Bongo Fury

Having loads of problems with my beloved Bongo. The temp gauge was going through the red and the water boiling in the expansion tank.

After nearly £1,000 worth of garage time and a skimmed cylinder head, new water pump and various bits and pieces, the problem returned months later, and the garage has given up, citing a crack in the engine block, which they k sealed. I got 2 miles after that on route to a trade in.

They tried to clear an airlock in the coolant system (failed) but I having followed the video on youtube I think I have managed to move that myself. However the car runs fine without the expansion cap, but when you put it on, the water in the expansion tank boils and seems not to lift, ie not letting the excess pressure off.

I am now wondering .... is all that's wrong with Mr Bongo that he needs a new cap or something more sinister?????

I am at my wits end and considering scrapping him, but am giving the car one last chance! The family love it to bits!

Any help gratefully received.

Thanks.

Paul

celticpaul64 wrote:Having loads of problems with my beloved Bongo. The temp gauge was going through the red and the water boiling in the expansion tank.

After nearly £1,000 worth of garage time and a skimmed cylinder head, new water pump and various bits and pieces, the problem returned months later, and the garage has given up, citing a crack in the engine block, which they k sealed. I got 2 miles after that on route to a trade in.

They tried to clear an airlock in the coolant system (failed) but I having followed the video on youtube I think I have managed to move that myself. However the car runs fine without the expansion cap, but when you put it on, the water in the expansion tank boils and seems not to lift, ie not letting the excess pressure off.

I am now wondering .... is all that's wrong with Mr Bongo that he needs a new cap or something more sinister?????

I am at my wits end and considering scrapping him, but am giving the car one last chance! The family love it to bits!

Any help gratefully received.

Thanks.

Paul

It suggests a "blown" cylinder head to me........did they pressure it before skiming it ???? did they bleed it properly ???
I would suggest you get it to a Bongo friendly garage asap

haydn callow wrote:It suggests a "blown" cylinder head to me........did they pressure it before skiming it ???? did they bleed it properly ???
I would suggest you get it to a Bongo friendly garage asap

Thats already been tried, and was told they pressure tested it. As for bleeding properly I dont think they knew what they were doing as I bled it last night and got loads of air out. Trying no cap for the moment, if that doesnt work I might buy a replacement one as a last resort. I will let you know how I get on. Dont know any bongo friendly garages about here and running out of cash anyway!

Paul

Paul...if you post your location then I am sure that some of your neighbouring Bongonauts will be able to help you....

Alan

Sorry to be the "doom and gloom"
It sounds to me like another case of a garage not really knowing what to do when a Bongo is brought in, so, they treat it just like any other vehicle.....Running it with the cap off is not the answer and you will soon "steam off" a fair ampont of coolant and get even more air in the system.......Sounds as though the combustion gases are getting into the system.....this pressure is being released when the cap is off and pressure is building up when it's on.....
Blown Bongo heads have been known to pass a "pressure" test....the cracks around the exaust valves can be extreamly fine.....

To be sure what the problems are I would find the nearest Bongo friendly garage and either pay to get it there or go a mile down the road and call out the RAC (or whichever) and get them to take it for you.

Steel seal is not the sort of thing a garage should be using.IMHO

Trying to get my head around this..... if you have had a new head or skimmed head and all went back as it should and lets remember we have a WL-T engine which is commonplace for several vehicles.
You also say you had a new water pump and I hazard a guess that a Thermostat will be in the "various bits and bobs".
Take a look to see if it has had a new thermostat as that could be the issue....however it certainly points to me that there is an issue with the cooling system that is causing pressure...For me and my opinion...there is a blockage somewhere...could be small but remember these cooling systems are a few years old, nowt wrong with them BUT they could have had coolant in for sometime and corrosion properties reduce with age with coolants.
The Japanese, change their coolants on 5 yr cycles along with water pumps and Thermostats for good measure but their life cycle for their cars usually means they do that once and at 10 yrs old the car is scrapped.... that scenario is getting less these days as many Japanese are keeping their cars and paying the extra charge at the Shaken (MOT).

Anyway.....back to subject..... This scenario of boiling up and overheating leading to a skimmed head etc, sadly sounds to me like incorrect coolant has at sometime been added to the system. It has been said many times that you cannot rely on the colour of coolant alone......
1) Japanese coolant is a multitude of colours but of the same chemistry - Phosphate, Borate and Silicate free and almost equivalent of what we used to have and in EU denotation G12 coolant
2) In the Main we have G11,G12 (not as easy to get) G12+ (improved version of G12) and the colours are Blue/Green for G11 and Red/Purple for G12+ - I won't confuse matters by adding the FL-22 Mazda coolant colours.
3) Often on import...... The header tanks are low and garages as well as new owners have looked at the colour and added that colour coolant, so IF you have say looked in your Bongo on import and the coolant was green you add green or a "universal" blue coolant of the G11 make up, mixing this with the G12 from Japan = Sludge/Gelling and eventually overheating... and if your unlucky cracked head...

I think 3) is what has happened to you and I think....purely my opinion....that you still have some sludge somewhere which needs flushing out.....

alant54 wrote:Paul...if you post your location then I am sure that some of your neighbouring Bongonauts will be able to help you....

Alan

Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. Could someone please point me in the right direction for a bongo friendly garage near Cambuslang, Glasgow G72. Needs to be very close as Mr Bongo can only go 2 miles without overheating!!!!!!!!!! The AA are going to stop coming out to me as they've been out 4 times in the past 2 months. It hasn't been more cause he's been in the garage the rest of the time!!!!!!!
Any advice greatly received. Cheers. Paul

celticpaul64 wrote:

alant54 wrote:Paul...if you post your location then I am sure that some of your neighbouring Bongonauts will be able to help you....

Alan

Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. Could someone please point me in the right direction for a bongo friendly garage near Cambuslang, Glasgow G72. Needs to be very close as Mr Bongo can only go 2 miles without overheating!!!!!!!!!! The AA are going to stop coming out to me as they've been out 4 times in the past 2 months. It hasn't been more cause he's been in the garage the rest of the time!!!!!!!
Any advice greatly received. Cheers. Paul

Hi,this garage has been mentioned a few times,might be worth giving them a bell.

McGarry Hog
Unit 43 Anniesland Business Park
Glasgow
0141-954 3888

Drop Steviebongo a pm. He is a Mazda / Ford mechanic based in Glasgow. He should be able to point you in the direction of a good garage.
let us know how you get on.

All the best

David

rita wrote:

celticpaul64 wrote:

alant54 wrote:Paul...if you post your location then I am sure that some of your neighbouring Bongonauts will be able to help you....

Alan

Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. Could someone please point me in the right direction for a bongo friendly garage near Cambuslang, Glasgow G72. Needs to be very close as Mr Bongo can only go 2 miles without overheating!!!!!!!!!! The AA are going to stop coming out to me as they've been out 4 times in the past 2 months. It hasn't been more cause he's been in the garage the rest of the time!!!!!!!
Any advice greatly received. Cheers. Paul

Hi,this garage has been mentioned a few times,might be worth giving them a bell.

McGarry Hog
Unit 43 Anniesland Business Park
Glasgow
0141-954 3888

Thanks very much for that. Gave him a bell, suggested I try a new cap in the first place, if not he will pick up my car and have a look. Thanks again. Paul

Hi
I think there are a fair few happy Bongo owners in Glasgow who use workshops that are familiar with Bongos...wait until a few replies drop in here, and get your Bongo on a local low-loader, and delivered. DON'T drive it.
Ask the garage for a written report on the fault, and see if the original garage will at least foot the bill or part of, if it appears that the work was handled incorrectly. I am of the opinion that if the original garage couldn't handle the work, then they should be honest and say so...guessing that the block is cracked as the work didn't stand up to testing is not reasonable. I have taken vehicles to a garage on countless occasions, and been told they couldn't do the work...it's no shame, as we all can't be experts on everything! Any garage that was as honest as that would see me return with other problems that they can handle!
Let us know what transpires!
Cheers
Helen

helen&tony wrote:Hi
I think there are a fair few happy Bongo owners in Glasgow who use workshops that are familiar with Bongos...wait until a few replies drop in here, and get your Bongo on a local low-loader, and delivered. DON'T drive it.
Ask the garage for a written report on the fault, and see if the original garage will at least foot the bill or part of, if it appears that the work was handled incorrectly. I am of the opinion that if the original garage couldn't handle the work, then they should be honest and say so...guessing that the block is cracked as the work didn't stand up to testing is not reasonable. I have taken vehicles to a garage on countless occasions, and been told they couldn't do the work...it's no shame, as we all can't be experts on everything! Any garage that was as honest as that would see me return with other problems that they can handle!
Let us know what transpires!
Cheers
Helen

I tend to agree. You cannot expect, if you value your reputation as a professional mechanic, to take that kind of money off someone and not have some concern that the underlying problem has recurred so quickly. Either they misdiagnosed the (extent of the) problem in the first place, or else they didn't do a good enough job on the repair. They should do what they can to mitigate further cost for you.

And then I woke up........

But seriously, persistence may pay