Urgent: Bongo Problems in Spain

[Northern Bongolow]

have a chat with these guys. it shows they sell heads and may advise on any problems you may encounter.

http://www.mazdabongo.com/catalog/

[teenmal]

I have breakdown but not recovery, therefore they deliver me to local garage no more. If I buy new head and gasket surely local garage can install? Why are bongo heads different to other engine heads?

No difference whatsoever its a run of the mill job to a run of the mill (if not a bit primitive) OHV Diesel engine , some none mechanical peeps on here have done this job on these vehicles.

The only thing that the Mechanic needs to be aware of is the tendency for air to get trapped in the upper front half of the head (mainly).

Good Luck.

[haydn callow]

I have breakdown but not recovery, therefore they deliver me to local garage no more. If I buy new head and gasket surely local garage can install? Why are bongo heads different to other engine heads?

No difference whatsoever its a run of the mill job to a run of the mill (if not a bit primitive) OHV Diesel engine , some none mechanical peeps on here have done this job on these vehicles.

The only thing that the Mechanic needs to be aware of is the tendency for air to get trapped in the upper front half of the head (mainly).

Good Luck.

Agreed..but so many fail within 6 months of being fitted.....

[teenmal]

I have breakdown but not recovery, therefore they deliver me to local garage no more. If I buy new head and gasket surely local garage can install? Why are bongo heads different to other engine heads?

No difference whatsoever its a run of the mill job to a run of the mill (if not a bit primitive) OHV Diesel engine , some none mechanical peeps on here have done this job on these vehicles.

The only thing that the Mechanic needs to be aware of is the tendency for air to get trapped in the upper front half of the head (mainly).

Good Luck.

Agreed..but so many fail within 6 months of being fitted.....

What was the reason for the failures after 6 Months ???

[teenmal]

If you buy a Chinese head for £350 you will be replacing it very soon.....why is a Bongo different ?? Do some searching on this site....

Simon the mobile mechanic (very good reputation)who advertises on this site will fit a new head/gaskets bolts etc etc for £850,I don't think he uses paddy field heads, then again I might be wrong..But you might need to give him a bowl of rice as a tip.

[haydn callow]

I think it's nearer £1200....unfortunately I don't think his fee will cover a trip to Spain.....he has few overheads compared to a commercial garage(even a small one )

I think most of the fails are caused by inexperience and not curing the root cause of the problem....not much point in fitting a new head and not replacing a blocked radiator.

I'm not trying to be arguementative here.....I think this Bongo in Spain needs a new head.....getting a proper job done over there is problematic and could easily cost £2000...... And...What caused the failur in the first place..

I hope I'm wrong and a quick bleed will fix it...but..I doubt it

[teenmal]

I think it's nearer £1200....unfortunately I don't think his fee will cover a trip to Spain.....he has few overheads compared to a commercial garage(even a small one )

I think most of the fails are caused by inexperience and not curing the root cause of the problem....not much point in fitting a new head and not replacing a blocked radiator.

I'm not trying to be arguementative here.....I think this Bongo in Spain needs a new head.....getting a proper job done over there is problematic and could easily cost £2000...... And...What caused the failur in the first place..

I hope I'm wrong and a quick bleed will fix it...but..I doubt it

Thank goodness for that.. you had me worried for a wee time there.



Ps this is from Simons web sit that may be useful to other peeps and they do have a Workshop.



Complete Front Wishbone

£185


Front CV Joint

£55


New Radiator and Antifreeze

£200


New Water Pump and Antifreeze

£125


New Thermostat and Antifreeze

£90


Brake Pads, front or rear

From £50


Brake Discs, pair, front or rear

From £120


Cambelt

£120


Cambelt and Tensioner

£160


Head Gasket (including pressure test and skim)

£480


New Cylinder Head (Including bolts, gaskets etc)

From £870


Basic Service (oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter)

£100


Full Check Over (Basic Service + full inspection)

£200


Engine Rebuild

From £1250


We can also look after your petrol engined Bongo, phone for a quote.

[Simon Jones]

A few thoughts:

For next trip, always get breakdown cover that includes vehicle repatriation which can usually also cover a situation where it is the driver that is incapacitated. Once vehicle is over 16 years old there are only a couple of companies that will cover you.

You could try some SteelSeal which may just fix it up well enough to get home.

Are you getting excess pressure in the header tank which is causing coolant to be forced out the overflow? Is the level actually dropping or changing? As another thing to consider: the turbo is water cooled and if that failed it could result in coolant being mixed with the exhaust.

If you are going to change the head, you will also need gasket set, cambelt and tensioner, new head bolts, head locating pegs, oil feed pipe between block and head, new coolant and probably worth changing the water pump and thermostat (or at least test the recently fitted one). My recommendation from personal experience is to 'deck the block' and use WellSeal on the new gasket (both topics will ping up when you search the forum). If you get a new head, double check all the camshaft bolts are correctly torqued up. There have been a number of heads supplied where the bolts are loose and they have subsequently shaken apart.

Good luck.

[haydn callow]

5000 posts......when do I get my prize??

[Northern Bongolow]

and 5000 useful ones too.
well done mate.

[BongoBongo123]

They have them here:

http://www.mazdabongo.com/catalog/featured_products

It says it is the industry standard replacement ?

[mikeonb4c]

5000 posts......when do I get my prize??

I knew you were up to something.

Congratulations, and I second Ady's comment.

[BongoBongo123]

Sorry to hear of this guys misfortune but something good always comes of it that Simon mobile Bongo mechanic is a handy number to have !

[Captaincaship]

Good day all.

I decided that the head or gasket was the cause of the failure & contacted mazdabongo, they despatched the parts to Spain & I installed everything myself. I replaced the head, water pump, thermostat, glow plugs etc, changed the oil & coolant (what was left). Engine started first time & immediately after completion I drove the 2500 km back to UK.

I dont understand what the difficulty is with these engines, the work took me alone around 18 hours from start to finish, it cost £800 in parts plus oil/coolant, i did all the labour & its running sweet as a nut.

I am now safely home with the 5 kids & missus, know a lot more about Bongos & the coolant level/oil etc is normal, problem solved.

[mikeWalsall]

I forone have deep respect for you mate ..!!