not used to an automatic

[bongolou]

Hi
Loving my bongo very much. But this is my first automatic so not sure if this is the norm or not.
I park the bongo down a very steep lane on my driveway. In the mornings i get in start up reverse and head on down the long steep narrow lane onto the road. Due to the steepness i have to have my foot on the brake the whole time else the bongo goes too fast. In my car i could pull the clutch up in first gear and use the engine to brake. The issue with using the brake in the bongo is the fact i notice a funny feeling/noise under the brake pedal shortly after heading down the lane almost like its engaging or something is this normal? It is the only time it happens and doesn't happen more than the once.
Sorry if this seems like a silly question but not having had a bongo or automatic before im curious.

[MarcT77]

Have you tried selecting the 'L' and using the 'Hold' button ?
Should make things a little easier to control if the lane is really steep...

[scanner]

Have you tried selecting the 'L' and using the 'Hold' button ?
Should make things a little easier to control if the lane is really steep...

As well as that, is it not possible to reverse in, rather than out, as going down a steep slope forwards is often easier and safer than trying to do it in reverse.

[bongolou]

Ah L and Hold i will give that a go , does that keep it in 1st gear then when i get to the bottom reselect d3?
I reverse out the drive onto the lane and do down the lead forwards which is a downhill slope it that makes sense. I cant get out the driveway without reversing a bit first.

[sdsk]

Some useful bits from the owners manual:



There's more somewher about the hold button ....

Darron

[bongolou]

Thank you very helpful will try that later. Anyone got any ideas what the knock noise feel is under the brake pedal that I mentioned?

[scanner]

Thank you very helpful will try that later. Anyone got any ideas what the knock noise feel is under the brake pedal that I mentioned?

If you are on a loose or slippery surface when you get the strange "feel/noise" through the brake pedal that is your anti lock brakes working.

[francophile1947]

Anyone got any ideas what the knock noise feel is under the brake pedal that I mentioned?

Sounds like the pads moving in the calliper. If it only happens once, there is nothing to worry about

[bongolou]

only happens once each day down the steep lane never at other times. Mind you just now (on lunch break) when i was in L like suggested down the lane it didnt do it at all.

[Diplomat]

If you have made the transition from braking a heavy vehicle on a slope in reverse to braking again on a slope in forward, the brake components will shift (often audibly and also feelable through the pedal) from one extreme to the other.

Motoring lore from the drum brake days had it that brakes were designed to 'bite' better when going forwards but some parking brakes held better facing uphill. When parked downhill it was the done thing to turn the front wheels into the kerb. On a 2 WD Bongo there is absolutely no front wheel braking without someone's foot on the pedal.

Don't use the Bongo handbrake while in motion because the shoes are not spec'd for that use as well as being grossly overpriced and fiddly to replace. Used for light duty parking (and passing the MoT) they should last the life of the van. Normal unattended parking is catered for by the P selection, without which, of course, you can't get the key out.

I have a sloping drive also, so I tend to pull the handbrake up fairly hard to take some of the strain off the P mechanism.


Frank

[Dodgey]

As said above - use S or L if you want engine braking. One thing with automatics - don't be afraid to use the brakes a lot - you use them a LOT more than in a manual. It's perfectly normal. As someone once said to me, "replacing brake shoes is a LOT cheaper than fixing transmission".