broken down french sadness

[jnboy]

Cylinder head bust on first big bongo trip

we are about 50km south of millau at a place called
la caylar.

Breakdown people should get bongo home but if not
does anyone know of a garage who could fix the little fella

ta

jon

[g8dhe]

Welcome to the forum, and sorry to here of your problems

There are several places in the UK who are Bongo experts, but they are dotted around the country, there is a list on the Club site (paid membership required, see link at top of page) but if you put your UK location in your profile then advise won't be long in coming!

[jnboy]

Thanks we have a guy in the uk.

We were wondering if anyone knew anywhere in france

jon

[scanner]

I doubt if you will find anyone in France who even knows what a Bongo is let along how to work on one.

Get it home and then to one of the experts NOT just the first garage the breakdown truck takes you to.

I think AVA Leisure are somewhere near the M.25, if they can't help they should know a man who can.

http://mazdabongo.com/contactus.php

[thegreenman]

Just get it back home. We couldn't evem get the French to patch weld our exhaust last year. You would need pretty special language skills to explain the bleading procedures even if they managed to fit a new head

Still going back next week though. Santander to Caen, here we come

[Nick65]

Are you still in Le Caylar?

If so I have family in Montpellier and Ganges (1 hour away). So fingers crossed that they are not on holiday and can come and help. If not they may be in Spain or Italy, but here goes.

Will find out in 10 minutes.

[Nick65]

Sorry, everyone seems to be on hols. Good luck.

If you have any questions, ask on here, but I am in and out today as taking our daughter to Brittany Ferries at Portsmouth later.

[jnboy]

Thank you for trying
still stuck here waiting for breakdown people to sort hire car.

Sunny though so getting a tan

jon

[thegreenman]

It's not all bad news then

[jnboy]

Update
Got hire car and reached villa in spain
pool looks v nice

now at the mercy of the breakdown people to get bongo home

Jon

[dandywarhol]

Update
Got hire car and reached villa in spain
pool looks v nice

now at the mercy of the breakdown people to get bongo home

Jon

Don't want to worry you too much but be very aware that they might value the Bongo as less than the relay home and not return it - be very insistent as to the reasonable value you think it is.

Enjoy Spain

[Nick65]

I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but don't they say that you should bring a bongo back on the back of the lorry instead of being towed on it's two rear wheels?

[missfixit70]

Most definitely correct, (unless you disconnect the driveshaft/s) auto boxes need to be running to keep lubricated if the driven wheels are on the ground being towed, whether it's 2 or 4wd or it'll go bang pretty quickly. Recovery is usually on the back of a truck though, so shouldn't be a worry.

[jnboy]

Update

bongo being taken to garage in montpellier

will let you know how it goes!

Jon

[scanner]

Update

bongo being taken to garage in montpellier

will let you know how it goes!

Jon

Just make sure they realise the need to bleed it properly if they do any work to the cooling system.

Refer them to this site and hopefully (if necessary) Nick65 may be able to advise them.