Bongo Fury

Hi all
Appreciate a little techie help. Have had numerous probs with our V6 Bongo over the past 6 months since we bought it. It had a clogged rad which led to a burst pipe, overheat - new heads needed . . not covered by Warranty - bummer. Anyway we have had a new rad, new front heater matrix, new water pump, new stat and system pressure tested, flushed and bled . . .should be sorted right?

Well although not overheating, the coolant level has been slowly dropping over a couple of days a about 400 miles . . I was not sure whether it was just a topping up issue after all the work above? Seems to have stablised now, is that normal? Anyway we have also noticed that the temp gauge which sits around 11 o clock normally starts to rise to 12 when we are going over 75 - 80 mph - drops down again to 11 when we go under 65 mph. Again is something up with this? In the 2 occasions that the temp gauge has started to creep up, we have of course slowed down as we don't want another overheat, so I am not sure whether driving fast for a prolonged period would result in an overheat or not - don't really want to test the theory!

Also we have now had an issue with power loss. Almost came to a stop up any incline over the weekend and running really rough. No revs at all - fuel starvation? It had a full service in July with all filters etc. replaced. A search through the posts on the forum also leads me to think that it might be a problem with the distributor cap? We had had a vigourous jet wash one day and about 20 miles before the van started running rough...

Any thoughts most appreciated. Hopefully getting a service and coolant alarm fitting on Friday, but be good the give the garage something to go with . .

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with some suggestions but initial thoughts are water in the disty cap, and/or the carbon finger in the top of the cap has worn away. Take it off and take a look, fairly easy to do, but don't pull off all the wires without knowing where they go back.

Temp gauge, could you have a mason alarm? Without something to remove the damping hte gauge tends to get to 11 then stays there until the car gets very hot, then it goes up fast.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Andy

I had dizzy problems with my V6 before Christmas. It rained solidly for a month and the beast only started on rare dry days. The cause was the carbon rod almost worn away and a new dizzy cap restored normal performance. I had no loss of performance or misfire though. Once it started it ran fine.

The electrical system is vulnerable to damp though and when it really pours water can get through the seal at the bonnet lid edge at the extreme sides and runs down across the battery earth. Spraying that and the battery terminals with damp-start has also improved things.

Since you have been so unlucky with your V6 a Hayden TM2 along with the coolant alarm might be the way to go. I have one and find the digital temperature readout gives a lot of information about engine and cooling system condition. It is also very reassuring to know all is well and that stuck in a traffic jam or heavily loaded all is still running at a normal temperature.

Hi
Quick update - thanks for the PM's Andy - appreciated.
Garage think it is distributor and rotor arm . . so getting them replaced tomorrow. Have had some excellent advice to get van to a real expert - Discount Trucks in Newbury - and get them to really give it a good going over and ensure that all probs are solved for the moment! So going to take that advice - providing the van gets me there!

casrockbongo wrote:Hi
Quick update - thanks for the PM's Andy - appreciated.
Garage think it is distributor and rotor arm . . so getting them replaced tomorrow. Have had some excellent advice to get van to a real expert - Discount Trucks in Newbury - and get them to really give it a good going over and ensure that all probs are solved for the moment! So going to take that advice - providing the van gets me there!

Its in good hands if its with Discount Trucks

Discount Trucks are really good, sorted out both mine and Andy's V6's. What Fred doesn'y konow about Bongos is not worth knowing.

Nearer to you LPG Imports in Coventry are petrol Bongo specialists and seem to know them inside out. Paul comes on this forum with some excellent advice. Could be worth giving him a pm about your problems.

Good luck with that and keep us up to date

Izzy

Thanks for the help. Cov is loads closer for us so maybe will try that option. Actually it of course depends on whether we can even get the V6 to get there! Distributor Cap and rotor arm changed but still not running right when engine gets up to full temperature . . so now starting on the leads . . . sigh!

Update
Although this is nothing to do with the temp gauge issue which is still not sorted . .

We have sorted the power loss. Fitted new distributor cap and rotor arm, new spark plugs and a new HT ignition lead....

Have spoken to Fred at Discount Trucks, who tells me that the temp gauge should not really be fluctuating and seeing as though this only happened after we had the front heater matrix done, going to take it back the garage that did the heater and get them to take another look.... Will finally get the engine saver alarm fitted then too...

Getting there in the end I hope!

get in touch with ian taylor on 01630656006

he will sort you out and if nessasery will send a recovery truck for you so you dont do any damage getting it to him

Thanks for that. Where is Ian based? You really think I shouldn't drive it? Temp gauge has only gone up twice - both times going over 80 mph - has been fine under this speed . .

casrockbongo wrote:Thanks for that. Where is Ian based? You really think I shouldn't drive it? Temp gauge has only gone up twice - both times going over 80 mph - has been fine under this speed . .

Hi there, Ian is based in Market Drayton, Shropshire, about half an hour from Stoke.

You really think I shouldn't drive it? Temp gauge has only gone up twice - both times going over 80 mph - has been fine under this speed . .

It may be OK, but If it was mine, I'd be thinking 'better safe than sorry' and get it recovered.

Doone wrote:

You really think I shouldn't drive it? Temp gauge has only gone up twice - both times going over 80 mph - has been fine under this speed . .

It may be OK, but If it was mine, I'd be thinking 'better safe than sorry' and get it recovered.

same here as a new head will set you back anything from £1200 to £1500 for the sake of a maybe air lock

ps if you phone ian tell him carl sent you

Don't know if the V6 is as critical & costly to repair as the diesel with overheats or whether it's more resiliant, but as has already been said, is it worth the risk?
If the unmodified temp gauge is moving, then I'd think it's getting hotter than it should be as I'm pretty sure the V6 temp gauge is dumbed down so it doesn't move when it's within normal working range the same as the diesel is.