Difficulty starting in wet/cold
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
Difficulty starting in wet/cold
Hi,
We've noticed over the last couple of weeks, with the onset of cold/wet weather, that our '95 2.5l diesel Bongo is having trouble starting in the mornings after a few days of not being run. When it fails to start I can hear a bubbling from the coolant header tank, but I'm not sure if this is normal or not since I wouldn't hear it if the engine had caught first time. It's not a constant bubbling, just a couple of gurgles.
The starter battery is the original that came with the Bongo 5 years ago, so I'm wondering if that's on its way out and that's the likely problem but obviously I've read the horror stories about cracked heads causing poor starting by letting water into the cylinders. Would it be worth replacing the battery as a first step, or are there some other things I should do to help isolate the problem?
Thanks,
Simon.
We've noticed over the last couple of weeks, with the onset of cold/wet weather, that our '95 2.5l diesel Bongo is having trouble starting in the mornings after a few days of not being run. When it fails to start I can hear a bubbling from the coolant header tank, but I'm not sure if this is normal or not since I wouldn't hear it if the engine had caught first time. It's not a constant bubbling, just a couple of gurgles.
The starter battery is the original that came with the Bongo 5 years ago, so I'm wondering if that's on its way out and that's the likely problem but obviously I've read the horror stories about cracked heads causing poor starting by letting water into the cylinders. Would it be worth replacing the battery as a first step, or are there some other things I should do to help isolate the problem?
Thanks,
Simon.
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
First thing is to check that the glowplugs are working.
John
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
Check the coolant level, and try to watch it perhaps whilst someone else starts the van, if it is gurgling then you have air in the system, you need to locate where the air is getting in / water out!
- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
they do make a gurgling noise when the water pump initially starts, and usually when you turn off the engine it can be heard as the system flow slows to a stop, ive never found it to be air just the noise of the flow.
Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
Thanks - I checked the water level and there isnt any significant loss (I have one of the special edition(!) opaque header tanks so its tricky to gauge an exact level).
Is there an easy way of checking the glow plugs, the 'starting problems' factsheet doesnt appear to be available at the moment. Alternatively i have it booked in for a service next week now anyway, is that something the garage should be able to do at the same time without too much extra effort?
Is there an easy way of checking the glow plugs, the 'starting problems' factsheet doesnt appear to be available at the moment. Alternatively i have it booked in for a service next week now anyway, is that something the garage should be able to do at the same time without too much extra effort?
- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
you can take off the top bus bar that connects them together and do a resistance test, one lead to the top of the plug and another probe to the head next to the plug and check the reading to the bongo service manual resistance, saves risking breaking em to get them out to test em,
- mikeonb4c
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
The battery is due for changing anyway so change that. Get a 90Ah one as it'll probably last longer and will better ensure power to gloplugs is maintained when cranking. If tbe problem then goes away you're good to go. If it doesn't then gloplugs have to be next suspect i reckon.
My Bongo doesn't gurgle when switching off - should i be worried
My Bongo doesn't gurgle when switching off - should i be worried
Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
First thing is to check that the glowplugs are in fact getting a 11/12 volt feed.
No Feed No Go.
No Feed No Go.
Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
Thanks guys, multimeter says I have one potentially working glowplug, which i'm guessing is less than ideal so first up is a new set of those.
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
....ideally when the battery is busy supplying the starter motor, though that might be a bit unrealistic. It is the batteries ability to supply power under load that matters though i reckon, if plugs are not to have their glow quenched by incoming cold fuel mixtureteenmal wrote:First thing is to check that the glowplugs are in fact getting a 11/12 volt feed.
No Feed No Go.
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Re: Difficulty starting in wet/cold
I will add I occasionally get a stuttery start and know 1 of the diesel pump seals is probably not sealing as well and letting a bit of air in. It always starts fine though but I am guessing depending on how badly the seal is not meeting it could make starting hard work. Logically I would have thought the colder it is the more the seal will contract in size meaning less and less good seals.
I am no expert Bongo diagnostics person but might be worth bearing in mind at the end as you go through the other suggestions above. Hope you get it sorted and it is an easy fix.
No gurgling when switching off here either.
I am no expert Bongo diagnostics person but might be worth bearing in mind at the end as you go through the other suggestions above. Hope you get it sorted and it is an easy fix.
No gurgling when switching off here either.