hi new here and need help ASAP
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
hi new here and need help ASAP
hi all i have owned my bongo since 2008, last month it lost it reverce gear i took it to a garage and they said it would be £1700 to fix. so i was thinking of buying a replacement gear box which we have found from £400 and £700, but then i found a bongo same colour, engine, and told is a 4x4 (so is mine) but i am taking his word on that as i wouldn't know as it dosn't say on the log book, now i don't know what to do get a new gearbox or buy this other bongo and keep mine as spares. by the way mine had 52000 on the clock when i got it now she is on 265000 and still going strong forward, please any help what would you do xxx
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
Personally I would go for the transfer box/gearbox rebuild. It is the dearer option, but the gearbox specialist should replace everything that's faulty, and will guarantee their work, and it should last for ages.
If you know what's wrong with the box, you could ring around a few gearbox specialists for a quote, to see if the work could be done significantly cheaper, but with the same guarantees - it may be worth a try
If you buy a used one, it may be absolutely OK but it may not last long, this the chance you take.
If you do buy a used one, get a guarantee with it, so they'll refund what you paid for the box, or exchange it if its faulty. I wouldn't spend the sound of money you mention, with no guarantee.
If you buy the box yourself, you'll be responsible for labour costs involved in replacing it, if its faulty, so you could ask the garage if they will buy a replacement box for it, which means they bear the burden of the labour if it needs replacing again.
I'm guessing the Bongo is a 2.5 diesel? If it is, the chassis number will begin with SGL5 and a 2wd will begin with SGL3. You'll find the number on a metal plate, on a door pillar.
But I have seen a couple of 4wd's that have been converted to 2wd's without the new owners knowing, so if you do get a second hand box, get it in writing that its a 4wd box.
If you know what's wrong with the box, you could ring around a few gearbox specialists for a quote, to see if the work could be done significantly cheaper, but with the same guarantees - it may be worth a try

If you buy a used one, it may be absolutely OK but it may not last long, this the chance you take.
If you do buy a used one, get a guarantee with it, so they'll refund what you paid for the box, or exchange it if its faulty. I wouldn't spend the sound of money you mention, with no guarantee.
If you buy the box yourself, you'll be responsible for labour costs involved in replacing it, if its faulty, so you could ask the garage if they will buy a replacement box for it, which means they bear the burden of the labour if it needs replacing again.
I'm guessing the Bongo is a 2.5 diesel? If it is, the chassis number will begin with SGL5 and a 2wd will begin with SGL3. You'll find the number on a metal plate, on a door pillar.
But I have seen a couple of 4wd's that have been converted to 2wd's without the new owners knowing, so if you do get a second hand box, get it in writing that its a 4wd box.
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
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- Tribal Elder
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Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
if vin number begins SGL3 it is 2 wd if it's SGL5 it's 4wd.
you will find vin on log book or plate on passenger door jalmb.
Alternatively look for front drive shafts underneath.
if you've done over 200,000 miles [ or kms ] in 3 years i dont think your bongo owes you much !
oops - beaten to it !!
Got to say £1700 sounds a lot to spend on a bongo with that many miles done. IMHO.
Member on here by name of Alacrity is the auto gearbox expert perhaps he'll be along to advise on best course of action and prices.
you will find vin on log book or plate on passenger door jalmb.
Alternatively look for front drive shafts underneath.
if you've done over 200,000 miles [ or kms ] in 3 years i dont think your bongo owes you much !
oops - beaten to it !!
Got to say £1700 sounds a lot to spend on a bongo with that many miles done. IMHO.
Member on here by name of Alacrity is the auto gearbox expert perhaps he'll be along to advise on best course of action and prices.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
hope this is how to reply to your message. looked at both bongos vin numbers and they are SGLR does that mean any think to younigelgibson wrote:if vin number begins SGL3 it is 2 wd if it's SGL5 it's 4wd.
you will find vin on log book or plate on passenger door jalmb.
Alternatively look for front drive shafts underneath.
if you've done over 200,000 miles [ or kms ] in 3 years i dont think your bongo owes you much !
oops - beaten to it !!
Got to say £1700 sounds a lot to spend on a bongo with that many miles done. IMHO.
Member on here by name of Alacrity is the auto gearbox expert perhaps he'll be along to advise on best course of action and prices.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
SGLR should be a tin-top 4wd, as long as nobody converted it to a 2wd, so like Nigel said, check the other Bongo still has drive shafts etc. 
If you buy a used box, get a written guarantee.

If you buy a used box, get a written guarantee.
Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
thanks for the tip anymore would be welcome. both bongos are tintops, and the one i veiwed today i did put a deposit of £150 it holds it for a week it is a very clean bongo inside and out i test drove it and every thing was fine, as hubby said its a lot cleaner then mine and done half the miles. but somethink just dosen't feel right can't say why its a clean bongo i'm getting more confused as the day go's on.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
If you put your location in your profile, or say where you live (roughly, we don't put addresses on the forum) we may have a member in the area who could help you 

Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
how do you and where do i put my location, it would be great if someone could local could help.Doone wrote:If you put your location in your profile, or say where you live (roughly, we don't put addresses on the forum) we may have a member in the area who could help you
- daveblueozzie
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 5922
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:25 pm
- Location: North West.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
Go to top right of page under the moving bongo, user control panel, click that, go to profile and click,and stick your location in and submit.catbosco wrote:how do you and where do i put my location, it would be great if someone could local could help.Doone wrote:If you put your location in your profile, or say where you live (roughly, we don't put addresses on the forum) we may have a member in the area who could help you
Lost without my Bongo.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
i have tried to find Alacrity as he could be the key to my nightmare. does anyone know if he is still on bongo fury.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
I think you'll find he is away at the moment with a problem of his own but I'm sure he will check in shortly!
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 79#p521979
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 79#p521979
Geoff
2001 Aero V6, AFT, full side conversion.
2001 Aero V6, AFT, full side conversion.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
Hi,catbosco wrote:i have tried to find Alacrity as he could be the key to my nightmare. does anyone know if he is still on bongo fury.
I think he is away with his Boat/Ship (dont know the whats what

Have you checked the selector on the side of the box is actualy selecting reverse..
Cheers.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
i don't want to diss the rac or aa but in the pass they have been no help only towing to the garage, but the bloke this time was good he checked the oil and showed me could do with a top up but was not below min mark, checked and showed me the selecter arm was working, went on to tell me a bit about gearbox and engine all went over my head. i went do the internet to find a gearbox one garage up north said you can get it scanned without taking the gearbox out, so i found someone local to scan the gearbox, they said i had no gearbox oil due to a leak which they have fixed and put oil in but it would cost £1800 in fix and might as well scrap the bongo. since the reverce gear has gone she has been driven 700k, she still drives like a dream as long as you don't need to go backwards. so who do i belive.
- missfixit70
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 12431
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:53 pm
- Location: weymouth
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
Did they check the gearbox oil with the engine running & warmed up, range through the gears with brakes on & end up in P as you're supposed to?
I'd suspect if you've got no reverse, it's more serious than oil level/quality though.
I'd suspect if you've got no reverse, it's more serious than oil level/quality though.
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
Re: hi new here and need help ASAP
i'm hoping Alacrity will be able to help as i'm told he is the gearbox expert