Damp patch under bongo

[ICBongo]

Hi,

I've just spotted a damp patch on the ground under the bongo. I've just done a short journey in it and when I got back I noticed the patch on the drive. On touching the patch it's wet like water but has a bit of a sticky feel to it, sort of greasy almost, It's a clear liquid though.

I've just looked underneath and there is evidence of where it has dripped from, (forgive my descriptions) there is a card/hardboard cover with a square hole cut in it. Feeling around it feels like it's come from there, I've popped the drivers seat up but there is no evidence of a leak and I have checked the coolant which is at the full mark too. The bongo has A/C but it's not used.

This is the first time it has happened so I'm confused as to what it might be. Does anyone have any thoughts please?

All help appreciated.

Ian

[rita]

Might be worthwhile checking the brake fluid reservoir .

[Bongoplod]

Im prone to the odd damp patch,but put it down to an age thing.........just like a Bongo

Brian

[Northern Bongolow]

as the little square hole is slightly on the driverside of the engine i would suggest its diesel,lift the drivers seat and check around the following.

the fuel filter is near /above the hole so check the filter is on right and check the pipes in and out of the filter housing, its on the left as you open the seat up.

it maybe the fuel pump is leaking, find the throttle cable then slid your hand under the belly of the pump palm up, wipe along the underside of the pump, your hand maybe now wet. if it is remove your hand from the engine bay and start the engine, then rev up the engine a little then let off the throttle and look for drips, the side seals usually leak when off the throttle after revving.

[ICBongo]

Ok, so I did what Northern Bongo said and I think it's a fuel leak on the fuel pump. The underside of the pump was wet, I dried it off, started the engine and rev'd it a little for approx 5 mins and checked the underside of the fuel pump again to confirm it was wet again.

This isn't a job for me I think, I know my limits. Typically though, is this a big job to fix?

[roosmith]

A fiddly one not a big job. Parts are under a tenner.

[cmm303]

Depends where the leak is. One set of seals can be replaced with pump in situ - the cheaper leak. Another set of seals requires the pump to be removed and specialist experience to replace/refurb the pump.

You could try to diagnose further by checking where fuel is appearing or take it to a bongo specialist.

I see you are located in Telford. Not sure how far that is from bongospares but he is a wizz at replacing fuel pumps if that is what you end up needing. Defo confirm that's it's not the easy seals first though.

[ICBongo]

OK so here's an update.

Whilst dithering over whether to attempt the fuel pump leak I noticed that a clip had punctured the large coolant hose under the drivers seat and that was what was causing the 'damp patch'.

The reason I couldn't identify what the fluid was, is because the coolant had leaked out and washed some of the oily crud off the bottom cover/pan and made the liquid hard to identify.

Today it's been in the garage and they have replace all 4 large hoses, the system has been bled and 'I hope' we are back to normal. However, I did ask the mechanic to look at the fuel pump and let me know if it was leaking and he has confirmed it is. They aren't bongo specialists and so they opted out of the pump repair. I think the coolant rigmarole put them off to be honest.

So, I have downloaded the fact sheet on how to change the two seals on the pump, but I'm really confused. How the heck do you get the blanking plate off the back of the pump? I can see the two bolts holding the dome on the front, but I can't see any easy way to get spanners in at the back. Or is it that removing the dome also removes the back blanking plate at the same time? The fact sheet is good but it's lacking in detail and I am worried that if I have a go and mess it up, I have no way of getting the bongo to the garage as it won't be drivable.

Could some one run through in detail how to get the plates off please, the fact sheet says it's fairly easy - so I must be missing something.

Failing that is there anyone local (Telford / Shropshire) that I could team up with and work on it together?

All help is appreciated.

Thanks.

(Nice new forum design btw)

[Northern Bongolow]

remove the air filter pipe, the thick black one. then you can slide your hand/arm in behind the pump towards the front of the bongo, it really is a feel as you go job, or get a mirror and torch set up . it is quite awkward but doo able, it also depends on the angle the pump is angled at when it was instaled some are easier to get behind than others. then get the 10mm spanner in your right hand and feed it up from underneath and do the 2 bolts.

top tip.
do the back side first as there are no springs to worry about, just undo the 2 bolts, remove plate, remove old O ring from seat, to fit the new one make sure its in the correct seat position then refit plate refit 2 bolts but dont overtighten em.

the front is easier to see and do, but MAKE SURE YOU SEE WHICH WAY THE 2 SHIMS AND 2 SPRINGS COME OUT AND REFIT IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THEY CAME OUT. DO NOT PUSH THE PLUNGER IN OR PULL IT OUT AS IT MAY COME OUT IN YOUR HAND, THEN YOU ARE STUFFED.

there are some good threads on here in search but god knows how you paste em into here now the forums been improved.

[teenmal]

remove the air filter pipe, the thick black one. then you can slide your hand/arm in behind the pump towards the front of the bongo, it really is a feel as you go job, or get a mirror and torch set up . it is quite awkward but doo able, it also depends on the angle the pump is angled at when it was instaled some are easier to get behind than others. then get the 10mm spanner in your right hand and feed it up from underneath and do the 2 bolts.

top tip.
do the back side first as there are no springs to worry about, just undo the 2 bolts, remove plate, remove old O ring from seat, to fit the new one make sure its in the correct seat position then refit plate refit 2 bolts but dont overtighten em.

the front is easier to see and do, but MAKE SURE YOU SEE WHICH WAY THE 2 SHIMS AND 2 SPRINGS COME OUT AND REFIT IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THEY CAME OUT. DO NOT PUSH THE PLUNGER IN OR PULL IT OUT AS IT MAY COME OUT IN YOUR HAND, THEN YOU ARE STUFFED.

there are some good threads on here in search but god knows how you paste em into here now the forums been improved.

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... ns#p674281

[teenmal]

remove the air filter pipe, the thick black one. then you can slide your hand/arm in behind the pump towards the front of the bongo, it really is a feel as you go job, or get a mirror and torch set up . it is quite awkward but doo able, it also depends on the angle the pump is angled at when it was instaled some are easier to get behind than others. then get the 10mm spanner in your right hand and feed it up from underneath and do the 2 bolts.

top tip.
do the back side first as there are no springs to worry about, just undo the 2 bolts, remove plate, remove old O ring from seat, to fit the new one make sure its in the correct seat position then refit plate refit 2 bolts but dont overtighten em.

the front is easier to see and do, but MAKE SURE YOU SEE WHICH WAY THE 2 SHIMS AND 2 SPRINGS COME OUT AND REFIT IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS THEY CAME OUT. DO NOT PUSH THE PLUNGER IN OR PULL IT OUT AS IT MAY COME OUT IN YOUR HAND, THEN YOU ARE STUFFED.

there are some good threads on here in search but god knows how you paste em into here now the forums been improved.

Just copy then paste..

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... ns#p674281