Have I made a Freda boo boo ?

[BongoBongo123]

Firstly I was a little foolish not checking MOT for advisories... been a long while since I bought a second hand car. But I asked the guy if he knew of any issues with the car as one of my earliest questions. He said no. To be fair it has a full year MOT.

Hoping this is not gonna be too problematic or costly.

Advisories:

Offside rear coil spring corroded.

Nearside rear coil spring corroded.

Oil leak.

Thats all the info on those items. Of course Oil leak pretty vague.

[Bob]

That doesn't sound too serious.

[Cathryn]

Hi, we bought our bongo with a few advisories, one of which was an oil leak. We took it to the garage and the leak was quite extensive, the engine was covered in oil. However the mechanic wasn't worried at all, they tightened up all the rocker something or others (I'm no mechanic!) and it's not leaked since. If it needed a new cap they said the part was only £5.

Can't comment on the springs, but do take it to a specialist. We just paid £900 getting all the advisories done as well as a full engine service, new radiator and abs pump. They also checked the cambelt and all the breaks.

[BongoBongo123]

This forum is great thanks people... : )

Well I looked in the engine bay and the engine was clean as a bell. The gearbox housing has a light
covering of darker oil. I mentioned it and it was brushed off, which is fair enough it is 20 y.o. virtually.
At that point telling us it had an advisory related to oil would have been ideal at least to clarify where from.

I am gonna get it serviced and get the mechanic to have a good look around to be sure.

Just hoping the rear coil springs are not on the "unobtainium" parts list !

Thanks again, it drives really well, and everything works to perfection, just these advisory issues leaving a slight concern. I guess 20 y.o cars are always going to have a few little issues.

I think the Freda/Bongo seems like a great motor.

[Driver+Passengers]

A pair of springs will cost you around £150 new.

The rocker cover gasket is a common failure - easy job once you remove the cowling where the handbrake and gearshift are, but as said, nipping up the bolts (only 10Nm or something) can help. Other sources of oil could be an insufficiently tightened oil filter, or the camshaft oil seal, where oil can weep, dribble and blow when driving to settle elsewhere - typically the driver's side around the head/block. Also, the EGR system which comes around the back of the turbo, across above the glowplugs and into the air intake at the front 'elbow' can often weep manky gunk. It all keeps the rust down - keep checking the level.

[Cathryn]

To be honest, it was the issues that weren't on the mot that concerned me! So as long as nothing major needs doing I expect you'll be fine... But a good service and check over by someone who knows bongos is a good idea. The guys on here told me it wasn't worth getting just anyone to look at it. I was really worried our bongo needed major work but we were told it was solid underneath and nearly all of what needed doing was down to wear and tear.

We've only had our bongo for a week and a half and I've already found this forum to be so helpful!

[BongoBongo123]

Thanks again £150.00 where is that from sounds great, might be sensible to get them here even though they might not bee needed for a year or 2.

[Driver+Passengers]

Thanks again £150.00 where is that from sounds great, might be sensible to get them here even though they might not bee needed for a year or 2.

autojapspares - other sources are available - it's just that I priced them up recently. They also do 25% "uprated" springs for a tenner or two more - there's a recent thread with some discussion worth reading...

[BongoBongo123]

Nice one... I just checked the springs out and as far as the eye can tell we are talking about very very minor bubbling of the paint, I reckon they could have 5 years + in them so maybe it is not as much of a problem as I initially thought.

Thanks again : )

[BongoBongo123]

I have spotted the "oil leak" now seems to be around rocker cover, only a little.. did 100miles Saturday
and checked after I wiped it clean.. so I am hoping it is the gasket and needs a tighten.

If it is the cover I am guessing I might be able to do that myself one day. got to be the first thing to try I guess.

[Driver+Passengers]

You're getting to know your van, then... some good signs so far, at least.

The rocker cover is unlikely to be at fault - the gasket's do compress over time, so nipping up the bolts (be gentle - don't overdo it) may be enough, but may not. If it's still weeping, I think the gaskets are a tenner, and there are as many bolts to remove the center cowling as there are the rocker cover itself.

[BongoBongo123]

You're getting to know your van, then... some good signs so far, at least.

The rocker cover is unlikely to be at fault - the gasket's do compress over time, so nipping up the bolts (be gentle - don't overdo it) may be enough, but may not. If it's still weeping, I think the gaskets are a tenner, and there are as many bolts to remove the center cowling as there are the rocker cover itself.

Sure bits here and there the long days help for evening tinkering.

I am not car nuts but I like to know I do my best for them within the realms of my basic knowledge.