That sinking feeling.....

[umbongoumbongo]

Absolute disaster time!

Just taken my Bongo to the garage after finding a few spots of oil on the drive, and they've called me back to tell me there is a minor leak from the head gasket and a more significant one from near the gearbox.

The price quoted for sorting this out - no less than £1200!

We are gutted as we only bought the thing a few weeks ago and there is no way we can afford this on top of the purchase cost. Does this price sound reasonable, and is it worth me taking it to other garages or am I likely to get the same response?

I was told that the parts required are cheap, but the job is labour intensive.

Panicking a bit now!!

[wormey]

Where are you based, does you vehicle have a warranty, was it a bongo friendly garage.

Sorry to hear this.

[Doone]

Oil leaks can look worse than they are, but of course there are some leaks that should not be ignored.
To estimate the work involved, it would be helpful to know exactly where the leaks are. Can you be more specific than 'near the gearbox?

[missfixit70]

I'd get a second opinion, a lot of bongos have a bit of an oil weep from the rocker cover or it could be steering fluid leak from the top pinion seal being blown back onto the engine & therefore looking black rather than red, or it could be a fuel pump leak, possibly easily sorted with a couple of new seals with the pump in situ.
Are this garage familiar with the bongo? Personally I wouldn't want to mess with the head unless absolutely necessary - possible can of worms re the cooling system if it's not done right (just removing & then retightening the head can creat stress fractures in the ally cast head), plus it'll need new cam belt, stretch bolts, PROPER gaskets, etc, & they'll need to know how to bleed it properly - all for something that may be a leak elsewhere?
Personally I'd get it thouroughly cleaned & see where it's leaking from first. Has the oil level dropped in the engine, gearbox (check it when warmed up & runnning, brakes on, range through the gears then dip in P - dipstick under drivers seat) or power steeering reservoir?

[haydn callow]

Whereabouts are you.....good idea to put a location in your profile....as above....get a 2nd opinion from a Bongo friendly garage.....let us have your location and perhaps we can point you in the right direction.

[umbongoumbongo]

Hi all.

Thanks for the replies.

Excuse my lack of technical knowledge, but with reference to the gear box area leak the guy at the garage said 'the main rear oil seal is leaking, behind the fly wheel'??

I've found a different garage locally in Plymouth that specialise in Bongos (Allans Vehicles) so will be taking it there instead asap.

Still really concerned we've bought into a problem here!! If the repair bill is significant the Bongo is going to be on our drive for the forseeable - not what we had planned at all!

[haydn callow]

Your in good hands with Allans...he will do the job and the price will be fair..and done properly

[missfixit70]

Your in good hands with Allans...he will do the job and the price will be fair..and done properly

Second that, one of the few people I'd let near my bongo with a toolkit.

[scots_jon]

Out of curiosity, what happened? Hope you got it sorted without too much cost.

Jon.