Bongo Fury

Hey Bongonauts, our beloved 2000 2.0 petrol/LPG Bongo has auto gearbox issues.

It's an intermittent problem where putting the box in drive does nothing. Reverse works fine, just none of the forward gears. Then after a blip of the throttle, there's a noticable clunk and the gears engage. Once this is in, she drives fine; shifts up, down as expected (just don't put her in neutral at the lights for fear of getting stuck again!).

On occasion this has had us stuck in a car park for upwards of an hour while we patiently switch from P to N to D to S, revving and praying! Eventually it just clunks back into place and we're off again. Only once has the HOLD light flashed, while the gear selector was in D but nothing had engaged.

One thing to note (and it might be nothing), is that when I put the gears into drive, the D doesn't light up. All the other gears light up on the dash, just not D. Is this indicative of anything other than a bulb gone?

Things I've done:

• Checked transmission oil. It's cherry red, doesn't smell and at the correct level. Don't know when it was last flushed.

• Spoken to my local gearbox specialist (in Boscombe, Bournemouth). They said they can't read the codes and can only recommend taking it out and sending it off somwhere.

• Spoken to my local Bongo specialist (in Poole), who advised we take it to the place mentioned above.

Before we sink the inevitable metirc ton of cash into the poor dear, what else should I be looking at? Is there anything else I can check on my drive that might help with diagnosis?

There is a fault finding factsheet in the members area. Could just be an adjustment.

BF member Alacrity is a Bongo owner and time served autobox specialist (based in Eastbourne). If he doesnt spot this post try sending him a PM to see what he has to say. Could be something electrical (like the solenoid pack) thats playing up and if so might not be as costly as something mechanical. Good luck and keep us posted.

TheLongRoad wrote: Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:41 pm There is a fault finding factsheet in the members area. Could just be an adjustment.

Is that the members area of the forum?

Not the forum, but there are many pdf factshets in the members area of the website - I.e. the ‘club’

I assume the oil level is being checked with the engine running in park?

There could be a clue in the light not illuminating. You may have an issue with the range switch mounted on the outside of the transmission. This switch tell the computer which gear you have selected so it knows what to do, it also (through the computer) controls start inhibit & reverse lights. I have had issues on some vehicles exhibiting the same fault as yours where the switch has been the issue. My suggestion would be to swop it for another switch.

Alacrity wrote: Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:17 pm I assume the oil level is being checked with the engine running in park?

There could be a clue in the light not illuminating. You may have an issue with the range switch mounted on the outside of the transmission. This switch tell the computer which gear you have selected so it knows what to do, it also (through the computer) controls start inhibit & reverse lights. I have had issues on some vehicles exhibiting the same fault as yours where the switch has been the issue. My suggestion would be to swop it for another switch.

Fantastically useful input as ever Geoff. If the OP can get into 1st gear, a pleasant pootle to Eastbourne might be in order?

Alacrity wrote: Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:17 pm I assume the oil level is being checked with the engine running in park?

There could be a clue in the light not illuminating. You may have an issue with the range switch mounted on the outside of the transmission. This switch tell the computer which gear you have selected so it knows what to do, it also (through the computer) controls start inhibit & reverse lights. I have had issues on some vehicles exhibiting the same fault as yours where the switch has been the issue. My suggestion would be to swop it for another switch.

Yes, levels checked with engine running in park. The range switch sounds like a good place to focus, thanks for your reply. Is the part I'm looking for called an auto transmission "range switch" exaclty, or does it have another name/part number?

Alacrity works at this gearbox specialist, if you're looking for a new part, they may be able to get it.
http://www.autogearboxes.co.uk/agbmobi/index.html

There may be more than one type, we may possibly have a used one but I would need good pictures of the switch, loom, connectors etc to be able to i.d. it. Others may know more about the switch than me as we don't see that many Bongo's.

They can be knows as range switch, range selector switch, multi function switch, manual lever position switch (MLPS), XY switch, gear position switch, the list goes on!

I've followed the instructions on the Phil McFadden diagnostic box page (http://www.philmcfadden.co.uk/MazdaDiagnosticBox.htm) and when I turned on the ignition, I got one long (about 1.5 sec) flash from the bulb. Nothing else.

Does indicate no fault, or is that a "01" pointing to the NE1 crankshaft position sensor?

As Alacrity says it could be the switch, there are two different types depending on year of vehicle. This might give you an idea.

https://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/vie ... or#p700055

Take care