Bongo Fury

Hi thank you for looking at this post.
I've just bought a 97 bongo from a nice couple but as I was driving it home there was a light on the dashboard flashing HOLD.
I've just called a recommended garage and they say gearbox which could cost me more than I paid for the van!
Is this true? As I'm now worried as I only got it yesterday.
Thank you

The light is flashing a code - you need to decode it first to see what it's telling you.

What age is your van, and what engine?

Is your gearbox misbehaving at all - slipping, not changing correctly, etc?

There is a fact sheet, here which discussed various hold light flashing issues.

And a fact sheet here which discussed transmission fault codes, how to read them, etc.

Hi I too had that problem when I first got my bongo! I then realised it was my ET fingers kept catching the hold switch on the gear stick?? hope you sort it if not the accidental switch

Hi living the dream,I forgot to give you a warm welcome which side of the planet are you?
Peter

^^^^^
As cab has said
Hope it's just your fingers on the hold button
That's the little button on the gear stick

Cab-ova pete wrote:Hi living the dream,I forgot to give you a warm welcome which side of the planet are you?
Peter

Hi Peter, sorry for the delay, I thought id get emailed if I received any replies.

Thank you very much for the welcome.

We live on the South coast very near the Witterings.

Gasy wrote:^^^^^
As cab has said
Hope it's just your fingers on the hold button
That's the little button on the gear stick

Thank you for all the info, I wish it was. Sadly I have a 1997 turbo diesel automatic so no buttons to press

I will have a look at the info you kindly supplied.

I popped into a Bongo specialist in Haying Island today and they said it would indicate a gearbox issue but as the Hold light is going out and not staying on it will not be too serious just yet.

They did say I must get a warning alarm for the coolant as thats a main issue with Bongos. Will cost me £140 to get it fitted though. They said this was very important and to do before anything else.

If you've accidentally pressed the hold switch the light will stay on, whereas flashing does indicate a gearbox fault. Try NMA on Hayling Island for a local Bongo specialist.

You will have a hold button - its the one on the side of the gear selector.

EDIT: looks like you've already been to NMA

Agree with the importance of a Coolant Alarm.

They can be had from Haydn Callow of this Parish, small discount for Forum users, and a fairly simple DIY instillation if you want to save a little £££.

If it's an auto it will have an 'H'old button ..

Pressing it with your thumb illuminates the dash light ..

Welcome and sorry to hear about problem, private buy? if not take it back for them to have a look, there is Discounts Trucks near Andover which my be worth a call. Have used them myself and can recommend, great service.

LivingTheDream wrote:Hi thank you for looking at this post.
I've just bought a 97 bongo from a nice couple but as I was driving it home there was a light on the dashboard flashing HOLD.
I've just called a recommended garage and they say gearbox which could cost me more than I paid for the van!
Is this true? As I'm now worried as I only got it yesterday.
Thank you

Welcome and sorry to hear your news. If the vendors are a nice couple they should be concerned to hear your news and might offer to contribute to repair costs. I'd like to think that's how I'd behave under the circumstances. Otherwise people might think I sold it knowing it had a fault. You'd need to contact them asap to have any chance of help. Good luck and keep us posted.

It might be the TPS. "Throttle position sensor" that sits on the fuel pump. It can do all sorts of things if it is not set right or broken. Gearbox over revs, hold light comes on. I had similar problems and took advice from Gerry and Fred at Discount Trucks in Newbury. They are great at bongos.