Poorly Bongo - the inevitable?

TimC · Post by **TimC** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 5:40 pm

Hello all

Our bongo is a bit ill.

Its been steadily loosing coolant - and had a couple of near overheating moments which the temperature alarm rescued.

At start-up its started missing badly and pumps out a lot of steam.

When its got a bit warm the header tank has been a bit pressurised.

Garage think head or head gasket.... thoughts?

Cheers

Tim

Post by **Simon Jones** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 6:46 pm

Sorry to hear your news. The symptoms do tend to point to head gasket or maybe cracked head. You may be get away with removing the head, having it skimmed, pressure tested & re-fitted. That's what happened in my case, but it never overheated as it just got pressurised & came out the header tank. If the temp has got too high then the chances of cracked head are much higher so it may be best to bite the bullet & replace it. It's all fixable if you have the time / money to repair it

TimC · Post by **TimC** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 8:58 pm

Aye. Well I have bitten the bullet and ordered a new head, cambelt bits and a temp/coolant alarm. Ouch!

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:11 pm

TimC wrote:Aye. Well I have bitten the bullet and ordered a new head, cambelt bits and a temp/coolant alarm. Ouch!

If it's any consolation I may be heading down the same road. My symptoms are less than yours but they point to something similar. Still, nearly 9 years of near faultless running and lots of pleasure and usefulness - I musn't grumble. I had a look on autotrader at what else I might fancy, but nothing else appealed, surprise surprise. I'm not ready to be normal

Post by **Bob** » Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:26 pm

I'm with you there, Mike.

After 7 years of Bongoing absolutely nothing else will do. I just accept that the odd repair bill will come our way, but fancy new cars loose £££££££ on depreciation, you just don't get it as one bill.

Whisper this, but I know what was towing the fancy motorhomes around the site at the Golden Swan, shhhh.

Oh yes, I know what did an emergency Loo Rescue today. Traffic chaos near us, Bongo and camping loo dispatched to meet Mrs B.

I could go on...

TimC · Post by **TimC** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:56 pm

Thanks all

Right, well this has got a bit more painful. The head has come off to find heat marking in the bores...along with some hairline cracks in one cylinder.

So it seems that block is toast...

I've got no idea what to do now...

Post by **Bob** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:05 pm

Oh goodness, really sorry to hear this.

Post by **Bongoplod** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:30 pm

TimC wrote:Thanks all

Right, well this has got a bit more painful. The head has come off to find heat marking in the bores...along with some hairline cracks in one cylinder.

So it seems that block is toast...

I've got no idea what to do now...

2nd hand engine possibly

Brian

Post by **Muzorewa** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:33 am

Yep, get a complete motor from George at Bongo Spares, it'll have been pressure-tested and run to check that it's all ok.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:47 am

Hi
You're really unlucky there, as I've never heard of the bores being damaged on a Bongo since I've been on here , and I've been on here since 2004...and I think I've only ever heard of a crank needing attention a couple of times...so it rather depends on budget...If you can wait for the repair, I'd have the whole thing overhauled with rebore/ pistons/ crank /head then you can almost guarantee many years of no hassle...
Cheers
Helen

Post by **Muzorewa** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:49 am

....but if the block is cracked surely it's a goner?

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:51 am

Hi
I took that to mean the usual hairline cracks in the head???...but, yes, if it's the cylinder, that's definitely a goner!!!!!...more info?
If it is the case, then I'd go for one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHORT-ENGINE- ... 2c7faf3b30
Add a new head, and you've got a new engine!....That would be my choice.
Cheers
Helen

mikeWalsall · Post by **mikeWalsall** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:19 am

Maybe a good buy if in the UK .. but from Dubai and £250 carriage ..

Most UK Bongos seemed to get scraped for rust or head issues .. some engines have low mileage ..

Would it be worthwhile to lift / check the head .. repair if necessary .. refit with new gaskets ..??

Then you should have 100% peace of mind for many years to come ..

Post by **Simon Jones** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:50 am

That is bad luck. I only know of one person who had a cracked block but he was somewhat lacking in mechanical empathy and drove it with insufficient coolant which caused its untimely demise.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:57 am

Hi Mike...
But add it all together, and you've got a good running Bongo for less than a couple of grand , with years of hassle-free motoring, and most cars depreciate that kind of money in a couple of years!...There are one or two that seem to hold their money, and a good Bongo is now approaching VW money...I'm often on the "look-out"...what could be better...one of each!....Bongos are getting a "Kool" value of their own now!, and prices are trickling upwards!
Cheers
Helen

Poorly Bongo - the inevitable?

Poorly Bongo - the inevitable?

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