form of transport and I have no idea what to do. I thought that maybe the thermostat might be stuck in a closed position or something, based on stuff I have read on the FAQ. But I am unsure. Any ideas on how to diagnose the fault would be great!

Thanks

Jason

Was your heater working? sounds like your coolant has frozen in part of the system not allowing it to circulate hence its expanded out the breather.

and have you re-bled the system properly?

If not you have bigger troubles to come - just topping up again isn't good enough.

No, heaters not working.

Also, how do I bleed the system? Is it something I can do from the top of the engine bay or do I need to get underneath? I noticed a small tap near the front of the radiator with an H on it, wasn't sure if that was anything to do with it?

Jason

pagetjm wrote:No, heaters not working.

Also, how do I bleed the system? Is it something I can do from the top of the engine bay or do I need to get underneath? I noticed a small tap near the front of the radiator with an H on it, wasn't sure if that was anything to do with it?

Jason

Fact sheet in members area.....or do a Search

Sounds like you could have had a frozen bottom hose....do you top up with antifreeze or water ???get the concentration checked....

Might be a idea to block of the rad airflow or disconnect the fans in this weather whilst bleeding (remove/reconnect as soon as bled)

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

... and don't drive it until it is sorted.

Where abouts are you maybe another owner lives near and could help.

Ipswich

I seem to have exactly the same problem, hadnt driven for about 4 days last week because of the snow, then tried it on sat, got about 3 miles down the road and it overheated. I think my heaters were still working but not sure. I could hear the coolant starting to bubble so pulled over straight away. Managed to get home again by waiting for it to cool and then driving a very short distance before pulling over again.

Not having a clue when it comes to anything technical Im thinking of calling out Rescue and getting them to tow me to my Bongo garage to get it looked at. But if anyone can suggest anything simple to look at/try out then I gladly will. Have just left it sat at the roadside for the last few days.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

My location is Calne, Wilts if there is anyone handy close by who may be able to help?

My advice...get it to Bell Hill ...close to you and they may collect it.

haydn callow wrote:My advice...get it to Bell Hill ...close to you and they may collect it.

Ok. Thanks for advice. I bought my van from Discount Trucks near Newbury and have all my work and servicing done there so was planning on taking it there, but it is useful to know of another garage in the local area that I could use.

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

Haydn, do you think that this part of your bleeding process is still relevant given the discussion about how the cooling system works? I'd say that it very rarely opens at this time of year...especially in these freak temperatures. Is it not more important to get the heaters hot to ensure that there is no air trapped in the upper circuit?...just a thought...

If you don't get the stat open (bottom hose hot) you "could" have air trapped in the bottom of the rad and bottom hose....A ticking bomb.....take the fan fuse out whilst bleeding.

Darcia wrote:

haydn callow wrote:My advice...get it to Bell Hill ...close to you and they may collect it.

Ok. Thanks for advice. I bought my van from Discount Trucks near Newbury and have all my work and servicing done there so was planning on taking it there, but it is useful to know of another garage in the local area that I could use.

OI, Darcia! Give em a call.. http://www.bellhillgarage.com/ The recovery rate wasn't to steep when they lifted me in when my top hose went.