gearbox

[mad as cheese bongo man]

Hi All,

I've got a problem with me van, basically when driving it doesn't seem to get into 3rd gear, it gets to about 25mph and then the revs just keep on rising without it changing gear, i've found that if you then change it from D to L it changes to the next gear, allowing you to do 30mph but the the same thing happens?

Any ideas, it was fine up until today, my mate at work reckons it might just need th gearbox oil replacing, if so i can just take it to may local garage, if its something more serious i'll have to get it up to Wigan some how.

what do you reckon?

thanks in advance

Rob

[mister munkey]

Get it to Wheelquick (Other reputable dealers are available) if you can & get the solenoid pack checked out.

[mikeonb4c]

Hi All,

I've got a problem with me van, basically when driving it doesn't seem to get into 3rd gear, it gets to about 25mph and then the revs just keep on rising without it changing gear, i've found that if you then change it from D to L it changes to the next gear, allowing you to do 30mph but the the same thing happens?

Any ideas, it was fine up until today, my mate at work reckons it might just need th gearbox oil replacing, if so i can just take it to may local garage, if its something more serious i'll have to get it up to Wigan some how.

what do you reckon?

thanks in advance

Rob

Sorry to hear that Rob

Veebug (BF member in Timperley) has a mechanic mate in Altrincham that he says does a lot of work on Bongos. If you can't get as far as Wheelquick, maybe PM him in case he could get his mate to help? Also (distant memory) I thought I remembered a gearbox specialist in Stockport who has dealt with Bongos before. Have a search (plus check recommended list in members area) and/or try phoning Mark at Manchester Campers (good guy) to see if he might be able to direct you to somewhere local.

Good luck - keep us posted

[missfixit70]

Have you checked the 'box oil level? make sure it's warmed up & running, range through the gears, clearest reading in D with both brakes on (& wheels chocked), do it in if you're not happy about doing it in D.
If you don't know when the oil was last changed (if ever) could be gunged up filter i guess. Not a big or complicated job to do with a bit of mechanical competence & common sense - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=30096 - there's a fact sheet in the mebers area. If you get someone to do it for you make sure they drop the pan, get out as much fluid as poss & clean the filter. Some garages will just suck it out & replace it.

[mad as cheese bongo man]

thanks all, this forum is the dogs spuds!, i really appreciated the quick replies, thanks!

we're in the RFC, so i'm gunner call them out tomorrow and if they can't sort, hopefully get them to tow me to wheelquick. (I'll speak to wheelquick first and make sure they can look at)

Mike - good to know there are some decent bongo places more local, but i'l think i'll stick to wheelquick this time.

hopefully it won't be knackered gearbox!

cheers again

Rob

[Alacrity]

So are you saying it is changing 1-2 but goes no higher? Hopefully it isn't going 1-2-neutral as that would probably mean a burnt out high clutch which is major. You could see my post HERE which may also help. Good luck.

[mad as cheese bongo man]

took the bongo to Carvers Transmissions in Denton (got their details from fact sheet, cheers Mike)
apparently Wheelquick send work to Carvers ...
i wasn't able to check the gearbox fluid level last night as i would need to take the drivers site out. (it can't be tipped back due to the side conversion)
Anyway, the guy at Carvers drove it and his gut feeling was that it wouldn't be the fluid level as if it was low, appaently when put in D without touching the accelerator pedal, it wouldn't move forward. Mine does, so he thought it wouldn't be that. I'll find out the news tomorrow, once he's go it on the ramps, i must admit its not looking good.

Fingers crossed though!

cheers

Rob

[mister munkey]

Positive thought Rob, in the hands of one who knows his onions, it'll be a cheaper fix in the long run.

[mad as cheese bongo man]

nightmare! had the bad news yesterday - it needs a complete box rebuild

i'm told the oil is jet black, stinks of a burning smell and the sump magnet is full of metal bits.

I still can't believe it, as its 99 bongo with 70k on the clock, the engine is very quiet, smooth and in the 2 years we've had it, its been mint!

Apparently, once he's had a better look at the box, he'll be able make judgement if the mileage is looks correct. Apprently though, this is the most common mileage for them to go. He had a 4 year old Merc with less than 40k on the clock with the same problem!

Basically, they are buying a rebuild kit and reconidioning the box and replacing any hardware required. He reckons some of the cluth packs hav probably gone.

What he did say, was the geabox sump and never been off, so oil never changed. He advises this to chnaged every 20k

I gather gearbox oil changes are not part of a full service - it should always be advised though.

Anyway, i've come to terms with the £1300 bill (inc vat) - he reackons they will make it stronger than when new. I'm expecting it to e mint when i get it back (like it was not before it went in)

take it easy

[mister munkey]

Have you tried a PM

HERE

[mad as cheese bongo man]

cheers MM, but i could get the same problem further down the line, they sate they have done too many miles in the bongo ...

[mikeonb4c]

nightmare! had the bad news yesterday - it needs a complete box rebuild

i'm told the oil is jet black, stinks of a burning smell and the sump magnet is full of metal bits.

I still can't believe it, as its 99 bongo with 70k on the clock, the engine is very quiet, smooth and in the 2 years we've had it, its been mint!

Apparently, once he's had a better look at the box, he'll be able make judgement if the mileage is looks correct. Apprently though, this is the most common mileage for them to go. He had a 4 year old Merc with less than 40k on the clock with the same problem!

Basically, they are buying a rebuild kit and reconidioning the box and replacing any hardware required. He reckons some of the cluth packs hav probably gone.

What he did say, was the geabox sump and never been off, so oil never changed. He advises this to chnaged every 20k

I gather gearbox oil changes are not part of a full service - it should always be advised though.

Anyway, i've come to terms with the £1300 bill (inc vat) - he reackons they will make it stronger than when new. I'm expecting it to e mint when i get it back (like it was not before it went in)

take it easy

Sorry to hear the grim news Rob - its jogged me into attending to my ATF before long.

[dandywarhol]

Bad news! Don't know what he's on about re. the reliability of the 'box though - that box is also used in black cab taxis and is one of the most reliable around. The workshop manual and drivers manual say the oil should be changed at 24,000 miles.

Edit - maybe the newer 'boxes are less reliable - they were changed I gather

[Alacrity]

I am not sure what auto trans is used in the later Bongo's are they still 4 speed or did they go to 5? I know the earlier R4A-EL Jatco unit is a good reliable unit - especially in the Bongo, we rarely get asked to quote on them.

he reackons they will make it stronger than when new

??? I wonder how he achieves that? There are many modification kits available in the USA for GM, Ford, Chrysler units but little available for the Jap stuff, but of course I am not sure what transmission the later vehicles have fitted to them (do we know they are definitely different??). Sometimes, but not often on modern transmissions, you can add extra friction plates to the clutch packs increasing the friction holding area by say 20%. If this is on a shifting cluch (ie one that come on when the vehicle is moving) it can make that shift somewhat firmer - something we definitely do not want on a Bongo 1-2 shift!!

[dandywarhol]

I read on here that the boxes changed but don't know by how much.
Also different part numbers for the '95 and 2000. Click on the part number and a side table will open.
http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html

http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html