Vacuum Actuators

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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steady1946
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Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:13 pm

I got my local garage to check out the vacuum actuators,and they are dead.She does not start on these cold mornings. I take it you DO need these to start your Bongo? I have ordered replacment ones from AV. They have got to wait for them to come from Japan! When I receive them is it an easy job to replace them, Instead of trying to get my Bongo to the garage?
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:22 am

Can anyone tell me if you need the acuators to be working to start the Bongo? I have tried to start her but she is not having it😩
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by mikeonb4c » Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:46 am

Are these the things that (1) raise the tickover when engine is cold and (2) make sure it doesnt drop when aircon pump is running. If so mine don't work and Bongo doesnt mind at all.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by g8dhe » Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:59 am

I think you will find that there are 4 or 5 of them at least, it won't help that they aren't working when starting things like idle speeds are controlled, EGR etc.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:05 am

They are the ones on the driver's side of the engine. There are 2 together one black and one white.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by mikeonb4c » Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:27 am

steady1946 wrote: Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:05 am They are the ones on the driver's side of the engine. There are 2 together one black and one white.
Diesel engine? Year of manufacture?
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:36 am

2.5 diesel and 1996 4wd. Had since 2008.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:38 am

I believe the white one is for cold start and black is for the AC.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by mikeonb4c » Sun Nov 04, 2018 11:19 am

steady1946 wrote: Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:38 am I believe the white one is for cold start and black is for the AC.
Sounds right. Had my '95 diesel for 12 years and not heard talk about any other vacuum actuators on them. Neither of mine work as far as I know and apart from a slow tickover for the first minute or two from cold, and/or when aircon pump is loading the engine, she starts and runs fine. So I doubt they are the cause of your starting problem. If there's no sign of life at all when turning the engine, I'd suspect fuel supply first. And you can test that electrical power is going to the glow plug rail, using a multimeter. Is it starting at all, ever, and/or even kicking/smoking at all when you turn the key?
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 11:51 am

Hi I had a new diesel pump fitted last year. When I turn the key I can hear the white acuator clicking. She tries to start and pushes out white smoke from exhaust. I did have her running last week. Once she was warm she started ok next time. The weather temperature went down to 5 Deg last week and I could not start her. I had the acuators tested in a garage and they said they were dead.😫.I have ordered new ones should receive soon.🙄
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by g8dhe » Sun Nov 04, 2018 12:05 pm

When was the last time the Glowplugs were changed ? Typical symptoms (white smoke) of glowplug problems, they are a maintenance item and don't last for ever.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 12:16 pm

Hi Glow Plugs were changed May 2017. They did have trouble with no power to the buzz bar, but that was fixed. Traced to a poor/damaged wire.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by teenmal » Sun Nov 04, 2018 12:30 pm

HI, did the garage physically check that the glow/heater plugs are in fact working , when you try to start the engine can you see the actuator moving. Did they check the vacuum at the actuator .Its always advisable to let the Garage supply the parts.


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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by g8dhe » Sun Nov 04, 2018 12:35 pm

steady1946 wrote: Sun Nov 04, 2018 12:16 pm Hi Glow Plugs were changed May 2017. They did have trouble with no power to the buzz bar, but that was fixed. Traced to a poor/damaged wire.
I would suggest checking first that power is still getting to the busbar in that case! They have probably fitted short plugs and the bar maybe shorting out to the engine again, in which case the fusible link will have blown, spares available from the BF shop in that case.
If there is power then might still be worth changing the plugs.
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Re: Vacuum Actuators

Post by steady1946 » Sun Nov 04, 2018 1:04 pm

Hi I got the plugs from AV who sent the right ones. I got the garage to fit them.
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