Radiator advice and a bit of a story...

[belly_bongo]

Mr bellybongo here (not the Mrs)

Well - Phil in Wolverhampton did a sterling job fixing our Bongo cooling problems (hes worked on ford rangers for years and set up his own repair shop / mot station off Cockshut lane (no sp:D)- will pm phone number if anyone needs a reliable mechanic as I would recommend))

We went to Cornwall - did full tour - , and back with no leaks at all... (in the end we replaced thermostat and waterpump) so I guess we were lucky top have a couple of minor cook ups without warping heads ./ blowing gaskets.... but


Today - when checking the water, it had lost about 1/4 pint. :

I checked the water system (which I now know very well as I have replaced alot of pipes and stuff now!!) and the radiator is leaking from the crimp between the plastic top and the metal.

I searched this forum and looks like there isn't a repair. Have tried epoxy putty but that has only reduced it....

So..... question is - best place to get a rad,, expected costs - good and bad ones.... are they easy to fit yourself??>

[dobby]

Hi there

I think the golden rule is to get a genuine one? Ian T did mine, he's based in Stoke now. It will need a full bleed etc. I think there are cheaper options about and there's another rad from a ranger (?) that fits but there's a vent pipe that to block off.

The Bongo Shop sells the genuine one at £245. I think I paid less than that via Ian Taylor but it was part of a lot of other work

Will Phil in Wolverhampton be fitting it?

[mikexgough]

Several of us have fitted a radiator from these people they are as O.E...... same construction, straight swap, same quality.....
You seem to have the common issue with these tanks, the radiator is in the main conventional but has 2 plastic tanks, the top one being the "Hot" tank and the bottom one being the cold" tank, with age the clips tend to "lift" as the plastic ages and then you get the weeps and in many cases leaks.......

[nfn]

Changing the radiator is a straightforward job to do yourself. The most awkward part is bleeding the system afterwards. I strongly recommend using OEM Mazda hose clamps or Norma constant pressure clamps.

[mikexgough]

I strongly recommend using OEM Mazda hose clamps