help engine and coolant loss problems

[ailishl]

Hi,
i am looking for suggestions and advice.
This started as a thread in another section, but to recap- our bongo overheated a few weeks ago and got taken to a garage about 30 miles away recommended by the forum.
It had been loosing water, and also we had noticed for a couple of months it was a little uneven and putting out white smoke on starting but did settle quite quickly.
Initially the garage said the gasket had gone, and they would machine and skim the cylinder head, we wonder about a new engine but they said to hold of with that particularly as our is not really in the best chape (95 high mileage)
We collected the bongo on Wednesday and within 5 miles it overheated and had lost lots of coolant- other half had a five hour ordeal to get recovered back to the garage.
They have checked it again- they say they have pressure checked it and they is no sign of an external leak. They ran it for 30 miles today and it seemed OK until almost the end when it overheated again and had lost a lot of coolant.
Their only suggestion now is a new engine.
So does that seem reasonable?
Any ideas about cost? Or where to get one?
We wouldn't be adverse to a re-conditionned engine but I suppose because our bongo seems to ahve had a bit of a hard life we wonder if it is worth it. Having said that we have had it two year and only had to replace the exhaust and the glow plugs.

Any help welcomed
thanks
Ailish

[Northern Bongolow]

as i dont know the garage concerned are they up to speed with the bleed process maybe its just that.just a hopeful thought.good luck.

[ailishl]

unfortunately they seem to know how to bleed it etc. They don't seem to have pressure tested the head and don't seem keen to do this either. Only option on offer is a re-conditioned engine and they are not saying they could supply it either.
thanks Ailish
PS nice eriba, puck or familia?- we have an 88 troll.

[redalan1971]

why are the garage so keen to write off the engine without being able to identify the fault. It never ceases to amaze me just how many people seem to have problems following hgf or a cracked head on this forum.
i am not a qualified mechanic but was ripped off to the tune of £1500 over 20 years ago on a triumph dolomite sprint engine that was returned 3 times before the owner did a runner after recalling approx 200 peoples cars.
This left me out of pocket with a broken car and i bit the bullet and stripped the engine myself, and with the help of a haynes manual and a very good family run machine shop rebuilt the thing and ran it trouble free for the next 18 years.

i would not accept being told the engine is useless if they haven't identified the fault, its just a kop out. Also what if the radiator is not flowing properly and the new engine has the same problem shorltly after fitting will they refund all costs.
i would also check the waterpump small coolant loss with no obvious hose leakes is quite often linked to the waterpump dripping quite hard to spot but look for wet pulleys when hot.
I have replaced my own head and gasket on my bongo nearly 3 years ago after suffering similar overheating problems to yourself. I replaced the radiator,waterpump and timing belt and front heater matrix at the same time and have had no problems since so hang on in there.

Rant over. good luck

[ailishl]

thanks for replies.
I think we are going to get it to another garage and see if they can identify the acutal problem then decide.
Probably will go in dispute with the garage over the bill, as it went in with a minor overheat and coolant loss and now while still in their hands it has overheated at least twice and is still loosing coolant so I presume if the head wasn't cracked when it got there it will be now.
The problem is finding another reliable garage.
thanks
Ailish

[maxheadroom]

this is similar to my experience...

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... head+gloom

all good in the end

[dunslair]

It may be worth speaking to Bill at Campercraft (Kelty ) or Dairsie Autopoint (Dairsie Fife). Although both may be reluctant to wade in after the other garage has worked on the van. From what I have picked up on other similar threads, not sure I understand the logic of getting a recon engine, especially if the actual problem is in the cooling system, rad or matrix. If the garage have already skimmed the head and fitted a new head gasket, I would have said new rad, hoses and mazda thermostat and water pump first, to make sure the cooling system is working as it should be (although I am not a mechanic), then re visit the head.

[mister munkey]

Replace the engine because of a cooling problem . . . . ?



Rather like buying a new house 'cos the central heating is playing up.

Get a second opinion first, it may take some time to fathom but as others have said - its bound to be a fairly straightforward fix

[gmaczbongo]

You have classic signs of head gasket, head failure.
White smoke on start up etc.
It was always going to get worse.
Remove the head and have a look, this is what the garage have done.
They have obviously not found the fault with a new gasket.
They could have fitted the gasket wrongly and this is the problem.
More probably, there is a fault with the head and as soon as it gets hot, it starts giving trouble.
The garage should be given a chance to repair it again and find the proper fault.
Costs should be taken care of when the job is complete and is working properly.
You should have to pay for repairs to the engine ie head gaket/head change.
You should not pay for the faulty first repair.
Sometimes it can be very difficult to find out where the leak is and costs can be pretty bad.
A new engine is the best option.
It sounds like you are not near this point yet.
Good luck

[ailishl]

The problem is what to do when the garage say it is definitely loosing water and overheating and their only suggestion is a new engine- but they don't know if they can get one.
I have asked them about pressure testing and they are not interested in doing it.

And it has overheated at least twice since they fitted the gasket.

So they haven't fixed the original problem and don't seem inclined to try anymore.

Also they are not local to us so I can't even go in to see that they are actually doing anything they say they are.

So definitely need to cut my losses and try somewhere else who will investigate further, at least if it turns out to be the cylinder head then it can be fixed, but a lot more expensively that them sorting it out properly at the start.