idiots guide?

[annie bongo!]

Hi there everyone, bear with me but I need an idiots guide to the Bongo.
First of all, when the dealer said, check the coolant, what exactly did he mean? What is coolant ( I do actually know where it goes). Right now that you have stopped laughing I have never been involved in the insides of a vehicle before, each to their own skills I say. However I would really like to learn more.
Next I would like to have some kind of alarm fitted, or would an immobiliser be better? Or both?
This is only the beginning so will be grateful for any relevant assistance and advice!
Having read loads of posts on lots of subjects, there is some very technical information out there! No jargon please without translation!
Annie

[bobngo]

you wil definitely need the haydn callow low coolant alarm, and a mason alarm, these are THE most essential items ever to be fitted to a bongo, i know that for certain ,i found out the hard way !!!!!

read the write up at the start of techie section

[annie bongo!]

Hi Bob
not really a lot of info in your reply, pretend your talking to a child!
Annie

[mister munkey]

Click on the blue word HERE

[g8dhe]

And more reading here which is the the posting at the top of the techie section on Temperature and Coolant alarms.

If you want to fit a Car Alarm/Immobiliser then its probably best to visit an auto electrician in your area, might be worth asking in the Scottish section for recommendations perhaps.

[steviebongo]

PM sent

[annie bongo!]

Jeez loadsa homework to get on with! Thanks everyone, the power of the collective!
Annie!

[Alison01326]

Welcome, Annie.

I am an idiot but have had my Bongo long enough, and been hanging around on this forum for nearly as long, to be able to offer some kind of translation service.

Meanwhile, did you know that your engine is not under the bonnet but under the front seats?

Secondly did you know that we all want to see photos of your Bongo?

Thirdly, if you have an automatic that you can't take the key out if it isn't in P (P for Park) and that you can't take it out of P (for Park) without putting your foot on the brake?

And fourthly, that however daunting the breadth and depth of knowledge on here, we're all human (except for Mister Munkey who is a monkey, but he still knows his stuff) and we don't always talk about Bongos and their issues. You can waste hours on here talking about the weather, playing word games with insomniacs, moving serious subjects so far off topic that we all forget what it was originally about ...... etc, etc

[Northern Bongolow]

thats the best welcome speech ive ever seen alison.
keep it up.

[annie bongo!]

HI Alison thanks for that warm welcome!
Yes I knew the engine is under the front seat! I know where the two batteries are, the workings of driving an automatic I have found out by trial and error! Accessing the engine is a different story though and Ive driven for years without looking under the bonnet so Im sure Ill manage however so many horror stories on these boards!
As for photos, I have tried but keep getting message that my photos are too big, I did have a photo posted but it has now 'disappeared'! But Im sure someone will tell me what Im not doing right!
Looking forward to meeting lots of you fellow bongo fanatics!
Annie
x

[mikeonb4c]

thats the best welcome speech ive ever seen alison.
keep it up.

2nd that - excellent sensible points covered for the Bongo newcomer. There's also the one about the roof won't go up unless handbrake is on (or summat like that - can't even remember the details) which catches people out. Also, a lot of us (inc. me and I am an ex van driver with 40yrs accident free driving ) reverse into something in our Bongo because of limited rearward visibility. You could fit reversing sensors, although I've found just not rushing, and using the reversing mirror (as long as your window tints don't make that impossible, but mine are untinted) have avoided a repeat of the incidents (one of which would have caught anyone - rock on a campsite!). Another practical point is that its a 2 ton van not a small car and you should develop skill at using the engine for braking (HOLD button, moving from D to S etc.) so brakes don't have to work so hard. Also, it should not be driven round corners, or swerved (although actually it is surprisingly good) with quite the same gay abandon as a Mini.

Anyway, enough of my blather. Welcome and enjoy

[jaylee]

thats the best welcome speech ive ever seen alison.
keep it up.

2nd that - excellent sensible points covered for the Bongo newcomer. There's also the one about the roof won't go up unless handbrake is on (or summat like that - can't even remember the details) which catches people out. Also, a lot of us (inc. me and I am an ex van driver with 40yrs accident free driving ) reverse into something in our Bongo because of limited rearward visibility. You could fit reversing sensors, although I've found just not rushing, and using the reversing mirror (as long as your window tints don't make that impossible, but mine are untinted) have avoided a repeat of the incidents (one of which would have caught anyone - rock on a campsite!). Another practical point is that its a 2 ton van not a small car and you should develop skill at using the engine for braking (HOLD button, moving from D to S etc.) so brakes don't have to work so hard. Also, it should not be driven round corners, or swerved (although actually it is surprisingly good) with quite the same gay abandon as a Mini.

Anyway, enough of my blather. Welcome and enjoy

This Mini was abandoned in Paris Mike!

[fivepints]

Hi Annie, welcome from another newbie about to embark on a first long haul trip to Switzerland. When you say an alarm or immobiliser I assume you mean the kind that stops people smashing the windows and nicking your van? You'll find that most of us on the forum are more worried about alarms telling us when our coolant has leaked out and the engine is about to overheat!

Re: car alarms, we have an immobiliser (Thatcham category 2 - many different types available but make sure it's fitted by someone who knows what they are doing) and no audible alarm (because in the past people have just ignored it!). That stops anyone driving off with the van and, as long as you are sensible and don't leave anything lying around people shouldn't be encouraged to break in.

As for coolant alarms - there are probably better peeps on here to give advice than me but just ask me if you get stuck

[chrispreece1]

hi all, I have just bought a bongo conversion and am planning on taking it to Greece so I was interested in 5 pints travel ideas. Would be good to discuss long haul such as bongo friendly garages in Europe, where to stay, routes etc, maybe hook up on a Bongvoy! Should I start a separate thread on this topic? Anyway welcome Annie! Also, my back door doesn't open from the inside, am I missing something? Cheers all, Chris

[MountainGoat]

The person to ask about garages in Europe is Dandywarhol although he no longer has a Bongo. As far as I am aware the only place in Europe where you will find lots of Bongos is Russia. Elsewhere I would be surprised if you could find a mechanic that really understands Bongos. Most people who have run into trouble in Europe have had to PM this site for information and instruct the local mechanic on what to do, as you can expect this is rather awkward if you don't speak the local lingo. No problems for Dandy, he is a mechanic himself.

There may be a few regular visitors to Europe on the forum who can shoot me down on this subject. Watch this space.