Bongo Fury

Hi everyone!

I am the proud owner of a 96 V6 with 57000 miles on it. I have a funny feeling the cambelt is probably due for renewal at 60000 and I expect it to be costly (but I have budgeted for it).

Does anyone have a service schedule for the V6 that I could have for reference? - I can't find much on this on the website members area. Secondly, I wonder if the translated owners manual available to members applies to the v6. Finally (sorry), any experience with cambelt costs or other general handy hints for v6's would be appreciated.

I am lucky to have Allans here in Plymouth who is apparently a bit of an expert so I hope to be in good hands - just hope he doesn't think it's a pig when he looks at it!

Hopefully the v6 will get a bit more material on the website soon....

Much obliged,

John

Good questions! One of the reasons I bought a V6 was to investigate parts availability, and to check service schedules. I will be putting all this in a "Beginners Guide to the V6" shortly, but you may wish to know the following.

1) The owners manual does cover the V6, but the workshop manual doesn't.
2) Timing Belt should be changed at 100,000km, and the cam belt is not available on any other vehicle except the 2.5 litre American version of the Mazda 929 (long discontinued). Hence the horrendous price of around £120! HOWEVER, there is no need to change the tensioner.
3) Recommended oil is 10W-30 and should be changed at 15,000km or annually. It takes 5.0 litres including the filter.

More info will be published in due course.

Thanks very much!

I am lucky to have a friend who is the a service manager for Ford UK so if the cambelt exists on the Ford system, he can get it (at a fat discount too!)

I will try to compile what I learn over the ensuing weeks / months / years for the benefit of all and I will post when I think it is ready.

For starters I have figured out a neat way to store bikes inside a bongo using only a couple of 1 foot cargo straps and 4 washers (per bike). If anyone wants this secret - just ask!

Keep the info coming....

Cheers,

John

Hi,

The v6 cambelt is currently under investigation by my Ford friend. Do you (or anyone else) have a part number so he can look it up in the US catalogue? Is the engine you are referring to the 2.5 L "J5-DE" model?

He thinks that the V6 engine may be the same as the Ford probe v6 (apparently a Mazda engine) and may use that cambelt - this is currently unconfirmed though so we will see. Do you know for sure that it is not this one?

Web research has revealed that the J5-DE may also have been fitted to a Mazda MX6 http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_028 ... larArticle

Cheers,

John

The engine may be the same, but I'm certain the Timing Belt is different. The Mazda part number is J50512205. I've just measured it, and it is absolutely ginormous. It is 3.4cm in width, and (wait for it) 1.9 metres long.

Magic!

Thanks very much O mighty Bongomaster.

I will get the issue looked into and report back as soon as possible.

Apprentice Bongonaut John.

That V6 cam belt is almost exactly .0094447 Furlongs! No wonder they cost a kings ransom.

When I got mine I was told it would be replaced after I pointed out that most manufacturers also give belts a time related replacement time of about 6 to 8 years .....but I bet they didn't do it and I have no way of telling! Still, I think that the Bongo engines are non contact, so failure is a mere inconveniance, rather than a totaled valve train and dented pistons...Unlike most Honda engines, so be warned all you Civic drivers!

Rog

I think that the Bongo engines are non contact, so failure is a mere inconveniance, rather than a totaled valve train and dented pistons...Unlike most Honda engines, so be warned all you Civic drivers!

Rog[/quote]

Interesting - the Mazda MX5 engine is the same. You just stop!! Not so good if it happens when you are in the middle lane of a motoway overtaking a juggernaught though

obokos wrote:Hi,

The v6 cambelt is currently under investigation by my Ford friend. Do you (or anyone else) have a part number so he can look it up in the US catalogue? Is the engine you are referring to the 2.5 L "J5-DE" model?

He thinks that the V6 engine may be the same as the Ford probe v6 (apparently a Mazda engine) and may use that cambelt - this is currently unconfirmed though so we will see. Do you know for sure that it is not this one?

Web research has revealed that the J5-DE may also have been fitted to a Mazda MX6 http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_028 ... larArticle

Cheers,

John

Hi obokos, i think you'll find that the v6 engine in the probe had a cam CHAIN...The probe was a derivitive of the Mazda mx-6,and used SOME of the engines, The 2.0 & the 2.5, those being a four pot & V6 respectively.

( i may be wrong,i'm going from memory)

Cheers All,

Glad to know that the engine won't explode if the cambelt goes . I used to have a Honda CRX and that was always a fear.....

Does anyone have a total price for a cambelt fitting for a V6?

Cheers,

John