Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
Then just why do so many manage to get it so very, very wrong?owelly wrote:Firstly, bleeding the coolant system isn't the bizzarre magical dance as folks would have you believe. It's common sense to any proficient mechanic.
Using that method is why people will end up with an overheated engine, you need to get the engine warm enough to open the stat (unless your stat has been removed or drilled - either is a no-no as it's going to mask another problem) otherwise you will most probably get airlocks. You may get lucky once or twice doing it like that, but is it worth taking the risk? I've done mine several times & it took a minimum of half an hour before the stat opened, bottom hose got warm & all the air was expelled, even then it had dropped by half an inch or so in the expansion tank the next day.owelly wrote:Firstly, bleeding the coolant system isn't the bizzarre magical dance as folks would have you believe. It's common sense to any proficient mechanic.
Secondly, what was wrong with the pump? A 'sheared gasket' makes no sense. A leaky gasket does but that would require a new gasket to fix it, not a new water pump. A gasket wouldn't rattle as it fell off even if it could fall off! If the pump had seized and the pulley had sheared, as long as you stopped ASAP and the coolant temperature didn't shoot up, then you shouldn't have overheated the engine.
Thirdly, when the vehicle overheated after the pump fitting, as long as you stopped before the temp left the top of the gauge, then you should be OK. I would top it up with water, open the bleed pipe and let the water run through and then hold the bleed pipe as high as it will go, and overfill the expansion bottle. Leave the cap off and start the engine for 30 seconds or so. Then drop the bleed pipe until the expansion bottle level is correct. Fit the bleed pipe bung and expansion bottle cap. Run the engine for a few minutes then check the level. Go for a run and check again.
Fourthy, do a little dance as your Freda is as good as new. Hopefully.....
Well I am eating my words
Took the van to the in laws tonight (about a mile away) and on the way back the temp shot up (about 200 yards from home) so we stopped. Loud hissing noise and steam.
I'll be phoning the mechanic on Tuesday. Do you think he didn't bleed it right??
("Oh, I've replaced the coolant and bled 3 or 4 of these a week when my mate had his import business....")
) Most severe overheat damage is done when the engine is at medium to high load with high internal cylinder temperatures, I doubt that was the case if you were just going a mile around the corner... & hopefully it may just be case of getting the airlocks out & coolant level correct. 
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)
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) but I am really not sure what to do next...apart from shout at the mechanic if I see him. so if anyone can recommend a reliable mechanic in the North Bristol area I would appreciate it.
Sar N Ade wrote:Well, here is the story so far
Bongo went bang on the way home from hols. AA towed us home.
New water pump bought, fitted by our regular mechanic.
Apparently he ran the engine all day to ensure no overheat (did it without affecting the fuel level though
We drove less than 2 miles and the van overheated. This was Friday of the Bank Hol weekend.
Phoned mechanic Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday leaving a message and number each time. Phoned again Thursday afternoon & he answered. Promised to come and look at it on Friday.
Never turned up.
Phoned & left a message Monday, phoned on Tuesday and he answered. Promised to come and look at it Tuesday afternoon. Never turned up.
So now we have a Bongo with an unknown cooling problem. It may only be a pipe not fitted correctly, or it may be a new cylinder head for all we know. We can't look at it this weekend as we are with the Costwold & Chilterners (not in the Bongo though, obviously
We cannot move the van until it is looked at. I am concerned about Adrian doing the work as he is very handy with carpentry, plastering, plumbing and electrics but is not so clued up over cars. His Dad (who is on holiday for the next 2 weeks) does know about cars but tends to 'know best'. For example, he told me before he went away that overheating cannot affect the cylinder head. He could read the overheating factsheet (already printed off) and ignore parts of it.
I know I am inventing problems before they arise (I do that I'm afraid
He won't be servicing and MOTing the Fiesta from now on
Cheers
Sarah
PS Sorry for the long grouch
What a rotter It's a pity you aren't here. There is a great guy down the road who would look at it, I'm sure. I will give you his number for future use. He has done all our jobs, but not a Bongo specialist. He just checks the fact sheets etc and does accordingly. I hope you can find someone in Bristol very soon, or your mechanic comes back. Fingers crossed 
