So, you are doing a health check round the Bongo, and notice when testing the lights that one of those number plate lights is out. No problem, right? They are only held on with two self tapping screws, and Bingo! – changed bulb and back road legal!!
Wrong!!
Unfortunately, the self tapping screws as fitted are only steel, and after, well, 25 years of being exposed to the elements under the rear door handle, the screw heads are almost rivet-like, and no amount of prayer, cursing or trying various screwdrivers makes an impression! Aha! WD 40 will shift them, right? Wrong! Now I have a stream of rusty WD 40 running down the number plate, but those screws will not shift. So, check on Ebay for number plate lights for the Bongo – only used ones, and looking for £25, hmm, last resort is just lever the things out the tailgate and fit new ones….
About an hour later though…..
So, how was this miracle achieved? Well, luckily I had the tailgate trim already removed, and was about to insulate the cavity of the tailgate with sound deadening closed cell foam sheeting, and some fire retardant plastic wool insulation, up to 45 mm thick, along the top edge next to the window, and in the lower void area. So, with some investigation and a torch, I found the rear of the fixings and the light fitting where it sticks through the panel. I thought ” Right! Time to chisel the screws out, and if the plastic wedge-type fixing blocks come out as well, then I can at least work on the fittings off the van.” So, a large screwdriver and a hammer, and a sharp rap on the end of the screw – nothing! However, nothing broke either, so, a half dozen more sharp blows, and the screw was moving! I did the same to both fittings, and in a few minutes, both fittings were loose.
I took the lense from each, cleaned up the lense with degreaser and soapy water, then used contact cleaner and WD 40 on the base and lampholders. New bulbs, and refit the light fittings with STAINLESS STEEL SCREWS!! Now, at least I can trust that the screws will come out next time, as I sincerely hope not to have the tailgate stripped down again any time soon!
Now, this might all seem a bit trivial, and not about an adventure in my Bongo, but this would be an MOT failure, and it made sense to address the issue when, luckily for me, the tailgate was stripped internally.
I hope this is useful to someone, and if I ever change Ali for another Bongo….unlikely, but never say never, I hope I remember how this was done!
Ali Bongo's adventures 