Bongo Fury

Hi Folks

Fasten your seatbelts.

I purchased a refurbished engine from a West Midlands based engine company who have been mentioned very recently on the forum. I regret to say that things have not gone smoothly. If you are about to purchase an engine, please PM me for specific company details.

The following is a chronological sequence of events:

1. I purchased the engine on 5th June. The fitting of the engine (and new radiator) was completed by my garage in Bury on 25th June. I collected the Bongo on 30th June.

2. The Bongo was back with the garage on Sunday 1st July. It had 'back pressure' - it was spilling water out of the expansion tank. It did not overheat, but the cooling system was pressurised even when cold ten hours after being driven. When the expansion tank cap was released one could hear a loud release of pressure accompanied by gurgling...

3 My mechanic (recommended by Adrian, Japan Direct Service Centre, Back Bolton Road South, Bury, who does Manchester Campers Bongo work) double checked the obvious - it had been bled properly but he felt that the back-pressure problem could be caused by a hairline crack on the cylinder head or a head gasket problem.

4. Being a very cautious person I also went to Adrian who double checked his colleague's work, confirmed that all aspects of the refit was absolutely spot-on - including the bleeding - and agreed that there seemed to be a problem with the engine.

5. I phoned the engine company on the 5th July, explaining the problem. They expressed great surprise, describing the test bed process involved etc. They were to get back to me later in the day, but failed to ring.

6. I checked the vehicle on a daily basis over the next few days. I took the vehicle over to PegLeg Pete and we found that we were unable to successfully bleed. I had a dye-test done which revealed the presence of exhaust gases in the coolant system.

7. I contacted the engine company by fax on 18th July and also spoke to them by phone. They asked me to return the vehicle to my mechanic so that the temperature sensor pods could be checked. Their theory was that the engine had not been bled properly and that we had 'cooked' the engine. They said that they would speak to my garage directly and that they might well 'come up north to see the engine for themselves'.

8. I took the vehicle back to the garage the following day. The mechanic checked the temperature sensor pods in my presence and they were fully intact, indicating that there had been no overheating. (This simply confirms our own experience - the temperature has never risen beyond the 11 o'clock position). Three of the pods are easy to locate, one other is hidden around the back of the cylinder head. We were able to check this one by using torch and mirror.

9. I rang the engine company to inform him that the vehicle was back with the garage. They rang the garage the following day and spoke directly with the mechanic, telling him that they would either come to Bury to see the vehicle or they would have the vehicle brought down to their works.

10. I received a phone call from the engine company on 26th July, informing me of the following:

(a) They had 'no recollection' of telling me or the mechanic that they may well come north to look at the vehicle in Bury.

(b) That I would have to get the vehicle at my own expense back to their works.

(c) That as far as they were concerned, the mechanic has cooked the engine by not bleeding it properly, that their engines don't have faults - their pressure-testing etc is rigorous.

(11) Today, 27th July, I sent by Fax and recorded delivery a letter to the engine company outlining their responsibilities under The Sale of Goods Act 1979, specifically referring to the clause which states that 'goods purchased must be of a satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose'. I formally requested that they rectify the situation at their expense by either repairing the fault or by replacing the engine. Having paid by credit card, I was able to inform the engine company that this financial institution was involved and had 'equal liability' under the terms of the Sale of Goods Act.

I await developments.

Well Folks, there we have it. My Bongo is in dry dock, I am thousands down and the engine company is squirming - 'having no recollection' of statements they made to two individuals in two separate phone calls. Your input and opinions would be appreciated. For the record, the temperature sensor pods are all intact and the engine never once overheated for me or my mechanic. I have written copies of faxes and recorded delivery letters sent to the engine company...


Pat Mc Kenna

I think you have done exactly the right things - I assume your mechanic can confirm the promises made by the company. The Sale of Goods Act clearly states that you should not be out of pocket when faulty goods are supplied.
Stick with it and keep us all posted

there is nothing realy to add except you are doing exaqctly the right thing.

You may have to take this all the way to court but as far as I know you are going about this correctly

good luck with this


As an afterthought
As said in another thread though this is the problem with diferent suppliers to fitters as each blame the other

Hi John,

Thanks for the post. My mechanic agrees that the engine company said they may well come to look at the engine. He is willing to confirm this in writing and is presently placing on record the sequence of events including installation of the engine and the subsequent problems.

Pat

Hi Pat

I've got nothing much to say of any use other than that I'm feeling for you.

As you know my engines in a bit of a sorry state right now too.

I hope everything turns out ok for you.

Rob

Hi Rob

That's the strangest thing. I've just come away from looking at your photos and feeling that you were presently deep in the same level of trouble. Hope it all sorts out very soon.
Pat

hello. pat, hope you and daph are both ok.

shame your bongo isnt, is this a "company" that takes your old engine away as part of the deal?, name and shame is my motto at least you have some comeback with paying with your credit card, as they dont care about expense when it comes to retrieving money back for good.

all the best and hope it gets sorted quick.

wayne.

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for the post. At this point, I've been asked to post the difficulties without identifying the company. I'll stick to that for the moment - but will name and shame if the firm continues to avoid its legal and moral responsibilities. Anybody needing specifics can PM me!

Hoping to get back on the Bongo meets again soon. I have withdrawl symptoms. We were supposed to go camping around Europe - chasing the elusive ball in the sky called the sun - but it's not looking good just now.

We live in hope.

Regards to all

Pat

Good luck Pat, I have witnessed the constant air gurgling into the expansion bottle, And no overheating, not good from a "reputable engine refurbisher" I hope this sorry epic is resolved swiftly!!!!!!!!!

bloody nightmare pat ...feel for ya mate , as everyone said you have done the right things ...keep the faith all the best

Very sorry to hear of your woes Pat. I'm having similar issues over something I bought, but the £ involved are less, and I can live without the item. I just hope the company come to their sense and do right by you - you (and Adrian in a way) shouldn't be having to go through this.

What caused you to change the engine by the way, and where is the old one now?

Mike

Hope it works out for you don't give up and if necessary sue the bastards. I had the opposite with my new engine..it was for my space cruiser I phoned up the company and the next afternoon the engine was delivered to my chosen garage which was 200 yards from me. |It was packed like a new engine with loads of bits packed with it, the garage guys reckoned I was very lucky and that it was a brill motor, which it was, low mileage etc, it only cost £250. delivered and at £100. to fit was a steal. Hope all goes well.

Hi Folks

Little bit of an update for you:

My credit card company will have received my recorded delivery letter this morning outlining my difficulties with the engine supplier.

Whilst manacled to a shopping trolley in IKEA late this afternoon, I reveived a phone call from the engine company who have agreed to send their towing vehicle to collect the Bongo on Tuesday next week. Their attitude was conciliatory and courteous. I shall keep you informed of developments.

I had an ice-cream in IKEA. It soothed my nerves. Life is not all bad. Saw a lovely R Reg Silver Bongo parked outside IKEA (Ashton -u-L, Manchester). Hoped to say hello to him but before I could say 'All my blooming Bongo visiting card are in the Bongo', he was gone, driving away smoothly, all pistons firing, no steam or water or blue smoke or black smoke coming out of the exhaust. I knew I should have had a hotdog and delayed my journey home...

Pat

Lets hope thaat they see sense and sort it out for you

Sure they will if they realise how many Bongo owners are watching this thread Does not take much to spoil a reputation