What is this little box that goes tick?

Pipsqueek · Post by **Pipsqueek** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:32 pm

I have a strange intermittent tick, well not me personally - the Bongo

. I've worked out where its coming from, a little box under the bonnet behind the left hand battery and behind the fuse box, right at the back left hand side. Its a little black box with a green square label and a plastic cover. I can (in theory!) supply a photo of location if necessary but knowing that there are some technical whizzes out there I may not need to.
The Bongos a '95 Diesel auto fwd if thats of assistance.
Thanks
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brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:40 pm

Does it tick just for a few minutes after starting, or all the time?

The reason I ask this as it could be the glowplug relay, if it is then I would expect it to click on/off for a few times, during the first few minutes of running.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:44 pm

It could be that or maybe if you have a leisure battery, it's the split charge relay switching on and off. It's a favourite position for locating one.

Pipsqueek · Post by **Pipsqueek** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:07 pm

Very impressive response time for this query! Can't believe it. No garage could match that! And a problem shared.... thanks i feel better already

I can't remember it ever ticking on initial start up, usually after a few miles, so the leisure battery relay option sounds a strong contender. If thats what is, does that mean i shouldn't worry about it, or is it breaking and needs attention?

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:12 pm

Don't worry...just the relay doing it's job

brianwfl · Post by **brianwfl** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:10 pm

Hi pipsqeek,

the clicking noise you r hearing is the glowplug relay operating.

cheers brianwfl

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:14 pm

wouldn't think it's the glowplug relay. That should stop switching after about 2 mins.
More likely the split charge relay doing it's job.
If it is the glowplug relay then if it's switching after more than 5 mins you have a fault.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:16 pm

Cold morning up here in the frozen north. Thought I'd test how long the glowplugs stayed on on a 3 mile commute to work in slow traffic............................nearly all the way and around 8 minutes

. They only went out when I applied a bit of throttle and the vacuum bypassed the actuator!

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:23 pm

carn't argue with that.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:50 pm

Yo dandy?...Is it around 1500 RPM that the glowplugs click off?

The reason i ask is because i get a little cough from my bongo's engine when started from stone cold,(30% veggie)unless i "tickle" the throttle a little, the accelerator seems very sensitive when cold, and as the revs pass 1500 rpm there is a click,then another as it drops below 1500... I assume this to be the glowplug relay?...

rwill19050 · Post by **rwill19050** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:54 pm

Glow plug relay is controlled by temperature, so the quicker you get it warm the quicker it goes off. But, it can come on again during your journey if the ECR sees the outlet temperature drop. All designed for emission control.
Contrary to popular belief, just because the orange light goes out doesn't mean the glow plugs are off.
I know, because I fitted a switch (with an LED) in series with the relay.

(Something to do with being a mean so and so, and not burning out the glow plugs too quickly)

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:04 pm

rwill19050 wrote:I know, because I fitted a switch (with an LED) in series with the relay.

So have I - I used Ben Bruce's factsheet as guidance.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:31 am

bigdaddycain wrote:Yo dandy?...Is it around 1500 RPM that the glowplugs click off?

The reason i ask is because i get a little cough from my bongo's engine when started from stone cold,(30% veggie)unless i "tickle" the throttle a little, the accelerator seems very sensitive when cold, and as the revs pass 1500 rpm there is a click,then another as it drops below 1500... I assume this to be the glowplug relay?...

Yep

about then but it is dependant on vacuum and engine load. Usually the plug relay clicke out when you accelerate and will come back on again when you deccelerate. I've also bypassed mine and have a blue L.E.D. AAAAAAAAAARGH - BLING, PIMP