Soooo, long story short: looks like the garage that changed the cambelt didn't quite tighten up the tensioner bolt enough. It drove ok for a bit, but then when revs reached a certain threshold, the belt jumped some teeth. Being an interference engine, the valves impacted the pistons. New head ...

Thanks Geoff, I'll pass that on to my mechanic.

Hi,

My mechanic is trying to put my '97 diesel Bongo back together after someone else took it apart. He's done all of it apart from 1 vacuum pipe, but can't figure out where it should go.

Please can anyone point me in the direction of some vacuum pipe diagrams? I'm a member, so have access to the ...

Thanks very much. So that means that if the cambelt is timed up incorrectly, there could be contact between the piston and valves and the fuel injection could be happening at the wrong time in the cycle?

Thanks for the lush projects drawing link. So the FIP drive gear is connected by helical gearing to the crankshaft?

Hi, the repair is ongoing. Looks like there might a bent or stuck valve too (but only one). The garage says this may have been caused by the broken rocker knocking about inside, not related to the cambelt change. They'd like me to pop in to have a look and they want to talk through options, as the ...

Thanks all, I'll let you know how it pans out.

Thanks for the info about the camshaft check and compression test.

I did query the possibility of a timing problem just after the belt change, when it was a bit clattery, before it went really wrong, but he assured me he was very careful and marked it all up properly etc. He has had a Bongo of his ...

Hi, thanks for all your replies.

I'll be sure to ask them to check the camshaft for breakage too. When you say "...or take the top off and wind the engine over", does that mean just the rocker cover or something more (like the cylinder head) - I'm just about at the limit of my engine knowledge here ...

Hi,

My diesel bongo appears to have a broken rocker arm. It broke down outside a local garage that I've not used much before so I thought i'd give them a go. They're currently researching the job and putting a quote together. Meanwhile, please does anyone have any tips about the following:

1. how ...

Ok, good points, thank you. I shall be sure to pass these on to the machine shop and mechanic.

Hi, Yes it sounds like the shaft threads were stripped as well (or were damaged cutting the nut off). I haven't seen it, but my mechanic says it wasn't possible to cut a new thread as it is. He is indeed taking it to a machine shop with the idea to build it up with some weld, lathe it back to a ...

Hi,

In a fit of genius, I've somehow managed to strip the thread of the nut (and the shaft) that holds the steering wheel on the splines. My mechanic raised the possibility of cutting a new thread on the shaft but is worried it will weaken it. Any thoughts please? Should I try to persuade him into ...

Hi, sorry for the slow reply, I've been away. Thanks for the info, the part in the vid is the same sort of thing as mine. He's trying to fix the contacts on his, but mine is knackered inside. I got the airbag module out safely without blowing my fingers off (disconnected both batteries for a good ...

Hi,

The clock spring connector on my steering column has disintegrated, resulting in broken continuity, no horn and a flashing airbag light (6 flashes, 2 second pause, 6 flashes etc).

I'm hoping to find a compatible non-Bongo part (eg. Mazda 626) from a scrappy as it's a bit pricey new, but have ...