Boiling Bongo & water woes...

prb007 · Post by **prb007** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:00 pm

OK........long story short; sequence of events.......
1.Apr 06 import Bongo from Japan.
2. 12 months or so of trouble-free Bongoing.
3. May Bank hol weekend 07, van overheats, RAC diagnose thermostat.
4. Fit new stat, bleed system.
5. 1 month of trouble free motoring.
6. Whitsun bank hol weekend, van overheats randomly, stop, check water level, avoid scalding, release pressure from header tank - water level OK, so drive home (40+ miles) keeping an eye on temp gauge running @ 12.00 instead of 11.30.
7. Early June - start getting puffs of white smoke through exhaust on start up, so do CO test on exp. tank to discover head/gasket u/s
8. 1st week of June; Order head gasket set.
9. 2nd week; Remove head - signs of cracking.
10. 3rd week; Pressure test head.........bad news.
11. 4th week; Order new head
12. End of June; fit new head & gasket - happy days? Not really!
Unlucky 13. Van still puffing white smoke on start up; not losing water, not leaking CO into water, running fine when warm, no lack of power, but lumpy until white smoke clears.
Answers on a postcard to desperate bongo owners club, South Wales branch!
Any advice, no matter how obscure, appreciated!
btw, 2.5TD, bog-standard WLT Bongo engine.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:44 pm

White smoke can be unburnt fuel, so I would check glowplugs, especially as engine is lumpy until warmed up.

prb007 · Post by **prb007** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:11 pm

sounds feasible........any one had similar prob?

Bonza · Post by **Bonza** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:11 pm

Obvious question- Do you wait for the glow light to go out before engaging the starter?

This really sounds like a duff glowplug/ relay. Lots here on checking the electrics.

Check the relay and plugs.

Bonza

Post by **Simon Jones** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:22 pm

Also check the rail-thing that connects the glow plugs to the power. Get a bulb or multimeter & connect it between earth & the feed for plugs - should show power while the glow plug light on the dashboard is on & then I believe it stays on for a minute or so after the engine has started.

prb007 · Post by **prb007** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:34 pm

top of the list....cheers

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:45 pm

get your main battery tested as well.
bongo needs 560 cranking amps to start,
ours was 440 so got a new one. check that the relay clicks on the glowplugs turn on ing and after 30 sec or so c=should hear a dull clunk from bonnet.

prb007 · Post by **prb007** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:31 pm

Getting glowplugs tested tomorrow.
Mechanic who fitted new head & gasket set for
me, assures me that he DID connect everything in glow plug
circuit, so hopefully its' only one or two new plugs!