Bongo Fury

I have owned the Bongo (1996 R Plate) since August last year and covered approx 12000 Km (Odo at 115000Km). I have some questions about the gearbox behaviour and want some feedback if this is normal or am I witnessing something going wrong?

For the past couple of months, upon initial start and even still only about 50% of the time, she won't change gear that easily (especially 1st to 2nd) and only changes down at considerably higher revs. Approx 2700-2900 rpm from 1st to 2nd for example. When warm she behaves impeccably.

I have changed the ATF but still the problem persists (intermittently). I thought this was due to the winter but even on milder mornings I can get exactly the same symptoms. Other mornings are fine and she drives like new with a smooth gear change from the offset.

These problems are eradicated if for the 1st few minutes or KMs I select the Hold button and the bongo changes down very smoothly and consistently at low RPM. When deselected it reverts to a higher RPM gear change until warm and operates completely normally.

Having changed the ATF and given everything a thorough clean I don't seem to have fixed this little problem. Is this behaviour indicative of a component or sensor failing or is it just characteristic of a relatively old girl just acting her age?

Please bear in mind that if you offer advice that I am based in Germany at the moment so finding a Bongo specialist is virtually impossible.

Your thoughts would be warmly received.

MBB

I think that most auto bongos can be a bit slow on the gear change when cold.
I know mine can be but is smooth when the atf has had chance to warm up a bit

I take it you are not getting a hold light flashing but you could still try the diagnostic box to see if there is a fault code at all

Like Bob, I'm used to the designed habit of the Bongo i.e. it won't go into top gear (or when its very cold, even 3rd gear) for the first few miles. It's not quite clear from your post whether yours is behaving worse than that, but I regard the Bongo as only coming alive once the gearbox temp sensor tells it it is warm enough and allows it to go into all gears

No I don't think I would class this as a badly behaving bongo.....just a little high maintenance (no pun intended )

As for the diagnostic box, where would I get such a beast, bearing in mind I am in Germany and don't have plans just yet for a trip back to blighty. I have done all the diagnosis I can and it just seems a wee bit intermittent. It's not losing any ATF fluid and the levels seem fine.

If this is normal behaviour then fine and dandy but just wanted further opinion as a confidence check.

Many thanks for your help and comments so far, keep em coming please!

there is a fact sheet in the members area about the diagnositcs

its a small box by the passenger foot well that can be shorted with a small wire and causes the hold light to flash in sequence, the sequence is the fault code ,if any

There's a fact sheet in the members section that may help on transmission codes.

Thanks for the info. I have never seen the hold light flash or even illuminate without prior selection. So would it be worth going to the trouble of trying to do this work if the code clears after every 5 ignition attempts?

It's certainly something to bear in mind though. From what you guys have siad I think what I am experiencing is relatively normal. After all (touch wood) the gearbox has never refused to change gear it has just been a little bit stubborn.

I Don't think you have a problem and I hope you are now reasured
At least you now have the info on the diagnostic code if you wanted to check