Coolant Leak - Mazda Bongo 2.5TD

Rear Heater Matrix Hose at Block

It was only 4 posts ago I was blogging on a coolant issue with my personal chariot and here we are again!  Different hose this time, which was difficult to initially pinpoint due to its location.

However the issue arose on Thursday evening after work on a refueling mission (Asda again)?!  I noticed the fans were on as I switched off the engine, but could not see any "steaming evidence" as such (I wasn't looking low or rearward enough).

Got the car home and then investigated a little further first thing Friday, noticing that the header tank level was off the scale, and duly tipped in approximately 3 litres of water, which was enough to get me to AA Automotive for my Friday work experience session.  Due to the extent of the Garage workload throughput on Friday I was only able to get my chariot on a free ramp at 4 pm to check for leakage evidence once "in the air".  Andy Kirby picked it up straight away and traced it back to a hose end at the engine block at the rear.  New hose was required due to perishing at clamp point, but I also needed to be at work in 30 minutes! Tipped in another couple of litres of water and off I went, with a suitable reserve in a container to get me home again afterwards (at least I know my temperature gauge is functioning correctly)!

Saturday 10th January 2015

Having tried to contact my service provider several times during the day it became evident they were not working.  Saturday became a day of walking to do shopping and topping up Gas and Electric cards etc, and finally resting, due to shunting all week in brand new work boots, whilst the other shunter was off on the sick (genuine call I hasten to add).

Sunday 11th January 2015

Air Filter Housing
& ducting Removed
and Hose End at Block

Other end of hose
from underneath
vehicle

Fully rested I was "up and at it"! System safely drained again, and guilty hose sliced for ease of removal, I was now ready for the replacement parts' arrival and fitting on Tuesday positively thinking! My chariot is nearly 19 years old after all and the hoses that I am replacing are probably all original, so "fair play to the Bongo"!  To be resumed......








Monday 12th January 2015

Contacted my service provider first thing and ordered the correct hose (as there are "many" on a Bongo).  I also ordered a new Air Filter which I was unable budget for at the time of my Winter Service in November.  Short walk to AA Automotive with my container again and thankfully gifted some more antifreeze.  Dave Hayward also sorted out my mobile phone whilst I was there, as it had gone into a deep sleep overnight for some reason, and I couldn't wake it up!  I assisted Dave with a seat into the NSF of a BMW whilst there and then headed back home to sort out transport to and from work later that evening.

Tuesday 13th January 2015

Parts arrived by FedEx 0839 hrs sharply, even before I had jumped into my coveralls!  With all present and correct it was straight to work with a mug of tea and my tool kit.  The operation went smoothly and even the rain held off for the most part.  I had also aquired some "rubberised" gloves for the "hot hot hot" part of "Sea Sawing", which helped enormously!  With all running satisfactorily it was then just a case of popping in the new air filter, reconnecting the filter housing and then taking her out for a test under load - which I am pleased to report went very well.  At the time of completing this Blog, all remains well - including a visit to Asda after work tonight (which remains a common factor)?