New owner - coolant issue... Help!

[slandau1972]

Am the proud new owner of a Mazda Bongo 2.5 diesel auto.

Need some advice.

Had the car for two weeks and an alarm, which I know know is the coolant alarm, started to bleep.
Topped up the coolant, but on starting the car, the temp gauge rocketed.
Called AA who bled the Bongo, and all seemed well - blowers working fine etc, no alarm, no noises, temp under halfway.
Checked the levels in the morning, seemed fine, drove for about 10 miles with no issue.
When restarting, after a mile I could hear the coolant bubbling madly in the reservoir, but no overheating. Stopped for ten minutes, then when restarted the temp rocketed. Stopped engine, temp settled, and then seemed ok.
Drove home.
Called AA again and the mechanic followed the Haydn bleeding instructions. All seemed well, but the blowers would only blow warm air. Temp was fine, levels fine etc. Sniffer test didn't show anything re the head gasket. No leaking pipes etc. So drove to local garage, who bled the system again, assuring me they followed the Haydn instructions. Again, all seemed ok, temp etc, but blowers only blew warm air. Drove home again.
Let the car tick over for a bit, had a cup of coffee then drove around the block... Could hear the coolant bubbling like crazy and the temp gauge again rocketed.
Does this sound like the head gasket?
No one seems to be able to diagnose the problem and all say 'see a specialist...'
Does anyone know of a specialist bongo garage/dealer/mechanic in the north Birmingham or general Birmingham areas? Just need a diagnosis!

Thanks guys...

[Northern Bongolow]

ian taylor around stoke on trent is yer man he will pick it up and give you an accurate diagnosis.he is the specialist you are seeking.

before you run it at all you must make sure its airtight, if its not your wasting your time bleeding it, it must hold pressure to raise the boiling point of the coolant. you can do a pressure test to inflate the system then check for a hose or coolant pipe leak.

[slandau1972]

Hi
Thanks for that.
Are GB Automotive in Brierly Hill any good? Just checked the list of garages and they are a bit closer?

Simon

[Northern Bongolow]

i dont know them but if they are on the approved list from the club ian may have done some checks on them, but seek advice from customers on here or send ian an email at the club, or have a chat with the garage themselves.

[slandau1972]

Thanks for that.
Will call them both in the morning and do some research.
Just out of interest, are there any classic telltale signs of a head gasket issue that a layman like myself might spot?

[Northern Bongolow]

when they go the head usually cracks on either cylinders 2 or 3 on the exhaust port so you dont usually get oil in the water, it usually blows exhaust gasses into the coolant, this heats the coolant or pressurises the coolant system above the cap pressure blow off point so it blows the cap and spits out coolant.

yours sounds more like a hose leak that lets in air, and lowers the boiling point of the coolant, these pockets of air superheat then expand to steam then vent (gurgling noise).

you often get white smoke on start up as the coolant gets into the exhaust side so is steamed off when started up.

dont run the engine as repeated running can damage the head if its not already gone, the air can get trapped in the head and it lifts, warps the head.

[slandau1972]

Thanks for that.

I did notice that the bleed pipe under the passenger seat hadn't been clipped into place then the AA guy
was using the funnel. It looked a bit marked up. It there was a hole, would it be obvious?

[Northern Bongolow]

not always that obvious, water pump leaks are sometimes hard to detect, some leaks dont leak water/coolant out, but just leak air in as the bongo is cooling down (contracting), this sucks in a small amount of air on each cooling down cycle until enough air is in there to stop circulation.

a pressure test and or vac test is the best way to find them, then if nothing is found and the water pump is due for a change maybe change that.

this link has some good info in it about water pump leaks.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... mp#p572203