Radiator Problem

lee · Post by **lee** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:16 pm

Hi all,

Would really appreciate some help and advice on this one. I have recently been losing water on my bongo and think this is due to a radiator problem near the rear heater. Underneath the van on the drivers side near the back wheel their are two pipes and a hole all of which were leaking.

I have taken off the panel inside the van to reveal the rear heatng unit but would like some advice in terms of getting to the radiator. Do I need to take the seatsot? I hope not !!

There are 3 10mm bolts 2 of which I can get off and typically one I can't. Though it would be best to get some advice before proceeding.

Many thanks in advance
Lee.

p.s. If someone can tell me how to post some pctures I could provide these if required.

waycar8 · Post by **waycar8** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:46 pm

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http://photobucket.com/ create an account then upload your photos onto the photbucket account then when you see the image on photobucket, there will be 3 boxes saying

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copy and paste the IMG CODE into your post and then when you click submit it will show up in your post.

white van man · Post by **white van man** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:56 pm

if you are removing the heater box you will need to have your air conditioning system degassed before you start and regassed afterwards,not sure and never tried but the heater box splits into 2 parts to get the inards out,you might be able to do this in situ and not have to de/re gas the aircon

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:23 pm

It depends how much you use the rear heater - the front one is certainly pretty powerful by itself. You could bypass the rear heater completely by using a piece of pipe and connecting it into the circuit.

Dabs · Post by **Dabs** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 3:58 pm

Dandy,
You have answered my question with that,I had a leak late last year in the pipework just before the rear heater,I did think at the time I wonder if it could be bypassed if it causes too much of a problem.Luckily I had mine fixed and its all Ok now but Lees problem seems to be coming from further back toward the rear heater it also seems to be a little more innaccessible.There does seem to be a lot of exposed pipework in this area has anyone else had problems from here?

Dabs

lee · Post by **lee** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:04 pm

Thanks for yoru posts all.

Today we have have managed to take out the rear heater unit and get to the suspect radiator. There were a few bolts we had to undo underneath the engine and then the 3 inside the van which bolted the heater unit to the floor.

We did also have to degass the air confditioning system to get the unit out.

As a temporary measure we have now bypassed the rear heater by connectig the two rubber pipes with some copper piping. Should see me through until I can replace the part.

Anyone now where I can get a replacement radiator from and at what cost.? Also how much does it cost to get the Air Con system regassed.

I am also considering not replacing the radiator at all? What do you reckon.

Regards
Lee.