bongo came out worse from the garage

[markriszti]

Hi,

Hope somebody can help us.

We bought our bongo a month ago & we have just taken it to the garage to check it out before we go to travel around Europe for 3 months. The front break pads got changed & the hand break was adjusted. Also the gaskat got changed as there was some oil leaking. We brought bongo home on the following day & it was all fine. However when my husband drove to work on the following day after 10 minutes the bongo started shaking, felt like one of the wheels was going to fall off. He stopped & checked it but everything seemed to be in place. On the way home after traveling 40 mins the camper van was shaking badly again. We never had this problem before we took the vehicle to the garage. So we took it back but they said they didn't do anything wrong & could be the differentials. We didn't leave it there as we don't trust this garage now.

Could somebody suggest a reliable garage in London or advise what the problem could be.

Many thanks in advance.

[Griffin]

Does this happen at certain speeds or all the time ? Bongos have a tendancy for shaking due to wheel imbalance especially with after Market alloys.
If it only shakes at speed then that's where I'd start - do a search on wheel wobble. Wheel balancing, spiggot rings or even different wheels may be a fix.

Hope it's not too serious for you - good luck.

[steviebongo]

And what gasket was changed?could have bearing on the fault if it isn't related to the wheels that is.


cheers stevie

[mikeonb4c]

There's a good one in Croydon if you can get it over to him? Maybe use your vehicle recovery service to get it trailered over if concerned its not fit to drive and/or might wreck the engine. From searching another thread the mechanics name appears to be Martin - D.R.A. Import Services 0208 760 0650 He's based in South Croydon. Good luck and keep us posted.

[markriszti]

Thanks Griffin.

We are not too sure it does vary with speeds & breaking but it's not consistent. It only happened after we picked up the bongo from the garage.
We'll take it back to another garage on Tuesday.

Thanks again.

[markriszti]

Thanks mikeonb4c, we'll contact them.

[dave_aber]

Do you have alloy wheels?

If these have the incorrect centre hole diameter (too large), and no spigot rings fitted, then they may have been perfectly centred until the garage removed the wheels to work on the brakes. Possibly had spigot rings fitted, and one has fallen out of the wheel whilst it was off the vehicle.

[markriszti]

No, we don't have alloy wheels just standard wheels.

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks mikeonb4c, we'll contact them.

Really, any competent garage should be able to sort this out, but the guy in Croydon knows Bongos and has had good reports for his competence, service and reasonable charges so if not too far to travel that's who I'd call first. Good luck

[scanner]

Which gasket did they change?

[markriszti]

The engine rocker cover gasket was replaced.

[scanner]

Right - No way that should cause anything like the symptoms you describe.

Have you tried checking the wheelnuts are tight?

They wouldn't be the first (or the last) garage that forgot to tighten wheels nuts.

[gasmeter65]

Defo worth travelling to a knowledable Bongo Garage
Wish I'd have gone to one 1st with 1 of my probs.
I can't stress enough, that IT WILL save u cash in the long run !!

[mikeonb4c]

Defo worth travelling to a knowledable Bongo Garage
Wish I'd have gone to one 1st with 1 of my probs.
I can't stress enough, that IT WILL save u cash in the long run !!

Yup, they seem to be a different breed. When I was over at Adrian's yesterday, I mucked in and helped with putting the new ATF fluid in etc. as he was pressed for time. You'd never have that kind of thing with a normal car in a normal garage. It's a pleasure taking a Bongo to a specialist like that. All the Bongo specialists get similar reports. And their charges are very fair too.

[haydn callow]

was the oil leak under the drivers seat front/side of the engine ??? if so it probably had nothing to do with the rocker cover gasket....Most bongos have this and it is not a oil leak and nothing to worry about....iy is "gunk" from the EGR system..