V6 Low Power Problem

BongoBonkers · Post by **BongoBonkers** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:26 pm

We've had our Bongo V6 for about three years now and love it dearly, probably more than anything else we've had (and we've had some really nice motors). The kids love it too and we've had some great times in the Bongatron. Our girl's only 3 and when she says 'I love my Bongo...' wistfully it just breaks your heart!

Now, it ain't no racing car and we've always been content to plod along but it is slowly dawning on me that our van is probably considerably slower than other people's. It has very little torque and takes ages to accelerate. It's OK once you've wound it up but any sign of a hill and you've had it.

We've always looked after it mechanically and it runs as smooth as you like, just not very quickly! Does anyone have any ideas as to what may possibly be the problem? I know it's a long shot as there's not exactly a lot to go on but all suggestions welcome. Don't know what to do about it, have even been looking at 115 and 120 Vito's out of desperation (yeah, I know it's not right).

We live near Hitchin, Herts. I was thinking of asking a reputable Bongo mechanic to check it out but the closest one I've come up with is Discount Trucks (still a fair trot for us). Anyone know any Bongo experts closer to N. London? Thanks

lpgimports · Post by **lpgimports** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:58 am

sounds wrong the should fly, not as much torque as a TD but I've had one blow the doors off a TD up hill slightly over the speed limit

testing for power losses on LPG over Petrol swapping between the two.

Is it running ok, no missing lumpy tickover? could be off a plug, serviced well? When was cambelt replaced? if serviced and running ok, then could possibly be a tooth out on the cambelt

Paul

Post by **Doone** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:02 am

it is slowly dawning on me that our van is probably considerably slower than other people's. It has very little torque and takes ages to accelerate. It's OK once you've wound it up but any sign of a hill and you've had it.

You mentioned that you've had the Bongo for about 3 years. Has it always performed like this?

BongoBonkers · Post by **BongoBonkers** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:59 pm

Hi

Thanks for the replies. Yes it's always been well serviced, the cambelt was done about three months ago and yes, our Bongo has always driven just the way it does now - we thought it was / is normal....? It idles perfectly and the engine behaves impeccably in terms of smoothness and driveability - it just doesn't have much grunt.

A1tony · Post by **A1tony** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 5:10 pm

I have to say that mine is like that but there is nothing wrong with it. At the end of the day, its a 2 ton brick (unladen) with a pretty stodgy auto box to push. The engine is not that well suited to Bongo life as it seems to me to be quite 'Cammy' with plenty at the top end, where you dont really need it. If I floor it, then it really picks up at 4k plus but I dread to think of the fuel cost doing it !. Not sure if there is a Bongo V6 2wd Manual, but there should have been !!!

I havent looked but there are probably some tweeks like air filter etc that might improve things a touch, plus the colder winter air will probably help too. Remember though, plodding is what they do and TBH my personal choice is a V6 over a diesel (oooh I can feel it coming now... tin hat time..!) but at the end of the day its a 15 year old design and technology and performance have moved on since then if you dont mind paying for it !!!

I do smile when I see someone who has shelled out £44k on a new VW California when I have done a 5th of that !

regards

Tony

BongoBonkers · Post by **BongoBonkers** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:51 pm

Hi A1 Tony, thanks for the input. I fully agree with you regarding expected levels of V6 performance reference weight, age, etc. That's what I've been thinking for three years, but what about all these posts proclaiming how fast all Bongos are, especially the V6? It makes me think you and I are missing out on something......I ain't 'left anything for dead' in our Bongo (or perhaps I should call it a Nongo).

As I understand the V6 is meant to have 160 hp. Now, there's probably a bull**** factor in that but even so, I have several different vehicles to compare it with and I would say it feels more like 100 hp, if that. No way 160. We have 130 hp vans that can be 4000kg loaded and still significantly quicker than the old Bongatron...

cozmo1589 · Post by **cozmo1589** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:10 pm

I suspect poor air flow intake and or timing is a tad retarded. I have a v6 and it will accelerate like no other van i have owned and i have had a few. Never timed it but i am sure 0 to 60 would be around the 10 seconds and have had 120 on the speedo once. Only tried this the once you understand after buying her to see what she'd do, now though its gentle acceleration and 60 to 65 on motorways. It must be frusterating for you to not have the power when you need it. When was the airfilter last replaced and what MPG are you getting? I personally acheive around 27 mpg thats a mixture of round town and motorways.

Tony C · Post by **Tony C** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:17 pm

Got to agree with lpgimports on this one, I live in a very hilly part of Devon & have never found my V6 under powered or sluggish on hills, very few vehicles of a similar size (even modern ones) can live with it if I decide to put my foot down.
Perhaps a member in your area with a V6 could give you a ride in theirs so you have a comparison.

cheffy34 · Post by **cheffy34** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:02 am

Tony C wrote:Got to agree with lpgimports on this one, I live in a very hilly part of Devon & have never found my V6 under powered or sluggish on hills, very few vehicles of a similar size (even modern ones) can live with it if I decide to put my foot down.
Perhaps a member in your area with a V6 could give you a ride in theirs so you have a comparison.

Lock it down up telegraph or holden hill, makes me grin every time i go up it in the bongo

You didn't stuff me telegraph in a green one tuther week did you

i was in me my other car

i dont have a hold button in mine it an overtaking button on normal rds

Tony C · Post by **Tony C** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:58 am

Lock it down up telegraph or holden hill, makes me grin every time i go up it in the bongo You didn't stuff me telegraph in a green one tuther week did you i was in me my other car

i dont have a hold button in mine it an overtaking button on normal rds

No cheffy it wasn't me, mine's silver over grey, got to admit though Telegraph hill is one of my favorit places for giving it the beans, just pop in the hold button & fly to the top, keeping to the legal limit of course

Triple/R · Post by **Triple/R** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:04 pm

Last year my lad bought a Bongo (Hillside Derby) i went with him & we test drove 4~ 3 diesels & 1 V6~anyway test drove 2 diesels first which were on par with each other then test drove the V6 & the difference was amazing~then we test drove the remaining diesel & it was like the other 2~~~all of these were fully fitted out & all drove nicely.

My current Bongo is a diesel & i tow a medium size caravan with no probs at all,but obviously you always know when your on a decent incline,but without towing it's as good (uphill) as most cars,so if yours struggles uphill there must be something amiss.

A1tony · Post by **A1tony** » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:39 pm

Why not get it on a dyno and see what HP you are getting at the wheels ?? It wont be anything like 160 I suspect given the Auto.

Better to do that before spending a load of money on something that isnt there.
Personally, if it had a more modern 6 speed box it would help, but it hasnt so..!

cozmo1589 · Post by **cozmo1589** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:23 am

BongoBonkers wrote:We've had our Bongo V6 for about three years now and love it dearly, probably more than anything else we've had (and we've had some really nice motors). The kids love it too and we've had some great times in the Bongatron. Our girl's only 3 and when she says 'I love my Bongo...' wistfully it just breaks your heart!

Now, it ain't no racing car and we've always been content to plod along but it is slowly dawning on me that our van is probably considerably slower than other people's. It has very little torque and takes ages to accelerate. It's OK once you've wound it up but any sign of a hill and you've had it.

We've always looked after it mechanically and it runs as smooth as you like, just not very quickly! Does anyone have any ideas as to what may possibly be the problem? I know it's a long shot as there's not exactly a lot to go on but all suggestions welcome. Don't know what to do about it, have even been looking at 115 and 120 Vito's out of desperation (yeah, I know it's not right).

We live near Hitchin, Herts. I was thinking of asking a reputable Bongo mechanic to check it out but the closest one I've come up with is Discount Trucks (still a fair trot for us). Anyone know any Bongo experts closer to N. London? Thanks

Just revisiting this thread as i spotted something with my Bongo recently. Was tinkering around in the engine bay checking levels, pipes and belts when i noticed on top of my V6 engine the throttle cable assembly. In this set up there is a cable adjuster. I noticed a vast amount of slack in the cable when in the rest position. I took out most of the slack and went for a test run. OMG!! I thought my Bongo was lively before but now its transformed. My throttle cable was obviously stretched a little and so i was not getting full throttle position when pushing down on the accelerator. Tick over remains unchanged as is throttle pedal position.

Festive greetings

apole · Post by **apole** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 1:16 pm

Hi there,

There are a stack of things that could be causing less power. I would recommend you make the jaunt to Discount or somewhere that has experience of the V6.

Performance on mine is OK, that being said I'm used to much more powerful cars but mine is okay and it's very quiet and smooth. Without going in yours it would be hard to say if it's good or not but from what you describe it should be alot better.

If you are able I would give it a good check over, including the HT side (leads, disty cap, rotor arm etc) and ensure things like the air filter, throttle, TPS etc are all adjusted properly. Also check things like your brakes aren't binding.

I think your fuel economy will also be an indicator of how well the car is running, on LPG mine averages 22MPG, it's converted AFT too so fairly heavy !!

With all the things I have done to mine over the years, other than servicing it properly, I'd say the TPS setting made a good difference as before it was changing gear too soon and the revs were dipping well below 2200 RPM where the torque starts to build up. Now with that adjusted it is far more eager and doesn't bog down going up hills etc.

Andy

BongoBonkers · Post by **BongoBonkers** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:10 pm

Hey guys - this is like a cold-case review! Thought this thread was long forgotten. I'd, as usual , just decided to put up with it and given up for another few months. Thanks for the input. Will check for play in throttle cable.

Mr apole, how do I go about checking / adjusting TPS or is it a specialist job?

Thanks very much

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