New Water pump

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior

User avatar
Triple/R
Supreme Being
Posts: 1395
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Derby/Notts border

Re: New Water pump

Post by Triple/R » Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:53 pm

Tripewriter wrote:Check the rubber water pipe from the top of the block under the drivers seat, often cracked on the bend.
Cheers mate~all the hoses i can see are all ok~but thanks anyway.
Regards Ray & Christine

It's only easy when you know the answer!!!!!!!!!!
User avatar
The Great Pretender
Supreme Being
Posts: 2671
Joined: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:10 pm
Location: Wigan

Re: New Water pump

Post by The Great Pretender » Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:14 am

As you have the shield off the bottom of the engine it may be worth doing what I tried. A half sheet of hardboard under the engine bay overnight and when getting home with the temp up. The board will stain so evaporation on the floor is not a problem and will possibly point the way to the loss. :wink:
To infinity and beyond
User avatar
mikexgough
Supreme Being
Posts: 6158
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:02 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire - where the all the Slodgers reside
Contact:

Re: New Water pump

Post by mikexgough » Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:22 am

Triple/R wrote:
mikexgough wrote:Ray..... your worrying too much Matey...... Steve & I told you at the bash..... [-X
I know what we discussed but i'm putting about half a cupful in about every 2 weeks,also i fitted my coolant alarm (so i could be alerted) & thought i would see if the coolant would find it's own level so did'nt bother topping it up,after about 3 week or so my alarm went off & the coolant was on the lower level so the coolant's going somewhere do'nt you think?

I know i'm a worrier Mike but it's doing me head in :lol: :lol: :lol:
seems like there is a loss somewhere....but minimal as it took 3 weeks to drop.....if it isn't external then it could be internal somewhere........my Low alarm "hung" on for about a minute yesterday.....and guess what.....my coolant it full.... :roll: Must be a tarnished screw giving a false alarm.....oh well little job tomorrow to replace it with one of a higher grade of stainless.... :wink:
Conversant with Bongo Top Pinion Oil Seals

Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
chalky

Re: New Water pump

Post by chalky » Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:09 am

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem with coolant loss. I thought it was a cracked head but with the help of the clever people on this forum I have fianlly proved otherwise. In my case it certainly seems to be the water pump.

The way I found the problem was to buy some flourencent UV dye and a UV lamp. This took some time because both components are not cheap and I managed to find/borrow them.

By putting 70ml of UV dye into the header tank and running it for half an hour allows the dye to get into every last nook and cranny of the system.

I then put it on ramps and got out the UV Cannon (from my uncles night club) which lit up every last spot of white under the car. Importatly though, it highlighted a thick and very flourencent stream of coolant running down the front of the engine from behind the water pump pulley wheel.

After a huge amount of faffing about, the dye is the only way to find these leaks. If you still need help, I can get you the number of the dye people.

Goood luck, Joel.
User avatar
Triple/R
Supreme Being
Posts: 1395
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Derby/Notts border

Re: New Water pump

Post by Triple/R » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:19 am

chalky wrote:Hi,

I have exactly the same problem with coolant loss. I thought it was a cracked head but with the help of the clever people on this forum I have fianlly proved otherwise. In my case it certainly seems to be the water pump.

The way I found the problem was to buy some flourencent UV dye and a UV lamp. This took some time because both components are not cheap and I managed to find/borrow them.

By putting 70ml of UV dye into the header tank and running it for half an hour allows the dye to get into every last nook and cranny of the system.

I then put it on ramps and got out the UV Cannon (from my uncles night club) which lit up every last spot of white under the car. Importatly though, it highlighted a thick and very flourencent stream of coolant running down the front of the engine from behind the water pump pulley wheel.

After a huge amount of faffing about, the dye is the only way to find these leaks. If you still need help, I can get you the number of the dye people.

Goood luck, Joel.
Cheers Joel~everything is worth trying to get to the bottom of the problem.
Regards Ray & Christine

It's only easy when you know the answer!!!!!!!!!!
User avatar
mikexgough
Supreme Being
Posts: 6158
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:02 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire - where the all the Slodgers reside
Contact:

Re: New Water pump

Post by mikexgough » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:34 am

if you have Red coolant in your system it will show leaks like this....

Not a Bongo engine but you get the idea


http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1208 ... 443gy5.jpg
Conversant with Bongo Top Pinion Oil Seals

Bongo owning Velotech Cycle Mechanic
User avatar
Triple/R
Supreme Being
Posts: 1395
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Derby/Notts border

Re: New Water pump

Post by Triple/R » Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:07 am

mikexgough wrote:if you have Red coolant in your system it will show leaks like this....

Not a Bongo engine but you get the idea


http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1208 ... 443gy5.jpg
Cheers Mike~good info as usual.
Regards Ray & Christine

It's only easy when you know the answer!!!!!!!!!!
User avatar
helen&tony
Supreme Being
Posts: 9869
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Bulgaria

Re: New Water pump

Post by helen&tony » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:01 am

Hi Ray
I agree with Ady, but have you got wet carpets by the heater?, and have you checked by the rear heater for darkish patches around where the hoses fit the stubs for the heater...if there is water loss, it accumulates by the hose where it clips on, and the road dust congeals in it...Have you had a new rad?...sometimes a minimal leak can go on for ages.....
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
User avatar
Triple/R
Supreme Being
Posts: 1395
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Derby/Notts border

Re: New Water pump

Post by Triple/R » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:04 am

helen&tony wrote:Hi Ray
I agree with Ady, but have you got wet carpets by the heater?, and have you checked by the rear heater for darkish patches around where the hoses fit the stubs for the heater...if there is water loss, it accumulates by the hose where it clips on, and the road dust congeals in it...Have you had a new rad?...sometimes a minimal leak can go on for ages.....
Cheers
Helen
Thanks Helen :) ~theres no wet carpets around the heater but have'nt checked the rear one.
Regards Ray & Christine

It's only easy when you know the answer!!!!!!!!!!
User avatar
helen&tony
Supreme Being
Posts: 9869
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:49 pm
Location: Bulgaria

Re: New Water pump

Post by helen&tony » Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:47 pm

Hi Ray
One of the problems I had (as have a couple of other members), is that when I replaced the hoses, some of the stubs to the heater matrixes disintegrate when removing the old hose...not your problem, BUT, they seem almost crystalline in appearance at the ends of the broken bit...very much like looking at broken bakelite, if you remember that!.. :lol: ...and my point is, that the plastic seems to become a bit brittle and age-hardened, and there may just be a PIA waiting to happen...I replaced my hoses...all was fine, drove onto the drive before opening the yard gates, and the LCA went off...turned off the motor in the yard, and the stubs had failed (after a 110 Km round trip)...coolant a-gush...Helen Aghast :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Luck, or what!
So...look very carefully at the matrixes....
Cheers
Helen
In the beginning there was nothing , then God said "Let there be Light".....There was still nothing , but ,by crikey, you could see it better.
Post Reply

Return to “Techie Stuff”