Bongo cuts out and then won't start - HELP

[McrBongo]

Nearly every time I drive my Bongo things are fine... then after about 20 minutes I'll get to a set of lights, it'll start to sputter then when I put my foot on the gas to pull away it moves a few meters then cuts out completely. The problems don't stop here, once it cuts out it takes about an hour to start again, the only way it does is with my foot to the floor to get fuel through. I then have to keep my foot on the gas a bit until it will idle without cutting out. Since it's last incident I managed to get it home, but now it just won't start at all.

I've just spent about £4.5k repairing and converting it and now it is sitting outside my house unusable.

It was driving perfectly, started first time every time, no problems. Then I had some work done, replacing fuel and coolant pipes, cam belt and new air and fuel filter. Since, it has been having these problems, I can't say if this is connected as I only had it for a few weeks before I had the repair work done and didn't really make any long journeys. Since the repair work, I've had a it checked again and everything seems to be fine, battery is good, glow plugs, even changed the fuel filter again. Everything has been checked. It has fuel in it and petrol hasn't been put into the tank accidentally.

I'd be grateful for any help as I just can't use it now and can't even get it to a garage to get checked out. Had to cancel holidays and everything. I'm just going to sell it if I can't get it sorted in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers.

[Bob]

Hi, welcome aboard, and sorry to hear you have problems.

We've got some good techie people on here who will likely ba along to help with ideas, meantime roughly where are you?

A rough location will help us to help you.

[McrBongo]

Cheers Bob, that's great, I'm in Manchester.

I've been looking through the forums on here and other sites and just can't find anything. I initially thought it might be a common problem but doesn't seem to be. I've even looked at similar problems in other vehicles but it's been difficult to pinpoint what the cause might be?

[Bob]

Worth loosening the fuel cap, could be the vent is blocked causing an air lock.

See if you hear a rush of air when removing it.

[McrBongo]

Cheers, gave it a go but no noise.

Tried starting it again, started first time no problem. Not going to dare drive it though as I know that 20 minutes in it will just cut out again.

[McrBongo]

Forgot to mention in the first post, it's a 1999 2.5 diesel.

[mikeonb4c]

Forgot to mention in the first post, it's a 1999 2.5 diesel.

Out of interest was it a Bongo specialist who did the work on it?

[Bob]

Its possible that air has got back into the tank while its been sat, if you're brave enough you could loosen the filler cap and go for a spin, maybe staying very close to home.

The real test would be to release the cap once it stops, but I can see the big down side of this method.

[Bongolia]

Your first port of call has to be the repairers.
I would guess it is fuel starvation/air entering the fuel supply,try running it without the cap on and see how you get on, take some sandwiches and a flask in case
If you have no joy with the repairer then look for a diesel specialist and get it booked in with them that would probably be far less frustrating in the long run.
Good luck.

Edit; pipped at the post
Like my horse today

[Bob]

Bad luck.

[Bongolia]

Ten quid bad luck!

[McrBongo]

Thanks for the info, I'll try loosening the cap and go for a spin.

Mike... yes it was a Bongo specific repairer, he's been great and really helpful, but difficult to get to the cause of the problem as it's intermittent. We thought we had solved it and it just started again.

Trying to figure out what else it can be.

[Northern Bongolow]

if you remove the fuel cap and wash it out clean then look on the bottom edge of the filler neck there should be a little hole, it may be full of road grime, poke it clear it is a deep tube so use a length of welding rod or similar, if that doesnt fix it there is a little thimble filter clipped on the chassis inside leg, this is connected to the top of the tank and is a breather, this has a little one way valve in it and gets blocked up or sealed up with over zealous undersealers. the position its mounted to the inside of the chassis is just in front of the fuel tank, driverside level with the rear of the head, pull it off the chassis with a click, then wash out the filter, then inside the pipe end, an inch in, is another one way valve wash out and away you go.

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for the info, I'll try loosening the cap and go for a spin.

Mike... yes it was a Bongo specific repairer, he's been great and really helpful, but difficult to get to the cause of the problem as it's intermittent. We thought we had solved it and it just started again.

Trying to figure out what else it can be.

Very trying when that happens. Even the best mechanics can come across a real brain teaser. I assume things like banjo filter have been checked and cleaned?

[TonyBongo]

Did you get to the bottom of this?

I've just had a problem with my Diesel Bongo cutting out shortly after starting. I'm suspecting air getting into in the fuel line - possibly in the fuel filter assembly.

Tony