Bongo Fury

I bought my Bongo just over four weeks ago, was dead chufffed with it 'til Thursday morning, when coming home from work, smoke started coming from the rear end, and it cruised to a standstill, called the AA and their guy said it looked like the head gasket had gone , so he towed me to a garage where it now sits awaiting the verdict...What causes this? And is there anywhere in the Dudley area where I can get the vehicle checked out to see if there's any other disasters waiting in the wings ...?

Head gasket wouldn't normally bring you to a halt. What colour was the smoke and did you check if the engine was overheating?

Where did you buy it, if it was from a garage then get hold of them, one month is definitely within any buyers guarantee and it may be that the vehicle was not fit for the purpose for which it was intended. If it is from a garage you must give them first look at it otherwise they could say someone had potched with it and you would not have a leg to stand on. As Frank says did it overheat did the needle go up into the red zone, you aint done nothing daft like putting petrol in it instaed of diesel have you, not being rude but it does happen.

The head gasket is one of the more common major things to go wrong. There should be somebody on this forum who knows how much a new head gasket, cylinder head, labour, and checking out the cooling system should run. You will probably want to use a Bongo-friendly garage.

As for other problems waiting in the wings -- I don't think that you should lose confidence in your Bongo once this is sorted out.

Did the AA person check the head gasket theory by looking at the engine oil to see whether it looks like a chocolate milkshake? Others noted that it should not really have stalled with blown head gasket.

Thanks for the replies all. The temperature gauge was about a quarter of the way up, and the AA guy said the radiator hoses weren't hot but the water tank was empty. It is covered by a warranty whereby you can take it to any garage for repair, the garage seemed to think it was the head gasket, and they said it had used a tank of water when they were trying it., I am covered if it is the gasket, but not for the stripping down and re-assembling if it's not. When it stopped I was braking on the approach to traffic lights. It was fully srviced before I took deliovery of it including timing belt, I have only done about 600moies, most of that going to work and back, no long journeys.

hi find a garage that understands bongos ,yes probally head gasket , but make them dye test it first , then find cause, rad blocked, thermostat ,hose leaking, water pump, rad cap , etc

Head gasket failures on Bongos tend to be caused by a radiator/cooling system blockage. The radiator can get a sludge build up if the antifreeze isn't changer regularly.

There's LOADS of info on this in the search facility

And what does the garage who sold it to you have to say Kev? Its a poor show by any standards if they havent serviced it properly - you should have some redress

I think you have to speak to your local trading standards department about this for legal advice,(or check your insurance for legal cover) it would seem that it may not have been right when you bought it, if that is the case your selling garage is responsible for the repair, don't be put off or brow beaten, be firm but fair. BUT check your legal standing first you are prop covered for legal advice in your insuarance, worth a phone call at least. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. The situation at the moment is this:- the garage I've took it to say it is the head gasket but they've had to send it to one of their bigger depots to be done . The warranty I had with the vehicle only covers me for repairs up tp £500. So they are going to call me tomorrow and let me know the price before they proceed, when I've got all the information I will contact the dealer to see what they have to say...
So watch this space...

If they won't pay the full amount, it sounds like a job for Trading Standards and/or suing them under the Sale of Goods act.

Hi everyone, the replacement for the cracked cylinder head and replacement head gasket is going to be in the region of £1,400.00. The warranty only
covers me for up to £500.00.

The Trading Standards Office say that as I've gone ahead with the repair there won't be much chance of redress from the dealer, as I should have given him first chance at repairing it, although I did mention that I contacted him first and that he told me that it was covered under warranty and to take it to the nearest garage. They also said to get the receipts and see if he will pay part...we can but dream...All I can say to anyone thinking of buying one of these is, get it thoroughly checked out by someone who knows what they are doing before you part with any of your hard earned cash...

I was looking forward to touring Scotland in it this year, but now don't feel Ican trust it to get me to the botom of the street!!

Loads of solicitors give a free first consultation - I think it will be worth you doing that. The vehicle was clearly not up to the job and I suspect you are covered under the Sale of Goods Act.

I think the reply from Trading Standards sounds a bit lame. See what if any goodwill you get from the dealer. If unhappy, see what a solicitor says. Finally, If no joy some of us would at least be 'interested' to know who the supplier was says.

Sorry to hear for your troubles and good luck. Bongo is a great car if you can put this behind you and get confidence back.

Mike