Automatic L1 & S2

[Pompeybongo]

Hi all!!! new Bongoer here.... Been reading for a while bit have never posted!

Having never owned a automatic before, was wondering what the L1 and s2 gears do?

I assume L1 is a low setting for steep short hills or something?

Mines only a 2.0l tin top

Thanks in Advance

[ormy]

Yes, just that. They're gears designed to lock the transmission into either just 1st gear (L1) or 1st and 2nd* (S2). Hence useful for steep hills, and the like. But they come with the handbook warning of not engaging them at high speeds, for obvious reasons.


*edit - or it might be just 2nd, I'm quite new to this.

[Pompeybongo]

Thanks Ormy

[missfixit70]

This one may help - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=38644

[ormy]

Looks like my answers were on the right lines but a bit incorrect in the details about the gears... apologies.

I know I found "L" very useful going down the steep side of Ditchling recently, so they're worth using.

[missfixit70]

Most definitely, & if your engines got a bit hot going up the hill, it'll help it cool better as it increases the waterpump speed & therefore the coolant speed

[A1tony]

I am away in mine at the moment near Col De Galibier. I have to say that mine with bikes, camping gear and a tank of LPG didn't like climbing one bit. If there was a manual gearbox for the V6 I would swap it tomorrow ! Heating up was almost an issue and more modern diesel vans are so much better but cost a lot more...

[maxi_77]

I think the bongo auto box is a good one with 1 and 2 and hold you have a lot of ontrol. If any one has an overheating problem I would suspect the cooling system rather than the gearbox. I wold hate to have a manual box.

[A1tony]

Just got back from the south of France in mine. The cooing system is perfect, it's the weight Of the van and drag of the gearbox that is the problem. I tried to get up Galibier and gave up. Saying that I was fully loaded. Got most of the way before the coolant alarm was going off. On the Autoroute it had to kick down rather a lot on inclines. I was late for the ferry though and it was happy to push 90 on the flat (apparently..). I did one trip 6-up to go canyoning and it just made it up the hill to the car park but only with a lovely burning smell on arrival. Overall I am just saying they have their limitations and if you want to go somewhere like the Alps then you need to take care how you do it. I did see a diesel auto Tin top on UK plates whilst I was in Briancon. Would be interested to know how he got on ?!

[scanner]

Diesels don't have any trouble climbing hills - that's the benefit of having some torque and not only having some torque, but having it at the right RPM as well.

[Velocette]

Diesels don't have any trouble climbing hills - that's the benefit of having some torque and not only having some torque, but having it at the right RPM as well.

Indeed but on a long hill they can produce more heat than a less than perfect cooling system can cope with, especially in high ambient temperature with the aircon and all the electrical gizmos switched on..

And a big import numberplate blocking the grille!

[missfixit70]

Just got back from the south of France in mine. The cooing system is perfect, it's the weight Of the van and drag of the gearbox that is the problem. I tried to get up Galibier and gave up. Saying that I was fully loaded. Got most of the way before the coolant alarm was going off. On the Autoroute it had to kick down rather a lot on inclines. I was late for the ferry though and it was happy to push 90 on the flat (apparently..). I did one trip 6-up to go canyoning and it just made it up the hill to the car park but only with a lovely burning smell on arrival. Overall I am just saying they have their limitations and if you want to go somewhere like the Alps then you need to take care how you do it. I did see a diesel auto Tin top on UK plates whilst I was in Briancon. Would be interested to know how he got on ?!

When you say the coolant alarm was going off, which one? If it's a temperature type alarm such as the TM2 or Mason, it depends where you've set it to go off, it doesn't necessarily mean you've got to stop/pull over, what was the temperature, where was the needle? My Mason alarm is set to go off just before the fans kick in, which they will do & are designed to, when ploughing up a long hill, & it should be fine if the stat & rad are doing what they should. As already said the cooling system in good working order should cope fine with just about anything.
If it was the low coolant alarm going off, then that's a different issue, & you've got issues to deal with if you're losing coolant.
I've heard of bongos towing caravans over the Alps
If the engine is getting hot, do not switch it off straight away, let it run for a good few minutes, the fans should come on & bring the temp down. I'ts always a good idea to let it run for a few minutes after working hard anyway so you don't get any hotspots, to let the oil & coolant circulate to balance the temperatures & hopefully bring them down a bit.

[scanner]

And a big import numberplate blocking the grille!

But if it is working that hard and got that hot, the fans should be on and dragging huge amounts of air through the rad whatever is in the way.
You just need to make sure the aircon is off, or the aircon rad will be heating the airflow before it has a chance of cooling the main rad which is located behind it.

[A1tony]

I can't remember which alarm I fitted but it's adjustable. I get the torque argument and I might have a look at plugs and fans again just to make sure.. Maybe it was my mates caravelle with it's 174bhp diesel that made me wonder !! Anyway I bought an awning off eBay today to make me feel better. As for caravan towing, I don't think I would be taking that risk myself. !

[Bongoplod]

Most definitely, & if your engines got a bit hot going up the hill, it'll help it cool better as it increases the waterpump speed & therefore the coolant speed

Well,never knew that Kirsty,good tip..........cheers

Brian