Drove my Bongo in low gear and my coolant alarm went off

[teenmal]

Got my alloys from Carl at Wheelbase. Locking nuts on all wheels, plus the nuts themselves need a special key. I live on a private road, got a cat 1 alarm, only person we see is the postie....

I e-mailed Bill and he's got back to me, I'm going to have it flat bedded over to him. Forgot I had breakdown insurance He reminded me.......

Its the people that you Don't See that are the problem.

[Poohbear]

Got my alloys from Carl at Wheelbase. Locking nuts on all wheels, plus the nuts themselves need a special key.

Isn't that the whole point of locking wheel nuts, that they need a special key to remove them?

[jaylee]

Got my alloys from Carl at Wheelbase. Locking nuts on all wheels, plus the nuts themselves need a special key.

Isn't that the whole point of locking wheel nuts, that they need a special key to remove them?

Indeed..! Locking wheel nuts should help hinder a thief's progress removing the alloys...

[Poohbear]

Got my alloys from Carl at Wheelbase. Locking nuts on all wheels, plus the nuts themselves need a special key.

Isn't that the whole point of locking wheel nuts, that they need a special key to remove them?

Indeed..! Locking wheel nuts should help hinder a thief's progress removing the alloys...

Sorry, I was just being facetious!

[iBongo]

Had it flat bedded over to Campercraft this morning. The radiator is cracked and needs to be replaced, hopefully that will be problem solved

[iBongo]

UPDATE Campercraft replaced the radiator and all was fine til a week ago. I've had it back a month and here's what's happened.

When I picked up the Bongo I noticed that the coolant alarm was staying on longer than usual when started up. Bill noticed it too, but said Bongo was running great.

As he said, the bongo ran great. I did notice the coolant alarm was staying on for way longer when first started up in the morning, way longer than usual. Once warmed up the coolant alarm was like normal. Start engine, quick 1-2 sec beep and off.

I had a look at the level of the coolant and it was below full when cold, I read up on it here and it said it should be full when cold so I topped up with water, about 400ml. The level is still full now.

A week ago I started to notice the bongo wasn't driving smooth, thought it was me. And, I also just put new 17 inch alloys on and thought that might be making it feel a wee bit rough.

Yesterday I noticed a lack in power, not a lot but definitely not as quick if I put my foot down, I also smelt a burning rubber smell when I got home.

Today a friend and I jumped in the Bongo to see what he thought. We drove to North Berwick and back, about 25 miles, we definitely both agreed that something was not right, it also felt like it was going to cut out while idling at lights. Got home and as we got out the bongo we could both smell a burning rubber smell from behind the passenger seat.

Also, we couldn't get the heater to blow through the front window to de fog it, nothing coming out of it at all.

Called Campercraft and told Bill the symptoms and he said it doesn't sound good, (Cylinder Head )

The bongo isn't over heating or losing coolant. I have another alarm, I think an engine alarm, it never gets above 82. will post photos of both alarms.

What do you think?

[iBongo]

hmm

[Bongo??]

Whilst were on the subject of Auto Boxes,and i don`t want to sound dateless,but i am right when i say its OK to change from D3 to S2 whilst moving,obviously not at exsessive speeds??
Forgive me if this is obviously Ok

[Poohbear]

Whilst were on the subject of Auto Boxes,and i don`t want to sound dateless,but i am right when i say its OK to change from D3 to S2 whilst moving,obviously not at exsessive speeds??
Forgive me if this is obviously Ok

Yes, it's just like changing down a gear on a manual. You wouldn't change from 3rd to 2nd with a manual gearbox if the engine is screaming, same with an auto box. If you are so unsure of driving an auto why not read up on the internet about it or even consider a driving lesson with an instructor who specialises in automatics. The thing about automatics is they are easier to drive than a manual but to drive an automatic properly is actually more complicated than a manual.

[iBongo]

checked the coolant this morning and it was low, just above the alarm screw Added about 300ml of water. I was going to start it up and see if I could see a leak, what do ya think?

[mikeWalsall]

I always use compatible 'ready to use' coolant to top up mine ..

Have you not got an handbook ..??

There is comprehensive information in the correct use of the auto-box / hold button / shift speeds etc:..

[jaylee]

checked the coolant this morning and it was low, just above the alarm screw Added about 300ml of water. I was going to start it up and see if I could see a leak, what do ya think?

It wont hurt in my opinion to start the van, wait a couple on minutes & check all the usual suspects regarding a leak...

Rear & front heater matrix's??? Maybe a close look at the heater hose stub coming out the side of the engine?? (& the subsequent tee piece.?)
Core plug things maybe...? Water pump???

... Bleed hose...?

Don't count anything on the system out just because it's recently been replaced or new!!! Good luck..

[MountainGoat]

If you feel that you have a problem with the auto gearbox then take it for a checkup. On Dandywarhol's recommendation I took my Bongo to Automotive Automatics in Edinburgh in September 2009 because I felt my Bongo was due for an atf oil change. They took it for a test drive, dropped the pan, cleaned out the filter then put in new atf fluid type D3. Cost me £115.00 which included vat. No problems at all since.

Automotive Automatics
Automatic Transmission Specialists
14 vGordon Street
Edinburgh EH6 8NA
tel: 0131 544 5548

Tony

[iBongo]

Thanks Tony, I remembered DW mentioning them. Will give them a call.

Meanwhile, while looking for a leak with the engine running I noticed a loose plug thingy, sorry, I know nothing about engines. Here's a photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/78675572@N04/6898557030/ and another, http://www.flickr.com/photos/78675572@N04/7044652529/

[MountainGoat]

Sorry I'm not much of a mechanic, perhaps Ady (Northern bongolow) or one of the others will have a clue. Whenever I have had a problem in the past I have always met up with former Bongo owner dandywarhol somewhere in Edinburgh to get his advice. Alan who still comes on this forum occassionaly lectures in automotive studies at Edinburgh's Stevenson College.

I expect that he will pop in on his motorbike at the Scottish Bongo bash as it is not far from his place.

Tony