Bongo Fury

Hi,

I've had my Bongo a couple of weeks and after reading all about coolant issues I thought it best to install a low coolant alarm. When I came to fit it last weekend I drilled the hole in the coolant tank and nothing dribbled out. Looking in the tank through the cap I can see no coolant in that side and I cannot see any through the plastic in the side with the pipes. That doesn't mean there isn't any but the plastic is so thick and yellow I can't see any difference in colour.

I bought it from a dealer who had it serviced and I asked them about it. Their suggestion was to buy more coolant and see if it leaked and they would sort any leaks. I added a litre of coolant and I didn't see anything dribbling out anywhere under the vehicle. I had also driven 200 miles back from the dealer with no issue so I'm baffled as to what's going on. The LCA doesn't go off either.....

I've just driven it about 5 miles to the shops and back and when I got back I checked the coolant pipes near the tank which were very hot. I also tried the heater which sort of got warm but not very impressive. I left the engine running in the drive for a couple of minutes and the radiator fan kept cutting in but I couldn't see any obvious problems. Naturally the temp gauge is normal (never pointing past about 11 o'clock)

Not being an expert I don't know what to do so can anyone kindly suggest what I do next?

If you're near the dealer I'd take it back and let them look at if. Failing that, take it to a garage (unless you're more proficient at mechanic stuff than I am - which is likely).

If there's nothing in the header tank and what you pour in just disappears I suspect the system might need bleeding and refilling. As I say the best people to do this are the dealership, since I guess it's under warranty. It's also best to put in the same colour coolant as is already in there (red or green), or you just end up with a sludgy mess that needs cleaning out.

Good luck

Jane

It's a 4 hour drive to the dealer unfortunately.

I was told it was standard red coolant so that's what I put in. I'm just not sure what I should be seeing in the tank. Should I be seeing coolant in there when I take the cap off? The cap is on the shallow side of the tank and the min/max marks are on the deep side.

Can I take it to any garage?

This all sounds unsatisfactory to me. Is it a diesel Bongo? The dealer should be concerned about what could escalate into a major problem if the correct action is not taken (i.e. removing any air that might have got into the coolant system due to the level drop by using the correct Bongo system bleeding procedure and getting the coolant to the correct level). And the cause of coolant loss needs investigating - pressure test would be a good place to start. The dealer should, under the circumstances, allow you to take it to a local (Bongo specialist preferably) garage, though even then there is a risk to driving it as it is. And heater should be hot not warm and cooling fans should not be coming on in this weather unless you're working the engine exceptionally hard. Regarding header tank coolant level, dip a lolly stick or similar in and see if it comes out wet and to what level. Good luck and keep us posted.

Good advice from Janie and Mike.

I wouldn't trust it to any garage, they must understand the Bongo cooling system although the 2ltr petrol is simple.

If you give us a rough location someone will be able to suggest the nearest Bongo Friendly mechanic, but I would be wary of driving it until this issue is sorted.

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, it's a diesel. I'm near Warrington/Wigan.

tmp wrote:Thanks for the replies.

Yes, it's a diesel. I'm near Warrington/Wigan.

Wheelquick in Wigan are excellent (but often v busy with their own vehicles) and Adrian at Japandirect in Bury (who I always take mine to - 0161-763-3003) is top dog with Bongos. The dealer you bought from should 100% be able to trust either of those to act on their behalf on any warranty/post purchase issues.

Yep, Wheelquick or Adrian.

It is advisable to take the vehicle back to the Dealer if it is under Guarantee,if you or any person unauthorised by the Dealer messes about with it the Dealer is within their rights to Void the Guarantee.

I'd certainly contact the seller and ask them what they propose, but driving it 200 miles will almost certainly kill it.

They may prefer to recover it to their workshop or authorise another garage to look at it, but you are right, of course.

Get it to Thier approved garage, sounds like by some miracle you have run dry and got away with it.

It needs to be filled and bled up propperly, it takes best part of 1.5 hours to get it all out .

Kirsty kindly showed me how to do mine, she said it took a bit longer than normal due to me having a plate heatexchanger fitted for veg oil kit

Sadly it may yet blow the head.

A very well known Bongo expert in Plymouth has told me it's common for heads to fail about 3 months after an overheating episode.

Dam

How do I know if it's overheated?

Bob wrote:Sadly it may yet blow the head.

A very well known Bongo expert in Plymouth has told me it's common for heads to fail about 3 months after an overheating episode.

3 months being the length of warranty I was given....