Bongo Fury

Bongo been standing for a while as I have been using a 4x4 on loan from a client to access his wind farm high up the glen. Saturday I went to B&Q for some bits when the bride mentioned she was cold ?? It was 15 deg but I put the blower on and it felt like the air con blowing around -5 ?

Got back home threw the bonnet up no water in header tank. looked underneath where it had been standing for 4 weeks and there is a drip from a pipe under the mid section drivers side. Temperature gage did not go above normal and there was no signs of overheating like bubbling noises, steam belching or anything else. I have been well and truly caught out here

question is what's the damage? Local garage will pick it up tomorrow whilst I am back in the Highlands and I will just have to wait and see. what's the odds I am not lucky!

If you are lucky then a complete check of the system and pressure check on the head...if all is ok then cooling system refill and correct bleed.

If you are unlucky then it could cost you a new cylinder head.....

A good example for having a low coolant alarm... ...then you would not have gone to B&Q and saved some money...and limited any damage you might have done....

Good luck with the garage.

Alan

please make sure the garage of your choice is a good one and is aware of the problems, this is sometimes the point where you initially get away with it, then the garage fix the bongo, then it hopefully doesnt go wrong but it sometimes does, then who was right who did wrong and who pays.

please be careful, and i wish you good luck.

I wonder if its corrosion to metal pipe by the rear heater. Be interesting to hear what the garage finds. Fingers crossed for you

ELZE ,does your vehicle have a low coolant alarm fitted.?

when I got he V6 I asked on here about low coolant alarm and advice was notreally needed for V^ as the diesels have the problem. I fitted one anyway but some time a go when fitting the radio the cable to it was accidentally clipped Because I ork away all the time and rarely use the bongo (last 4 months) it was one of those jobs your going to do when you get the time right?

Well! *******

As for the garage, he has worked on Bongo's before and especially mine and I have no problems with him. he is local, long standing and is reputable.


I will report back as soon as i have a diagnosis, but if it is a new head so be it! The van is worth it.

ELZE wrote:when I got he V6 I asked on here about low coolant alarm and advice was notreally needed for V^ as the diesels have the problem. I fitted one anyway but some time a go when fitting the radio the cable to it was accidentally clipped Because I ork away all the time and rarely use the bongo (last 4 months) it was one of those jobs your going to do when you get the time right?

Well! *******

As for the garage, he has worked on Bongo's before and especially mine and I have no problems with him. he is local, long standing and is reputable.


I will report back as soon as i have a diagnosis, but if it is a new head so be it! The van is worth it.

Rare for a v6 to need a new head so hopefully you'll be lucky. But maybe get that LCA working again ASAP as the v6 is not immune to coolant loss which is never a good thing

Good luck, keep us posted

Actually gutted, I give the 4x4 back this weekend so all we ahve to run around in now is a Mazda 2 until Black Bess is sorted

well new today is the Bongo has two corroded pipes mid section (usual place) I have had two bongo's and during that time only two issues, corroded pipes!

I think I may be lucky as mechanic says things seem to be OK with the head He has ordered the pipes which should be here tomorrow. when I get the phone call it will be either one of these or one of these

ELZE wrote:well new today is the Bongo has two corroded pipes mid section (usual place) I have had two bongo's and during that time only two issues, corroded pipes!

I think I may be lucky as mechanic says things seem to be OK with the head He has ordered the pipes which should be here tomorrow. when I get the phone call it will be either one of these or one of these

Thought it might be the metal pipes. Hopefully you'll be ok with the heads. Good luck, keep us posted.

Pipes renewed now heat exchanger is rotten, nothing to fit them to!

ELZE wrote:Pipes renewed now heat exchanger is rotten, nothing to fit them to!

I think it might be possible to fit a generic one. If the garage are stuck i'm sure Adrian at JapanDirect in Bury wouldn't mind them calling to ask his advice as he sees a lot of ailing Bongos and might know.

They have beat me to it, they have ordered a retro one from a bongo parts supplier, should be here tomorrow where as an original would be much longer and twice as expensive. I love the old gal but she will have to settle for a scale & polish instead of a set of veneers

Where is the heat exchanger? is it behind the drivers seat somewhere?

assuming you mean rear one its under the controls behind panel on the side