Bongo Fury

Hi,

I'm going to attempt to change the oil on my Bongo this weekend. I've downloaded the factsheet from the members area and it looks pretty simple!

What other things would people recommend that I check/change as part of a 'mini-service' - bearing in mind that I am no mechanic!

Any hints/tips would be appreciated. I just dont want to take it to a garage and get hit for a full service cost.

Thanks,
JTR

Mini service is just an oil change - oil filter changed every other service.

Air filter thats easy enough it sits under the drivers seat, three clips and the lid pops off, then follow the pipe work back about a foot and unscrew the juberlee clip, then twist gently and pull slowly and it will slide off,

Oil filter is easy enough it sits under the passanger seat,

fuel filter is easy enough it sits under the drivers seat, to take it off unscrew the nut under neath it then use strap wrench if unable to do it by hand, might as well do it when changing air filter then you can get to it easier

diff oil, look underneath the bongo at the rear to the large ball part in the middle of the axel you will find two bolts one i think is 22mm (bottom) and forgot the other but undo them put a bowl underneath and let the fluid drain out put the bottom bolt back in and filler up to the other bolt hole then replace that bolt

Its also 2 secs work to take out the air filter and inspect it. If it is is old and dirty it will cause higher fuel consumption etc. Some owners have seen a dramatic inprovement if it is changed.

I did my fuel filter, but it was a bit of a faff. Not sure how crucial it is.

Also, the owner manual gives advice on how to take wheels off and check amount of wear on disc pads ( min thickness remaining before they should be changed). Worth doing that.

You could check the front windscreen drain tube is not blocked and clear it if it is (blocked drains and overflowing water cause heater fan to corrode and seize up).

Top up your windscreen washer (obviously!)

Check for any oil seepage and also diesel fuel seepage around injector. Not necessarily serious but worth watching.

Check coolant bleed pipe is tied back OK and not chafing on anything (a cause of coolant leakage if it goes - not good with Bongos)

Check other coolant pipes for wear and corrosion

Check belts all in good condition. Do you know when the cambelt was last changed.

Check droplinks and bushes not worn (any clonking sounds over rough surfaces?)

Phew - thats enough from me. Most of it is just a health check-up - with any luck no work will result but better safe than sorry.

Anyone else think of anything?

Mike

This Forum is weird. ebygum32's advice wasnt there when I started typing, nd it was when I submitted my work. Apologies if I've repeated what he said

Blimey ebygum32/mikeonb4c - he only wants to do an oil change - you'll terrify him with all those jobs

It is only an oil change but you are meant to do a few checks as well. Mike seems to have listed everything but here is my two pence anyway:

Check:
brakes (pad wear)
tyre pressure/wear (don't forget the spare)
brake fluid level
water level
washer fluid
gearbox oil level and condition
diff oil level and condition
air filter
jack the wheels up and give them a good shake
suspension/steering linkages
handbrake
and a few more I forgot

It sounds like a lot but you would struggle to stretch it to an hour.

I agree smartmonkey. Noone is saying you will be tackling all those jobs youself, but they summarise what you ought to know about and be able to check on your Bongo in order to maximise the chance of a long and healthy life (the Bongos- woudnt know about yours!)

Mike