Bongo Fury

I'm new to this forum but have been a member of the main group for a year. Hoping to pick a brain or two Bought a Bongo from Japan in November '07 and didn't use her much until recently when she has been (was ) driven on a daily basis by my husband Last week while on the motorway near home there was a serious 'bang' and clouds of smoke/steam and water and she came to a stop on the hard shoulder. Engine was still running I am reliably informed - just no transmission (she's an automatic) She was recovered to the local garage where she still sits 'because they're awfy busy'!! I have a feeling that the infants there wouldn't know what to do unless they can plug a computer in!
Question ....... has anyone experienced something like this (I hope not) or do you have some idea of what might be the problem?
Any replies gratefully received and acknowledged - as I love my Bongo to bits and would dearly like to get her on the road again! Technical info ...... diesel, automatic, '95, 120,000 k on the clock

Moved to Techie section as more chance of a reply - sorry, but I've no idea myself

Welcome macminpin although sorry its under these circumstances. Can you put your location in your profile as it may help in case there is a Bongo expert near you we can recommend. talk of steam suggests it dropped its coolant (radiator water) and the bang could just possibly be a catastrophic failure/burst of a coolant pipe. If that is what it was and you stopped the engine immediately then you may have got away with it. Otherwise, the noise could be connected to the engine damaging itself, which could be costly. We really need to hear what the garage has to say (i.e. have they inspected it and found a burst pipe). If they are not familiar with Bongos you need to make sure they bleed the coolant system properly when it is refilled as it has to be done a certain way, or you could get engine overheating.

Keep us posted and good luck

If it was steam/water AND transmission failure then I can only think of a ruptured radiator which has also split the gearbox oil cooler in the bottom of it hence the loss of drive.

Location in the title Mike

Welcome, and good luck.

Main Group?

As Mike says, if you would let us know where you are someone may be able to have a look or at least recomend a local expert.

dandywarhol wrote:Location in the title Mike

Yup I noticed that but it doesnt tell us where they live if (like me) we I don't know the place - also, most peeps look at the relevant spot by members name, plus once you scroll down the thread name moves out of view, plus its good to suggest to new visitors etc. etc. etc. ad nauseam

Might be worth speaking to Calder Leisure in East Calder http://www.calderleisure.co.uk/cgi-bin/servicing.pl

Calder Leisure
Camps Industrial Estate
East Calder
West Lothian
EH27 8DF
Telephone/Fax
Tel: 01506 880 411 Fax: 01506 882 595
After hours: Alex Sutherland 07768 916 026

They have experience of Bongos and other grey-mport Japanese vehicles and not too far from you along the M74/A71.

Hi all and thank you for your very helpful replies. Popped into the garage this am and it is indeed a burst radiator hose! (The transmission not working was a figment of Peter's imagination thank goodness). Now only problem is the engine overheating - so armed with the 'bleeding' instructions (hope this is OK Mod?) went back and left two guys poring over this, so hopefully even better news tomorrow. If the proper bleeding doesn't work and the overheating persists - does this usually mean a new CHG or a new cylinder head
Thanks for the link to the East Calder site Tricky ... not a long way to travel and a definite possibility for getting her serviced.

macminpin wrote:Hi all and thank you for your very helpful replies. Popped into the garage this am and it is indeed a burst radiator hose! (The transmission not working was a figment of Peter's imagination thank goodness). Now only problem is the engine overheating - so armed with the 'bleeding' instructions (hope this is OK Mod?) went back and left two guys poring over this, so hopefully even better news tomorrow. If the proper bleeding doesn't work and the overheating persists - does this usually mean a new CHG or a new cylinder head
Thanks for the link to the East Calder site Tricky ... not a long way to travel and a definite possibility for getting her serviced.

If the engine was turned off quickly you've reason to be optimistic the engine is fine. We'll cross the other bridge if and when we come to it, and hope we don 't

Good luck - keep us posted. Oh and I'd fit a low coolant alarm in case the next leak doesn't announce itself until all coolant has been lost and the engine seriously overheats.

good luck with the repair/ bleed keep us up to date I blew my radiator last year but saved the head and engine hope that you are as lucky as I was - good luck.

Well hopefully the saga has ended! Head skimmed and refitted and could they bleed the system... NO! However - eventually it seems to have happened (Donald the garage owner's dad was brought out of retirement to do the needful ) and I am picking her up this afternoon. She won't be going far until the coolant alarm system which I've just ordered has been fitted! Am now off to search the site to see if anyone runs 'bleeding lessons' weekends ... and I'll DIY it in future!

Good idea - I'd like a bleeding lesson as well! the more I can do myself the better!

Anyone up for a bleeding demo in central Scotland??

(note bleeding as in 'how to bleed' and not the pejorative)