Running issues with our Bongo

[Sad-Ac]

Guys,

2.5 V6 petrol running LPG. The Bongo has been in the garage and has came out with the following symptoms:

In park revs normal 6-700 (this is normal for us)
In drive revs 12-1400 without touching the accelerator foot on the brake, ours does not normally sit this high
Loss of power when driving, still goes but badly
MPG down by about 40%
Same on gas or petrol

Basically it is running like the automatic choke is on permanently. Any guesses as to what has happened here? Or how I fix it? I'm arming myself with info before it goes back to the garage as I can't take it back to them straight away. So any help is welcomed.

Thanks.

[Sad-Ac]

I'm told elsewhere this may be an air flow sensor. Anybody got a picture of where it is before I go looking tonight?

[Simon Jones]

There is a MAF sensor on the air box. They can be cleaned with a special spray but it must be done carefully as it is made up of a mesh of fine wires. I cleaned mine and it made no difference although there was no apparent symptoms of problems.



You may find they unplugged the MAF to change the air filter. Do you have a list of what was done while at the garage?

[Sad-Ac]

Thanks for the info - turned out the sensor simply was not plugged back in. It is in now running safe and sound.

[Simon Jones]

Nice simple fix .

[scanner]

Clearly a garage to steer clear of in future.

[Simon Jones]

Mind you, with a previous company car, I took it to an Audi main dealer for a service and it came back with the brake fluid warning light on as the mechanic had not reconnected it. Pretty poor that they failed to spot the big red light on the dashboard before handing it back.

[scanner]

Mind you, with a previous company car, I took it to an Audi main dealer for a service and it came back with the brake fluid warning light on as the mechanic had not reconnected it. Pretty poor that they failed to spot the big red light on the dashboard before handing it back.

I used to mystery shop car servicing for a large car group with it's HQ in Milton Keynes (not allowed to name them) and I never failed to be amazed at the utter cheek and incompetence of their main dealers.

One thing I did learn was that the more they charged the less they cared - the best service by far was from the only one that charged less than £100. The worst (again by far) charged £261 for exactly the same service done very very badly.

Later in the year I saw in the paper that the local dealer had got an "Award for Excellence", despite having missed two of the (very obvious) faults I had introduced into the car before taking it in for it's service.

[teenmal]

Mind you, with a previous company car, I took it to an Audi main dealer for a service and it came back with the brake fluid warning light on as the mechanic had not reconnected it. Pretty poor that they failed to spot the big red light on the dashboard before handing it back.

I used to mystery shop car servicing for a large car group with it's HQ in Milton Keynes (not allowed to name them) and I never failed to be amazed at the utter cheek and incompetence of their main dealers.

One thing I did learn was that the more they charged the less they cared - the best service by far was from the only one that charged less than £100. The worst (again by far) charged £261 for exactly the same service done very very badly.

Later in the year I saw in the paper that the local dealer had got an "Award for Excellence", despite having missed two of the (very obvious) faults I had introduced into the car before taking it in for it's service.

Ah sneaky as a matter of interest what were the obvious faults that you introduced to the vehicle.?

[mikeWalsall]

... And why did the head office of the 'un named' dealer not take notice of the mystery shoppers findings ..??

[scanner]

Mind you, with a previous company car, I took it to an Audi main dealer for a service and it came back with the brake fluid warning light on as the mechanic had not reconnected it. Pretty poor that they failed to spot the big red light on the dashboard before handing it back.

I used to mystery shop car servicing for a large car group with it's HQ in Milton Keynes (not allowed to name them) and I never failed to be amazed at the utter cheek and incompetence of their main dealers.

One thing I did learn was that the more they charged the less they cared - the best service by far was from the only one that charged less than £100. The worst (again by far) charged £261 for exactly the same service done very very badly.

Later in the year I saw in the paper that the local dealer had got an "Award for Excellence", despite having missed two of the (very obvious) faults I had introduced into the car before taking it in for it's service.

Ah sneaky as a matter of interest what were the obvious faults that you introduced to the vehicle.?

We introduced 8 but it was 10 year ago so I can't remember them all.

But I think it was

Blow fuse for number plate lights
Remove interior light bulb
Disconnect 2 engine sensors - coolant temp and ?????????? run engine and reconnect so ECU logs faults.
One tyre pressure 10 PSI low.
Can't remember the others, but similar simple but significant faults.

As for why 6 out of 8 = "Excellence" don't ask me - I don't think it's good enough - one of the things they missed was that the effing big light over the rearview mirror wasn't working because the bulb was missing.

PS that dealer charged £168 for 75% of the job, the one (the only one) that did 100% was the one that charged £98. That also included an extra litre bottle of GTX for topping up and as they noticed I had just the key, a free leather key fob albeit with their name on it.

PPS You would be amazed how many dealers charged for 2 number plate light bulbs + fitting (1/4 hour labour EACH!!!) instead of for the one fuse that was all that was needed.

PPPS the car involved "measures" 297mm x 210mm.

[Simon Jones]

PPPS the car involved "measures" 297mm x 210mm.

The same "size" car I was referring to . It also needed a new multitronic gearbox after about 18 months. CVT gearboxes are an acquired taste but when it wasn't in the garage being repaired, it was a good car.

[Sad-Ac]

Clearly a garage to steer clear of in future.

I called them left a message, they called back within 30 minutes apologizing for the issue and offered up the reason why it may be running bad (they got it right) offered to take the van in as soon as I could get to them. The one thing they did not do was "its nothing to do with me gov" you sometimes get after a service - so was happy about that. So I can only grumble they never offered a pickup service to come and get it and take it to the garage.

All in all I'm putting it down to an honest mistake and just be more aware picking it up in future.

[mikeonb4c]

Clearly a garage to steer clear of in future.

I called them left a message, they called back within 30 minutes apologizing for the issue and offered up the reason why it may be running bad (they got it right) offered to take the van in as soon as I could get to them. The one thing they did not do was "its nothing to do with me gov" you sometimes get after a service - so was happy about that. So I can only grumble they never offered a pickup service to come and get it and take it to the garage.

All in all I'm putting it down to an honest mistake and just be more aware picking it up in future.

Whilst I agree+++ with scanners observations on garages, I think your approach is very balanced. I've yet to meet the mechanic or the garage that doesn't miss the odd bit now and again. If you look at their lives, the small (maybe one-person) outfits may be trying to do a job that doesn't benefit from interruptions, whilst answering the phone endlessly to people hoping you can fix their car yesterday cos it is playing up etc. etc. Its hardly surprising, especially as they get older and a little more prone to losing their place, that the occasional thing can get missed. Its not good, but its reality. Can you imagine a surgeon having to answer the phone during an operation

I try and work with a good mechanic so that we can always have an open no-blame discussion about issues like this. We are all only human after all.

But main dealer garages - that's another thing altogether.

P.S. Excellent diagnosis by Simon by the way

[Sad-Ac]

Mike you are right, would rather have a laugh with them and an open discussion as apposed to them being very guarded because you complain about everything they do.