Page 1 of 2
broken down french sadness
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:44 am
by jnboy
Cylinder head bust on first big bongo trip
we are about 50km south of millau at a place called
la caylar.
Breakdown people should get bongo home but if not
does anyone know of a garage who could fix the little fella
ta
jon
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:48 am
by g8dhe
Welcome to the forum, and sorry to here of your problems
There are several places in the UK who are Bongo experts, but they are dotted around the country, there is a list on the Club site (paid membership required, see link at top of page) but if you put your UK location in your profile then advise won't be long in coming!
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:45 pm
by jnboy
Thanks we have a guy in the uk.
We were wondering if anyone knew anywhere in france
jon
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:52 pm
by scanner
I doubt if you will find anyone in France who even knows what a Bongo is let along how to work on one.
Get it home and then to one of the experts NOT just the first garage the breakdown truck takes you to.
I think AVA Leisure are somewhere near the M.25, if they can't help they should know a man who can.
http://mazdabongo.com/contactus.php
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:11 pm
by thegreenman
Just get it back home. We couldn't evem get the French to patch weld our exhaust last year. You would need pretty special language skills to explain the bleading procedures even if they managed to fit a new head
Still going back next week though. Santander to Caen, here we come
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:06 am
by Nick65
Are you still in Le Caylar?
If so I have family in Montpellier and Ganges (1 hour away). So fingers crossed that they are not on holiday and can come and help. If not they may be in Spain or Italy, but here goes.
Will find out in 10 minutes.
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:15 am
by Nick65
Sorry, everyone seems to be on hols. Good luck.
If you have any questions, ask on here, but I am in and out today as taking our daughter to Brittany Ferries at Portsmouth later.
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:16 am
by jnboy
Thank you for trying
still stuck here waiting for breakdown people to sort hire car.
Sunny though so getting a tan
jon
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:03 pm
by thegreenman
It's not all bad news then

Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:17 pm
by jnboy
Update
Got hire car and reached villa in spain
pool looks v nice
now at the mercy of the breakdown people to get bongo home
Jon
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:58 pm
by dandywarhol
jnboy wrote:Update
Got hire car and reached villa in spain
pool looks v nice
now at the mercy of the breakdown people to get bongo home
Jon
Don't want to worry you too much but be very aware that they might value the Bongo as less than the relay home and not return it - be very insistent as to the reasonable value you think it is.
Enjoy Spain

Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:17 pm
by Nick65
I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but don't they say that you should bring a bongo back on the back of the lorry instead of being towed on it's two rear wheels?
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:23 pm
by missfixit70
Most definitely correct, (unless you disconnect the driveshaft/s) auto boxes need to be running to keep lubricated if the driven wheels are on the ground being towed, whether it's 2 or 4wd or it'll go bang pretty quickly. Recovery is usually on the back of a truck though, so shouldn't be a worry.
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:25 pm
by jnboy
Update
bongo being taken to garage in montpellier
will let you know how it goes!
Jon
Re: broken down french sadness
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:11 pm
by scanner
jnboy wrote:Update
bongo being taken to garage in montpellier
will let you know how it goes!
Jon
Just make sure they realise the need to bleed it properly if they do any work to the cooling system.
Refer them to this site and hopefully (if necessary) Nick65 may be able to advise them.