Bongo Fury

Haydn - spelling!

Very difficult to know whats best...even if you got a new "new" engine it could go wrong. I personally would put myself in the hands of a good recommended garage that will fix your Bongo and give you at least a 3 month FULL warranty for all parts fitted/repaired. I think this would have to include the whole cooling system including hoses and radiator.
Talk to the garage and ask them exactly what they intend to do and what their warranty consists of.
Best of luck...

I would say the prices quoted are reasonable

it cost me more than that to get a new head sorted

if you are spending that much on a new head then the little extra for a new rad is not alot and with a full coolant change will cut down the chances of reoccurance

However you can not ever rule out a hose spliting water pump failing or other leak a thermostat seizing or other problems on a bongo or any other car, even new ones go wrong

ask where the new head is coming from though a cheap head can be very risky.

mine went nearly 2 years ago and since getting it fixed have not lost even a drop of coolant

westonwarrior wrote:I would say the prices quoted are reasonable

it cost me more than that to get a new head sorted

if you are spending that much on a new head then the little extra for a new rad is not alot and with a full coolant change will cut down the chances of reoccurance

However you can not ever rule out a hose spliting water pump failing or other leak a thermostat seizing or other problems on a bongo or any other car, even new ones go wrong

ask where the new head is coming from though a cheap head can be very risky.

mine went nearly 2 years ago and since getting it fixed have not lost even a drop of coolant

I think WW has got it right. Who was it (scanner? Haydn?) posted on here yesterday an excellent link to a piece on overheating and preventing it. DSepending on what caued the problem, and given the thermostat may be oggsed after the overheating episode, I'd replace that and maybe the radiator. Check all hoses and consider replacing dodgy ones. And fit low coolant alarm (and maybe engine block temp tester) for peace of mind in future.

This one is going to sting £wise, but Discount Trucks are good with Bongos and I doubt they'd fleece you so you ought to get a good fix to the problem. A shame I'm not nearer and with a flatbed trailer or I'd offer to recover it for less than the quoted price!

If you are practically minded, you could consider doing the job yourself of course. Simon Jones has done it and with a good result.

Read the small print fluffy - £889 is MINIMUM - its a good sales pitch IMO

I'd also account for a radiator replacement and £108 sounds cheap - it could be a crappy copy which could lead to further overheating problems.................

On a tangent - has anyone managed to open up an old original radiator yet? Do they have heat transfer flutes inside?

monfluffy1987 wrote:Wow, It always surprises me how fast the responses are on this forum!

About getting a new engine... Where can I get one from (i have a 4wd diesel) and wouldn't it cost more in labour to replace the whole thing?

Is this a new engine or used? I really have no idea!



Has anyone had a bongo that's actually been reliable and hassle free?

It does sound like A&E at times..

Touch wood mine's been hassle free and reliable - into my 3rd year now

monfluffy1987 wrote:Has anyone had a bongo that's actually been reliable and hassle free?

Its been said on here before, but hanging around here is like hanging round a hospital - all you see are Bongos with a problem. The fact is 99% are running around with no probs at all. When they get sick. their owners come on here. And just like health, you can act to prevent things (like overheating) or you can do your best to mend damage that might have been preventable. Tough I know, but its just the way it is, and not just with Bongos.

Had ours 30 months and no worries at all.....remember 90% of all bongo owners either don't know about this forum or are not interested in it. Of the other 10% only a very few have serious problems and of course this is what gets posted on here.....like any 10/15 year vehicle there are parts that will be coming to the end of their useful life and need examination every so often. All in all they are a very robust vehicle and with a bit of knowledgeable care will give years more of use.

mikeonb4c wrote:

monfluffy1987 wrote:Has anyone had a bongo that's actually been reliable and hassle free?

Its been said on here before, but hanging around here is like hanging round a hospital - all you see are Bongos with a problem. The fact is 99% are running around with no probs at all. When they get sick. their owners come on here. And just like health, you can act to prevent things (like overheating) or you can do your best to mend damage that might have been preventable. Tough I know, but its just the way it is, and not just with Bongos.

I agree with you Mike,its more like Emergency Ward 10

teenmal wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:

monfluffy1987 wrote:Has anyone had a bongo that's actually been reliable and hassle free?

Its been said on here before, but hanging around here is like hanging round a hospital - all you see are Bongos with a problem. The fact is 99% are running around with no probs at all. When they get sick. their owners come on here. And just like health, you can act to prevent things (like overheating) or you can do your best to mend damage that might have been preventable. Tough I know, but its just the way it is, and not just with Bongos.

I agree with you Mike,its more like Emergency Ward 10

I have eaten a boiled sweet, drunk 10 pints and have also had a curry. I do not feel too well at the moment. Should I give up on the boiled sweets.

lizard wrote:I have eaten a boiled sweet, drunk 10 pints and have also had a curry. I do not feel too well at the moment. Should I give up on the boiled sweets.

No need to worry lizard. The human body has a built in backflush facility for clearing crud out the system. Same rules as with a Bongo: have a bucket handy to hold the overflow

Just to add my 'penneth: The prices seem fair, although as stated, avoid a cheap replacement head: £300 - £500 should get you a quality one. I had head gasket failure which resulted in pressure in the coolant rather that water in the cylinder bores & steam in the exhaust. Having a replacement engine is probably going to be cheaper, but I decided that I would rather try to fix the existing one which I knew had been looked after for a couple of years, than take a gamble in one which came with no history. When I was looking last year, a decent reconditioned engine with a 6 month warranty was in the region of £2000 including fitting & transport to the garage. Many other people have spend £400 - £700 on an engine from a breakers (with little or no warranty), had it fitted for £100 - £200 & they've been pleased with the results.

It's a horrible situation to be in & I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Good luck & I hope you get it sorted quickly (& cheaply)

Hi Marcus, returning to your symptoms.... Does the coolant fly out of the header tank when up to temp upon removal of the cap?

If you have had previous overheating issues, the system NEEDS to be bled properly....

The exhaust can steam in this weather, maybe the steam is down to the cold temp, and you simply have a regular leak via a hose somewhere?

I have just phoned Mike at wheelquick for a price on a tried and tested engine, but it's for the later type "fly by wire" and won't retro fit into your bongo, unless the complete ECU and loom were to be fitted too....

Feel free to ring mike on 01942 217800, he's clued up on your plight, and is willing to explain to you over the phone how to bleed the bongo,and go over other possible symtoms that you may not have considered....

I had the same problem with our Bongo, cost £1200 at a local garage to have fixed turned out to be Cowboys ,lasted about 6 months, they refused to admit liability. Finally did the job myself, replaced the head, cost about £300, bought the other parts from Bongo bits. In total cost me about £450. I really gave the Rad a blitzing, replaced all the hoses, and the Bongo has been running perfectly for nearly a year now. I had a lot of invaluable help from this forum, and couldn't have managed withou all the helpful advice. I am no Spring Chicken so if I can do it with the help of the Bongo manual, I'm sure anybody with a bit of practical knowledge can do the same. Cheers Tom