The worst things to go wrong on a Bongo in 2014 ??

[BongoBongo123]

My Bongo (Freda) works well and I do my basic maintenance etc. It is quite old (95 here) as they all are and yet quite new compared with many of the available and well used campers. It's nothing new and the bongo seems no worse than others. However my mind ticks over.

As of today what are some of the worst things that can happen on a Bongo in terms of hassle/cost and lack of part availability. I am doing this through concern and also from a potential maintenance perspective. I am not going to let this spoil the pleasure of ownership but I also want to try and keep it running as long as possible and retain/enhance resale value.

I think a lot of people would be interested in a good list of "watch out fors" especially if preventative maintenance could avoid big problems.

I add the parts no longer available thread as a starting point:

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=57056

[Mark Elvin]

My engine sh@t itself, suspected as the result of a previous cam belt failure (dodgy Bristol seller bodged repair suspected too).

£2000

[BongoBongo123]

My engine sh@t itself, suspected as the result of a previous cam belt failure (dodgy Bristol seller bodged repair suspected too).

£2000

Sorry to hear that Mark and 1 massive warning right there !

[Ian]

Judging by calls received and online orders taken, I would say that corrosion of steel pipes under the Bongo, especially on 95 and 96 models, is something to watch out for. We have spotted a 200% rise over the last 6 months in those people (including garages) who order the following

Rear Heater Supply Pipes (driver side, the one with the T junction)
Auto Transmission Pipes (pair of, which are in the same area)

These pipes corrode from within and there can be no signs of rust until a small hole appears. A hole in either of the ATF pipes will be inconvenient as your Bongo will not start. But a hole in the rear heater pipe is potentially catastrophic.

When getting your Bongo serviced, or performing your own checks, ensure these pipes are not overlooked.

[roosmith]

Sound advice Ian, thanks

[BongoBongo123]

Judging by calls received and online orders taken, I would say that corrosion of steel pipes under the Bongo, especially on 95 and 96 models, is something to watch out for. We have spotted a 200% rise over the last 6 months in those people (including garages) who order the following

Rear Heater Supply Pipes (driver side, the one with the T junction)
Auto Transmission Pipes (pair of, which are in the same area)

These pipes corrode from within and there can be no signs of rust until a small hole appears. A hole in either of the ATF pipes will be inconvenient as your Bongo will not start. But a hole in the rear heater pipe is potentially catastrophic.

When getting your Bongo serviced, or performing your own checks, ensure these pipes are not overlooked.

Good info are these pipes visible easily or do you need it on ramps ? Do you mean literally a pipe that supplies hot water to the heater in the back part of the vehicle. And presumably there are metal sections of the same to rust as opposed to just being rubber hoses.

I guess there is nothing that can be done to maintain if they rust internally ? (correct and good quality anti freeze/coolant in cooling system, regularly changed to ensure good corrosion inhibitant effect ?)

How come a hole in rear heater pipe is catastrophic?.. I guess it is an integral part of the cooling system and the system will simply drain itself along with all the overheating problems.

[BongoBongo123]

Do you sell the metal one with the T section Ian ? The quite long one by the looks of it. Mine has surface rust on it. Might be worth having a spare available. Edit .. on closer inspection it looks pretty bad with some sections bubbling so I ordered a pipe ! Next years service I will get the mechanic to put the new one on.

[Muzorewa]

Next years service I will get the mechanic to put the new one on.

It's a full day's work

[Northern Bongolow]

Next years service I will get the mechanic to put the new one on.

It's a full day's work

only if you keep chatting and brewing up. .

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 78#p571797

[mikeonb4c]

Rust and welding. See my reply on another thread and start budgeting but not panicking

[BongoBongo123]

Well maybe now I have a new one on the way I can look more closely at the old and brush it down a bit and assess whether a coat of Kurust will see it through 1 more year. Although I am doubtful I can reach the full pipe or the top (though guess it is the lower side that gets the salty spray. All this and these are supposed to go from the inside !! That way I do not waste the new coolant I had put in last year.

I won't touch it myself when it comes to changing it and let the mechanic do it. These things all add value to the vehicle as well hopefully, or at least stop depreciation to a degree. It is not cheap for a bit of pipe (or the fitting of it I am informed, days labour: gulp !) but I like my Bongo and I want to really get out and about in it next year from the start of the sign of decent weather. Wales, Scotland maybe and a tonne of festivals on the cards.

[Muzorewa]

If you're doing that heater pipe you may as well do the autobox pipes that are alongside otherwise you'll have to strip it down twice in short succession.

[BongoBongo123]

I will have to inspect them first I did not see them. £100.00 hmm.. a lot of dosh.

[mikeonb4c]

I will have to inspect them first I did not see them. £100.00 hmm.. a lot of dosh.

I'm always wanting to spend ahead of trouble, but Adrian (Japandirect, Bury, for new readers) generally advises me not to as trouble usually comes from an unexpected direction. We tend to meet somewhere in the middle.

Regarding these pipes, Adrian will generally repair with a t-piece unless - like me - you are determined to have it all replaced and at rather more cost. I just wanted to have a nice new pipe, but it's a lot more in parts and labour to do that, and the fact is that all the corrosion damage (which I suspect in most cases happens from the outside) usually takes place in a limited, exposed, section, so cutting out and t-piecing with rubber hose etc seems a perfectly good alternative if you are budget conscious.

[Muzorewa]

On ours it was the gearbox pipes that were leaking, it was only when prodding the water pipe it was obvious it was in poor shape too.

I think the opinion of the guy who fitted our replacements (Ady) was that they're installed early on in the process by Mazda, not expecting them to ever come out again. On the bright side, the water pipe on the other side of the engine is even more inaccessible