Is my Bongo a Lemon?

[steveyd]

Hi all,

I've just noticed that my 2.5TD 2WD AFT Bongo has an SGL5 (4x4) id in the sticker on the door post, but shouldnt it have an SGL3 id as its a 2wd?

Its definitely 2WD as I've spent years under the darned thing (3 weekends in a row) - I've just replaced the front hubs with proper ABS ones as for some reason it had non-ABS hubs and the dash bulb taken out to hide that (ABS now working - thanks BellHill!). There are no "full time 4x4" stickers on the side.. however one of the front wings is missing a decal... Both are rusting at the seam 1/2 way down it. It seems to be a high spec bongo - it has the digital aircon and a bracket for a rear ladder (ladder missing) plus 2 sets of sliding seats. It has also has the cold start pack - but second battery and tray are also missing! Mine seems to have been cannabalised at some point... Mileage isnt particularly high.

I dont think the garage I got it from did all this - as it was a new import - though their 1 years warranty seems to have transformed into a "3 months " warranty. I got this Bongo last Feb - in that time I have had to replace wishbones (supplying garage put on s/h balljoints which lasted 6 months), track rod ends, droplinks, both heater matrixes, radiator, rust coming through big time on the arches, glow plugs. I've also fitted new hoses, LCA and Mason alarm (but this is preventative & would do anyway). In addition to this the new hubs & Abs sensors. I this all normal? This Bongo is bankrupting me... I think a new steering rack and air con bits are also on the horizon!

Have I been a victim of "Bongo tarted up at the dockside" syndrome? Its not all bad - it does drive well and seems to return good economy for a Bongo (30mpg +). I've now drained & bled the coolant system 4 times (I should have a certificate for that alone!). There is no evidence of crash damage as far as I can tell.

I love my Bongo - but does she love me? She's certainly high maintenance! Antifreeze - the bitter-sweet after taste of Bongolove!

Steve

[haydn callow]

If the seams are rusting at the front I would check very carefully the rear wheel arches....Sound as though it came from the north of Japan and they do tend to be prone to Rust (been there done that)
From what you say I would guess it's history is suspect.....Not everyone in Japan is honest....they do do a fair bit of clocking for sure.

[waycar8]

Might have had the front drive shaft removed and replaced with the 2 wheel drive one at some point hence the reason why you didnt have abs sensors in the front hubs but had them in the rear ones.


But you would be able to tell with the gear box anyhow, so my thought is, the engine went at some point in Japan or just the gear box so they replaced it with a new one and realised they had got a non 4 wheel drive one so swapped the front drive shaft for a 2 wheel drive one and took out the abs light.

[Doone]

I've just noticed that my 2.5TD 2WD AFT Bongo has an SGL5 (4x4) id in the sticker on the door post, but shouldnt it have an SGL3 id as its a 2wd?

By sticker, do you mean the plate with the chassis number? If the number begins with SGL5 (4WD) then it is a 4WD (Ford Freda will begin SGL5F.) If so, it sounds like someone's 'converted' it to a 2WD.

[steveyd]

Hi,

Yep - the VIN sticker definitely states "sgl5"... There is definitely no diff up front and no drive shaft.. I cant see any "hole" in the transmission casing for a front drive shaft so I'm guessing it must have blown its transmission at some stage and they changed that. I was specifically looking for a 2wd so I'm not overly concerned - but this is a more plausible and less worrying scenario that it had a front end shunt which is why its got different hubs..

Now this also raises the question.. have I got an LSD.. no yellow sticker but the diff's been waxoiled (shame they didnt take the spare out when waxoiling!!)- I've just seen a link to that Russian site that gives specs with the vin.

Cheers!

Steve

[flossie]

Hi

Just an aside thought - you might need to let your Insurance company know this as it is 'modified' - ouch as they might not insure it. I had this with a Freelander which I modified from 4wd to 2wd - I argued that ive taken away from it not added to it but they wouldnt listen and wouldnt cover it. (I did cover elsewhere though so dont panic entirely!)

[The Great Pretender]

Hi

Just an aside thought - you might need to let your Insurance company know this as it is 'modified' - ouch as they might not insure it. I had this with a Freelander which I modified from 4wd to 2wd - I argued that ive taken away from it not added to it but they wouldnt listen and wouldnt cover it. (I did cover elsewhere though so dont panic entirely!)

.......................'modified'................tends to make most insurance company computers crash.........

[steveyd]

That Russian sites very useful: yep: mine WAS a 4wd and it also has a Limited Slip diff (assuming that hasnt been changed too..!). Glad I checked as I've already bought some of the standard hypoid oil and was going to top it up last weekend but got stalled by a stripped thread on a track rod end!

I'll check for sure by jacking the back up and seeing which way the wheels turn by hand (i.e. same direction or not).

One further question - is the gearing different on a 4wd to a 2wd? I've now got the bigger wheels, K&N, blanked EGR and I'm not seeing the fabled 40mpg yet..

[scanner]

I'm not seeing the fabled 40mpg yet..

You won't..................

[francophile1947]

I'm not seeing the fabled 40mpg yet..

That's why it's fabled I believe Torchwood achieved it once, but not consistently.

[waycar8]

I'm not seeing the fabled 40mpg yet..

That's why it's fabled I believe Torchwood achieved it once, but not consistently.

yes but didnt he rip out all the seats plastiuc interior, removed the windows all things not needed such as glass, wipers, lights, mirrors bonnet atf blah blah blah

40 mpg............

[wonkanoby]

find a place were its all downhill

[missfixit70]

find a place were its all downhill

Anywhere in the UK then

[mister munkey]

yes but didnt he rip out all the seats plastiuc interior, removed the windows all things not needed such as glass, wipers, lights, mirrors bonnet atf blah blah blah

40 mpg............

AND, flipped in the mirrors between motorway junctions.



Getting back to the original question, it sounds as if you have done a fair bit of work to do to get it back up to spec. Any 10+ year old vehicle is going to be more prone to problems than a newer one but every problem that gets solved is one less to be a bother in the next few years, if done right.

I've had a terrible run of luck in the last year or so to the point where I genuinely wanted to torch it BUT I believe I've finally turned the corner now. Most things that could go wrong did but have now been sorted - Hence nothing can sneak up on me for the forseable.

Fingers crossed of course but once you get these beasties right - there ain't nothing like 'em.

[Alison01326]

Hence nothing can sneak up on me for the forseable.

Not before Saturday, anyway?