Bongo Fury

Noticed today that gearbox wouldn't change up to top gear until I had been running for 30 mins after cold start. - Is this normal?

Ours changes after about five minutes running. I would check your ATF level ASAP.

May also be your oil needs changed.

What is the running temperatures of the engine.?

No 30 minutes before top gear is engaged is not normal unless you are in some really Cold conditions.

You also need to remember that the gear change is Speed related, what speed were you doing. MPH.

My V6 tends to be the opposite .. to me it tends to hang onto top gear to long ..

For example when slowing down for .. then exiting an island .. the pull away is 'sluggish' as the box is still in top ..

I have got into the habit of using 'H'old .. that gives a more 'spirited performance / take off if needed ..

Better than dropping it down from 'D' to '2' .. being rear wheel drive, it can make the back end a bit 'frisky' on some wet / greasy / diesel spillage black country islands ..!!

mikeWalsall wrote:My V6 tends to be the opposite .. to me it tends to hang onto top gear to long ..

For example when slowing down for .. then exiting an island .. the pull away is 'sluggish' as the box is still in top ..

I have got into the habit of using 'H'old .. that gives a more 'spirited performance / take off if needed ..

Better than dropping it down from 'D' to '2' .. being rear wheel drive, it can make the back end a bit 'frisky' on some wet / greasy / diesel spillage black country islands ..!!

Sounds very much like a solenoid or restriction problem.

I have had the sump off .. fresh semi synthetic Dexron 3 and the debris filter cleaned ..

It's not a megga problem .. maybe some thing an 'average' person would not notice .. just that I am used to automatics and some of the foibles .. one route I take as several round a bouts that really need the old 'slow down .. change down' .. to have sufficient acceleration when exiting ..

May be some people would use kick down .. which some thing I rarely use (and never once used it in the Bongo) preferring to thumb the 'H' button ..

The throttle position sensor may benefit from a tweak. I find there is a knack to getting it to change when you want it to & I just need to adapt driving style to suit vehicle characteristics. My Volvo is also auto and it has a adaptive transmission so will vary the behaviour based on how it's driven. Sometimes it needs to be given a bit of a thrash to liven it up again, especially if I've been pootling along in slow traffic on my daily commute.

My gearbox is as smooth as silk and the gear changes flawless and scarcely noticed ..

Being within minutes of the M6 / Black Country route it thrives on revs and the engine gets a regular 'blow out' ..

The last manual car I owned was a Lotus Cortina in 1970 I have only had autos since .. so tend to know most of the tips / quirks (eg: light throttle early changes .. heavy throttle later changes etc:)

Slowing down from a fair speed the box does not change down .. it seems to hold onto top gear so you do not have the extra acceleration to exit (say) an island .. and I am not a fan of using kick down which to me is hard on both engine / gearbox / fuel system / consumption ..

In fact (on dry roads) I tend to use the 'H' and slide the lever down to '2' the free revving V6 engine thrives on it ......

mikeWalsall wrote: .. and I am not a fan of using kick down which to me is hard on both engine / gearbox / fuel system / consumption ..

In fact (on dry roads) I tend to use the 'H' and slide the lever down to '2' the free revving V6 engine thrives on it ......

I've got a V6 too and sometimes use Hold, sometimes just kick it down.

Why do you think kick down is harder on everything? It revs up the same either way so is there really a difference?

Not having a go, just interested

edit: I suppose kick down is less subtle, especially if conditions are a bit greasy.

I suppose it's up to an individuals preference ... even on manuals .. given the right conditions / road speed I always changed down as I slowed down ..

Even on an auto I would sooner do it rather than using kick down which injects more fuel to over come the (to) higher gear ...

I live in Walsall .. which is in an hollow .. the only way out is up .. when needed .. I find by using the 'H' to knock it out of overdrive, the engine is easier revving and more responsive ..

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. So far the gearbox was found to be overfull with a rather brown tinged fluid. That after a full service from a 'reputable' Bongo specialist in the Bristol area. Ho-hum. Removing the excess seems to have given me back the missing gears and a full sump off and filter clean is now on the cards

wiljim wrote:Thanks for the helpful suggestions. So far the gearbox was found to be overfull with a rather brown tinged fluid. That after a full service from a 'reputable' Bongo specialist in the Bristol area. Ho-hum. Removing the excess seems to have given me back the missing gears and a full sump off and filter clean is now on the cards

That makes a lot of sense, if the box is overfilled it will take the box longer to heat the extra oil and to get to normal operating condition.

Just a wee tip, check the fluid for water contamination/content.