Bongo Fury

The hold light came on yesterday on our V6, it's never happened before, any ideas why? Here's what happened;

We've just bought a caravan and were towing with the Bongo for the first time, going around 50mph on the flat. I noticed the Hold light come on and go off a few times and think (although I'm not sure) that I saw some white smoke coming from the middle of the van on the drivers side. It wasn't a bright light going on and off in a fault code pattern like I've read about on other threads, more of a dim fading in and out, similar to what the fuel light does when you're low on fuel and it's sloshing about on a hill or whatever. When I pressed the hold button it came on fully, i.e. more brightly.
I didn't notice any difference in how the bongo felt in terms of power when it happened but I was towing a caravan for the first time so it felt different anyway, so there could have been a change that I didn't notice.
We pulled over almost straight away and sat for ten minutes in case it was a temperature related problem and then did the remaining 15 minutes of the journey without the light coming back on. We dropped the caravan at the storage place and the bongo was fine on the way home, and again when I drove it to work today, no sign of the Hold light coming on. Any ideas what it could be?

The light should come on full brightness either steady, or flashing, there isn't normally a dimming as such ?

Hmmm. There was definitely a noticeable difference when I pressed the hold button, it got brighter. Maybe an electrical fault rather than a gearbox fault? (fingers crossed) I've just had the towbar fitted, along with a coolant alarm and an engine temperature alarm, so there's been stuff done to the electrics recently.

Maybe transmission fluid getting hot .. have you checked the level .. as it ever been changed for fresh ..??

I don't believe it has been changed and I haven't checked the level for a while. I'll do that first, thanks. It's changed via the dipstick isn't it? The engine was definitely running hotter, presumably due to the extra work of towing the caravan, would that be the case for the gear box too?

orangepeel wrote:I don't believe it has been changed and I haven't checked the level for a while. I'll do that first, thanks. It's changed via the dipstick isn't it? The engine was definitely running hotter, presumably due to the extra work of towing the caravan, would that be the case for the gear box too?

It certainly would and BF member Alacrity (Geoff), an autobox specialist by trade, recommends fitting increased cooling rads for the gearbox if planning to tow heavy stuff.

There already basic DIY info on changing Dexron3 auto fluid..

Some Bongos have a gearbox drain plug (my V6 has) .. the quickest way to do a part fluid change is to drain the gearboxes sump .. and refill down the dipstick tube..

This method changes maybe less than half as the torque usually holds more than the sump ..

Transmission coolers are well worth the outlay if you intend to do a lot of towing .. not megga expensive as they are plumbed into the existing pipe work ..

That's really useful, thanks for the information.

I tow a caravan regularly with my V6 without any issue. It is my understanding (but I may be wrong) that these vehicles are fitted with a very effective transmition oil cooler as standard.

windywatson wrote:I tow a caravan regularly with my V6 without any issue. It is my understanding (but I may be wrong) that these vehicles are fitted with a very effective transmition oil cooler as standard.

Yep its the top of the range copper/brass tube/bit of pipe.

Auto boxes Don't like Excessive heat.

windywatson wrote:I tow a caravan regularly with my V6 without any issue. It is my understanding (but I may be wrong) that these vehicles are fitted with a very effective transmition oil cooler as standard.

Yes its interesting that there's plenty of Bongo towing going on and no obvious connection with that and reports of failing autoboxes. But I think Alacrity was simply suggesting extra cooling provided more insurance in achieving many trouble free miles. It would matter a fair bit also I guess if you were towing a lot on the flat, or in hilly country, in cooler climates or in hot ones, etc etc.

mikeonb4c wrote:

windywatson wrote:I tow a caravan regularly with my V6 without any issue. It is my understanding (but I may be wrong) that these vehicles are fitted with a very effective transmition oil cooler as standard.

Yes its interesting that there's plenty of Bongo towing going on and no obvious connection with that and reports of failing autoboxes. But I think Alacrity was simply suggesting extra cooling provided more insurance in achieving many trouble free miles. It would matter a fair bit also I guess if you were towing a lot on the flat, or in hilly country, in cooler climates or in hot ones, etc etc.

The big problem with this type of cooler is if it develops a leak is you can get fluid in the cooling system and or water in the gear box.

teenmal wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:

windywatson wrote:I tow a caravan regularly with my V6 without any issue. It is my understanding (but I may be wrong) that these vehicles are fitted with a very effective transmition oil cooler as standard.

Yes its interesting that there's plenty of Bongo towing going on and no obvious connection with that and reports of failing autoboxes. But I think Alacrity was simply suggesting extra cooling provided more insurance in achieving many trouble free miles. It would matter a fair bit also I guess if you were towing a lot on the flat, or in hilly country, in cooler climates or in hot ones, etc etc.

The big problem with this type of cooler is if it develops a leak is you can get fluid in the cooling system and or water in the gear box.

Do you mean the Bongo original cooler, or the add-on ones Alacrity recommends? Or both! Not heard of this happening before - is it an outside chance of it happening, or a significant risk on ageing Bongos?

Original, had one Go on a vehicle a few months ago, the bill was £1400. The type Alacrity suggested is Air cooled type.(no water)

teenmal wrote:Original, had one Go on a vehicle a few months ago, the bill was £1400. The type Alacrity suggested is Air cooled type.(no water)

Ouch! I don't know much about how all this works. If I had a replacement rad a couple of years back (as I did), will mean age related problems are unlikely to be an issue. Is the transmission cooler all part of the radiator assembly?

Good heads up on this, thanks