Bongo head gone!

[wishmaster]

Hi there, seems as you've got it running would a bottle of 'Steel Seal' help under the circumstances or has it gone past that
Some info on here that makes good reading Might get you back on the road, some peeps have had great results with it

Good luck Mike and try and keep your pecker up

Izzy

[missfixit70]

Hi there, seems as you've got it running would a bottle of 'Steel Seal' help under the circumstances or has it gone past that
Some info on here that makes good reading Might get you back on the road, some peeps have had great results with it

Good luck Mike and try and keep your pecker up

Izzy

Don't think you read it through Izzy - it's all sorted & on the road, but with a much lighter wallet

[dunslair]

Hi!

Tackled the fuel gauge this morning and I think it is fixed!
Just cleaned the terminals with some wd40 and a flat screwdriver, reconnected and hey presto!
The highs and lows of owning a Bongo :
1. Head failure - £1250 Low.
2. Repair fuel gauge - free. High

It looks like it may have been the Rad partially blocked which eventually led to the head failure. She is running a lot lower on the temp gauge now. Just above half even with a mason alarm wired up.

I will run her for a while now before weighing up My options regarding keeping or selling.

Cheers,

Mike

Cooling off period (no pun intended) is a good idea before rushing to sell. One thought I've had about mine is if I now had to spend £1000 on a repair like that, I could console myself with the thought that most other motors would have lost more than that in depreciation (which the Bongo hasn't) in the 3 yrs I've owned it. And, on past experience, most other cars would have cost me that much in bills by the end of 3 yrs (which the Bongo hasn't). Helps me put it in perspective.

I assume you've got a new rad and thermostat in now?

In the last 3 years our mondeo (05 plate with 48K on clock) has cost us more than £2,500
At least with the bongo you get a bit more grin for your wonga

[jaylee]

Fuel gauge thread here - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=33920 - it's where some of the factsheet info came from

Funny enough.. I did mine not long ago! (Sorry.. Phone camera quality. )

A slight variation.... Always felt my gauge was holding out on the fuel front.

[wishmaster]

Opps me a little embarrassed better read a bit more carefully next time

[mikelamb]

Hi All,
A quick update on the fuel gauge. I followed the factsheet and found that I still had a problem with the gauge! It was stuck on just below half and would not move. Anyway retraced My steps and noticed I had the earth and ground going the wrong way around
Anyway I have now swapped them over and think it is now working although it is early days yet!
Also to update on the head fix, The Bongo is running really well and much cooler than she ran previously. (just over half on the temp gauge with a mason alarm fitted) My only concern is that in the mornings she coughs and splutters for about 10 seconds before clearing. Could this be a fuel injector playing up? I just hope its not head related!

Mike.

[Doone]

It may clear itself in a couple of days. Otherwise we need more info on the 'cough and splutter'... any smoke / what colour smoke / worse on cold mornings / under load etc.

[mikeonb4c]

Hi All,
A quick update on the fuel gauge. I followed the factsheet and found that I still had a problem with the gauge! It was stuck on just below half and would not move. Anyway retraced My steps and noticed I had the earth and ground going the wrong way around
Anyway I have now swapped them over and think it is now working although it is early days yet!
Also to update on the head fix, The Bongo is running really well and much cooler than she ran previously. (just over half on the temp gauge with a mason alarm fitted) My only concern is that in the mornings she coughs and splutters for about 10 seconds before clearing. Could this be a fuel injector playing up? I just hope its not head related!

Mike.

V. pleased to hear Bongo is much improved. The coughing and spluttering 1st thing in the moring is often reported on cold/damp mornings when glowplugs are suspect. Could they have been affected by (or interfered with) during the fitting of the new head?

[mister munkey]

My only concern is that in the mornings she coughs and splutters for about 10 seconds before clearing. Could this be a fuel injector playing up? I just hope its not head related!

Mike.

More than likely one or more glowplugs getting tired.

Easy test, wait an extra few seconds after the glowplug light goes out before cranking it, mine fires up much crisper that way.

[mikelamb]

I Will keep a close eye on things in the morning to see what colour the smoke is and also if waiting a while after the light goes out helps the situation. Its not too bad a cough but if I try and take off straight away she is a bit hesitant. It clears quickly and then no probs after that. Thanks for your help everyone.
Mike.

[mikeonb4c]

I Will keep a close eye on things in the morning to see what colour the smoke is and also if waiting a while after the light goes out helps the situation. Its not too bad a cough but if I try and take off straight away she is a bit hesitant. It clears quickly and then no probs after that. Thanks for your help everyone.
Mike.

Mine can occasionally be a bit finnicky on damp/cold mornings if I load the engine straight after starting (e.g. by turning on full lock and making the steering pump work). Leaving it to idle for a few mins removes the problem.

Have you got a good powerful battery (95Ah) in good condition, as that helps too I think to ensure the plugs stay well heated prior to startup