An unknown problem

[Bongo Bluck]

Hi, I have been a happy bongo owner since may (and I still am!). Though of recent a problem has developed.

I first noticed that there was as wet patch on the passenger side, I thought a bucket had leaked as id been fishing and I had had a load of gear in the front and did not think too much of it. Though after coming back from the fising trip I noticed it had become very wet and soaked a neck pillow and a uk road atlas that were on the floor too. There is no real smell or colour to the wetness though there is a slight viscosity.

It was also dripping on to the road when I parked up, close to the back of the front wheel arch.
I got underneath and could clearly see that this pipe was quite probably the source of this emitting liquid, my hand on the pipe gave a result of a black oily hand, not like my carpet test.

http://s1139.photobucket.com/albums/n55 ... njo/BONGO/

I have taken some pictures and uploaded them here. There are 2 pictures (number 2 and 3) of the pipe with the leak area circled. I have followed the pipe back up for a clear picture of where the pipe joins off to and this has an arrow(pic number 1) while picture 4 shows the main area of the soaking.

Also I don’t know if it is coincidence as the light warning switch doesn’t beep when I turn the ignition off too now.
It also feels as if the steering or general movement of the bongo is a little more squeaky than usual (not overly though).

Any ideas or advice would be much appreciated, I’m not very clued up when it comes to mechanics.

I am not driving the bongo at the mo since this has come up and am back on the old push bike.

Cheers,

Charlie

[missfixit70]

What light warning switch are you talking about?
Have you checked the coolant, steering fluid, engine oil, gearbox oil levels?
Sounds like you may have at least a couple of issues, steering fluid leak possibly if the steering's a bit iffy & there's a bit of oil lurking about under there & a leaking front heater matrix if the front carpet is getting wet. the oily hand underneath is not related to the wet carpet, most bongos leak a bit of oil here & there, looks like you may have a bit leaking from the air inlet pipework, there may be some getting in from the rocker cover vent pipe which feeds into it, or could be any number of things, very difficult to diagnose remotely, best to get it to a bongo specialist unless there's a bongo techy nearby that'll come & have a look for you.
Steering fluid may be solved by using a steering fluid leak sealer added to the power steering reservoir under the drivers seat if it's low. usually leaks from the top pinion seal of the steering rack visible under the bonnet at the end of the steering column - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=39386
The possible coolant leak is a more serious issue, check to see if the level in the header tank under the bonnet has dropped (do you have a low coolant alarm?) if it has, you need to find exactly where from, from what you say, it sounds like the front heater matrix, which can be temporarily by passed if necessary, but if you don't have a lot of technical knowhow, I'd suggest getting it recovered to your nearest bongo specialist - DO NOT drive it if you have lost coolant, it will need bleeding properly once the leak has been found & remedied.

[Bongo Bluck]

Sorry i meant the sound beep for when you leave the lights on, not switch.

I have a coolant alarm, It came on a about a month ago, it seemed as if it just needed a top up so I put a litre of 50/50 mix in and that stopped it, just when i was away it happened again and i put about half litre of water in and it stoppped again and isnt going off now.

thanks for the quick response missfixit and in depth advice, you are right, this is way beyond me and I should get it to a bongo friendly garage. Though im still happy to hear and heed more advice.

[Bongo Bluck]

I was also wondering as it doesn't appear to be an immediate problem with the coolant would i be ok driving it the 10 miles or so to the garage?

[missfixit70]

If you are having to top up the coolant, get it sorted asap, it is a sealed, pressurised system & should not need topping up, if it does you have a leak, which means it's not runnning at the right pressure, which means it could cause serious issues as the coolant may be able to boil in "hot spots". If the coolant has not dropped below the level of the bottom of the header tank, you may be ok, but if the coolant alarm goes off, pull over immediately.
Get them to check over the rest of it too & service it, sounds like it's need of some TLC.

[stuc]

The one i got from the scrappie looks like new but before i took it out i felt the stubs and they were solid,so hammer and chisel, cut a hole in the bulkhead to remove it from car without removing dash. Back to work and half an hour later it was back together. Not as bad a job as expected,just loosened the dash each end and centre, loosened heater box, loosened steering column and this gave enough room to slide the matrix in and out. Bongo is now left on lift at work ready to fit a new stat and renew the coolant. Is it really that complicated to bleed. Heres some pics of the old one showing where it was cracked.

Sounds like a heater matrix problem, wetting the carpet. I had a similar problem wetting the carpet on drivers side. The heater matrix has plastic end caps and stubs which deteriorate as they get old. Mine had a split in the very end of the plastic end. Not that hard to change but you may need a hand to replace the coolant. I noticed the carpet getting damper and damper and after a few weeks and topping up coolant just a little bit, it eventually let go and dumped a lot of coolant which filled the footwell and leaked out underneath. Not saying it is defenitely this but worth checking.

[stuc]

See wet drivers floor, seperate post. I put the reply there first then deleted it.

[missfixit70]

This one - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=46290

[stuc]

Cheers, quite a few other handy suggestions in there also.

This one - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=46290

How do you know where to find stuff so quickly? It takes me all night to find stuff.

[missfixit70]

Cheers, quite a few other handy suggestions in there also.

This one - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=46290

How do you know where to find stuff so quickly? It takes me all night to find stuff.

I saw you post on it earlier & realised what you were replying to

[Bongo Bluck]

thanks again for the replies, I'm booked in at the garage next week so will report back once I know what the problem ends up being (well already is)