Sliding door and air con.

[Bazman]

Hi guys, haven't been around for a while as I was waiting until our Bongo was back from the Lakeside Garages.

Well, it's still there. Mainly due to problems with an import company that they were using to get some suspension parts.

They rang me this week to say that the sliding door motor has died and will cost close to £1000 to replace.

So my first question is; is there a way of doing without the door motor so that the door will close properly? It will close now and lock, but it sticks out a bit so will, undoubtedly, attract the attentions of scumbag, wannabe thieves here in London.

The second question has to do with the aircon. Which they tell me is making a strange grinding sound that might the motor bearings. So they have taken off a belt that runs it. Can this be saved, refurbished, repaired or in any be of use again or am I going to have to fork out again, (on top of the £2000 plus already), for a new one.

I'm just a bit peeved at the moment as I've had to hire cars and vans for the last three months and I could've bought a new Bongo for money by now.

Anyway, some suggestions would most appreciated.

Baz.

[You've Been Bongod]

hi bazman look on ebay a couple of bongo's being broken at the moment you can get a heater fan and prob the motor for your door for about £100 if your lucky

you've been bongod

[westonwarrior]

£1000 for a door mechanism that must be a mistake

[mikeonb4c]

There's a Bongo aircon compressor on ebay just now. See http://tinyurl.com/56naqu

I'm sure a replacement motor could be got off a salvage / breaking Bongo for a small outlay. Have you looked into that? An unusual thing to fail - I wonder how it happened. These £1000 quotes have to be from people who don't really specialise in fixing up Bongos I think.

Good luck - keep us posted.

Mike

[missfixit70]

Are they sure the sliding door motor is dead? It may just need the contacts cleaning. I'm sure I read on here that some bongos don't have a door closing motor, so I would assume there would be a way of closing it fully without the motor? £1000 certainly sounds like they are extracting the urine , loads of bongos being broken, I'm sure it could be done a lot cheaper, eightwheeler is breaking one in the for sale pages on here.

[Bazman]

Thanks.

The garage is Lakeside. They get good mentions here. I found them via 321 away site. TRhe £1000 was for a new door motor imported from Japan.

But I'll look at trying to salvage one.

As for the air con. I have no idea what to do. In fact I know next to nothing about car mechanics. (I'm a builder).

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks.

The garage is Lakeside. They get good mentions here. I found them via 321 away site. TRhe £1000 was for a new door motor imported from Japan.

But I'll look at trying to salvage one.

As for the air con. I have no idea what to do. In fact I know next to nothing about car mechanics. (I'm a builder).

Ask Lakeside if they think the aircon compressor is the likely fault in their view (can't think what else might have a bearing problem) and how much to plonk a 'new' one if you can get one. Then see what the compressor on ebay might go for + cost to ship it to Lakeside.

Similarly with the door motor. The main issue with that will be how difficult is it to extract one from a breaking Bongo as this may add to cost of one from a breakers yard. But getting one new from Japan is bound to be expensive - that procurement route always is. This failure is so uncommon though, there shouldn't be a shortage of opportunities to get one from a breaking Bongo, provided it can be extracted economically.

I'd remain optimistic. It may cost a few hundred (max!!!) to get both problems sorted but it really shouldn't be more than that.

[francophile1947]

£1000 for a little electric motor HAS to be wrong - try Bell Hill etc who advertise on this site. Same with the aircon pump - they are expensive but should be loads of used ones available.

[jaylee]

They rang me this week to say that the sliding door motor has died and will cost close to £1000 to replace.
So my first question is; is there a way of doing without the door motor so that the door will close properly? It will close now and lock, but it sticks out a bit so will, undoubtedly, attract the attentions of scumbag, wannabe thieves here in London.

Anyway, some suggestions would most appreciated.

Baz.

How much??

I would check all relevant fuses, contacts & connectors first..
I have a self closer on mine & quite often forget, closing completely with no help from the unit.
It still makes the token whirring noise.
... But then I've been used to not having that little luxury with past vehicles!

It should close fine, just make sure the rollers are lubricated.

[bigdaddycain]

The cost of a new motor via japan could possibly be a grand... It is for a bongo remember Now that a reasonable amount f bongo's are on the road, there are consequently a fair few breaker's knocking about too. I'd stick a request on the stuff wanted section of the forum too Jaylee...

[Simon Jones]

Whilst my Bongo was in pieces with head etc off, I had the battery disconnected. The door can be opened & closed fine - you just need to give it that extra bit of a push. It will not stick out at all.

For a £1000, you could get a whole replacement door from a scrapyard & have it sprayed to match! definitely worth checking the contacts on the door, the fuse & invest in a £5 multimeter from Maplins. No way should you consider spending that much money on a motor. Get a second hand one & either have a go yourself, or give it to an auto-electrician.

Exploded diagram can be seen here: http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html

[greenman]

Well this is a coincidence of timing!
12 months ago, I went to the Isle of Man TT with my Bongo (Its first trip there!)
What a wonderful tool for travelling there with loads of gear.
What a wonderful tool for days out in fields watching the races.
The problem was that we got there and the side door refused to open.
With some help from a local plant depot, we got in and enjoyed our holiday.
Since last years TT, the door has behaved impecably.
Then, we went over again a couple of weeks ago for this years TT.
Guess what?
Yes it misbehaved again.
It jammed tight and i had to climb over the front seats to get in the back, take
the inside door panel off and play with the Heath Robinson mechanism until
it opened.
But then I had a different problem.
The motor clicks but refuses to actually "soft close" the door.
I can lock the door, slighly ajar (and indeed drove 245 miles back this morning
from Heysham to Andover)
So tomorrow, I am off to Halfords for some Silicone spray to see if that helps.
I may also talk to the guys at Discount Trucks to see if they can help.
My Bongo has become a real friend, but this fault is threatening that friendship!

[Bazman]

That's the same problem I had to start with. If the door is not pulling closed it's probably because the cable has come off.

I managed to fix mine once, but the second time I just couldn't. It was one of the repairs Lakeside were supposed to be doing.

I have no intention of paying a grand for a new one. I just need to find out how to close the door without it sticking out a bit.

[Manie]

Lakeside quoted £1600 for new airconpressor i got a second hand one for £220 at need a part ltd 0161 620 2020 its being fitted tommorow it came with 60 day garantee. it came next day . so fingers crossed. They might have the part your after.
Hope you get sorted
Manda & Jane

[jaylee]

I just need to find out how to close the door without it sticking out a bit.

Give it a Hammersmith hand shake...