underpowered and swapping gears

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior

Locked
User avatar
madmile
Supreme Being
Posts: 1506
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 10:45 pm
Location: south wales

underpowered and swapping gears

Post by madmile » Tue May 26, 2009 11:07 pm

I have just driven my runabout bongo back from the south and its driving me nuts. For the past year I have been moaning to a dealer friend and mechanic about the way it drives, but it only seems to play up after a good 20-30 mins driving and particularly when loaded up and when anyone drives it they say it drives fine.
From cold through the gears its fine, but get it on a motorway and it struggles to get to 70 and if you are on a slight incline or even into a headwind then at 60mph its swapping between 3rd and 4th and not really going anywhere. This is definitely not how a bongo should drive.
Its had a few fuel filters, checked the turbo and hoses.
Is this likely to be pump or gearbox - as a cheapy runaround I can live with it, but one day its got to be sold, and then it has to be right.

All thoughts welcome.
User avatar
mister munkey
Supreme Being
Posts: 5184
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:11 pm
Location: Not Far From Royston Vasey, West Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by mister munkey » Tue May 26, 2009 11:14 pm

Could be one of a multitude of causes, tick enough things off the list & you'll get there in the end.

1st impressions from my end, purely going from similar symptoms I've seen on here to yours, is that you may need the solenoid pack looking at.

A not too common but fairly straight forward fix.

Best of luck, hope its a quick fix.
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/MisterMunkey
User avatar
dandywarhol
Supreme Being
Posts: 5446
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:18 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by dandywarhol » Tue May 26, 2009 11:20 pm

That should come up with a blink code by shorting out the diagnostic pins and watching the HOLD light.
Any chance you've got a brake dragging? Check for a hot wheel when the problems start again.
Collapsed exhaust baffle?
Whale oil beef hooked
Renault Lunar Telstar
Yamaha TD1C 250, Merc SLK200, KTM Duke 690
HeskinBongo

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by HeskinBongo » Tue May 26, 2009 11:21 pm

Hi
interesting problem you have there, seems to be temperature related

Have you checked your Auto box fluid level ?

Do you have any diagnostic faults registering ?, use the members area to identify them, very easy to do.

Just spent a day of the bank holiday changing my autobox solenoid pack, as mine was intermittently dropping out of top gear.
User avatar
mikeonb4c
Supreme Being
Posts: 22877
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:49 pm
Location: Living with Mango Bongo in the North West but with a tendency to roam
Contact:

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by mikeonb4c » Tue May 26, 2009 11:42 pm

HeskinBongo wrote:Hi
interesting problem you have there, seems to be temperature related

Have you checked your Auto box fluid level ?

Do you have any diagnostic faults registering ?, use the members area to identify them, very easy to do.

Just spent a day of the bank holiday changing my autobox solenoid pack, as mine was intermittently dropping out of top gear.
Welcome HeskinBongo - not noticed you on here before. Anyone who can change their own solenoid pack gets an instant welcome as a likely Bongomechanical Guru - a handy bloke to have around =D>

PS - don't try this one at home kids :lol:
User avatar
The Great Pretender
Supreme Being
Posts: 2671
Joined: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:10 pm
Location: Wigan

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by The Great Pretender » Tue May 26, 2009 11:57 pm

Hi Madmile, before you spend any money remove the thimble filter in the pump inlet and re create the driving style that causes the problem. I had similar problems and thought it was my veg conversion at first...................Good luck
To infinity and beyond
User avatar
madmile
Supreme Being
Posts: 1506
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 10:45 pm
Location: south wales

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by madmile » Thu May 28, 2009 12:04 am

Thanks for the suggestions - I hadnt thought about checking the fault codes :oops: better pay my dollar agin so I can get to the fact sheets :roll: .
The ATF is ok, and definitely not dragging a brake.
Not sure even where the 'thimble' is GP - mechanics are not my strong point.
Veg_Ian

Re: underpowered and swapping gears

Post by Veg_Ian » Thu May 28, 2009 7:33 am

I think GP was referring to what is commonly known as the banjo filter. It's a common problem that has cropped up on here many a time, so a search on here should reveal how to dismantle and clean it. An easy job for a man of your calibre :wink:
Locked

Return to “Techie Stuff”