Bongo Fury

We got the Bongo back today. Bitter sweet of course, huge bill but pretty much every pipe done, 80,000 mile second hand block, new head, Genuine Mazda parts where possible, rear heater looped out of the system.

We must be verging on the edge of bonkers but we are where we are. We were on the cusp of the mechanic crusher being put into action but nonetheless we had the repairs done. Needless to say I have a little plastic bag with a Haydn Low coolant alarm in it. Give it a few drives to settle and then will install that.

Where we will be with it in 6/12/18/24 months who knows.

No words of wisdom to offer.

You got there.

Time to enjoy her again, you made a decision to keep and fix her so now forward and no reverse

Thanks Flanners, we shall see how it goes I am rather disillusioned with Bongo's at the moment tbh, pure luck seems to have as much to do with them as anything an owner can do (other than replacing every component of the 20+ year old cooling system). I have been told to check the fluid level after each drive the next day when cold for 5 times just to make sure all is ok. (it has done 70 miles and appears ok at the moment, temps 91C peak.) Haydn Coolant alarm says delay installation 2 - 3 weeks after new 5 year Anti Freeze has been put in (to reduce sensor screw coat) so will await a little while for that.

I would also like to know the best/easiest wiring +/- interception points for the cabling for the coolant alarm.

I checked the coolant level with a clean thin wooden stick, (it hits a plastic ledge directly below the expansions tank holeso I read it as 3.5 cms of fluid. However, it was odd to see a bolt screwed in the end on the expansion tank overflow pipe so I have texted them to ask if that should be removed. Odd..maybe it needed to be plugged during bleed to stop air coming in through that way ? And was forgetten to be removed.

Whether we keep it or not, long term it is good to know everything that can be done has been done.

The bolt in the end of the overflow pipe shouldn’t be there and has nothing to do with bleeding

Thanks Haydn. No idea why it is there.

Here it is, photo... hardly difficult to spot it is massive !

https://imagebin.ca/v/4rnTH70SvMm5

Was just about to leave for dad's today but will knock that journey on the head till I get confirmation from them
for repair warranty reasons, makes sense.

Can you take a photo from a bit further away so we can see where that pipe is connected, should be just below the pressure cap

Yes it is the pipe that comes from the neck of the cap.

https://imagebin.ca/v/4rnVaQ6jeKda

Bolt shouldn’t be there

Is the correct answer Haydn ! Just had a call and was told it was most likely left in from
some kind of pressure testing. So I am told to remove it and nothing untoward should happen.

Although I will be testing that driving round the local back streets before I go anywhere far away.

Gently unscrewed bolt, taken it for a run around for 30mins, all seems ok. It will take a few hundred miles to gain basic confidence back I think.