Top box wont go all the way up :(

Kitegirl · Post by **Kitegirl** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:20 pm

Hi people,

I've got problems with my top box.. basically it goes so far then wont go all the way up - without being forced manually..

Any ideas?

Also, ma Bongo's not starting very well.. I'm leaving it a good 30 seconds after the light goes off but still it's taking a lot of huff and puff to get started.. a friend suggested battery so I'm going to get it tested.. any ideas?

Many thanks, this forum's been such a blessing, being a girl with NO idea of mechanics etc..

Dee

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:27 pm

Hi Kitegirl, do you have the engine running when raising the freetop?

Its adviseable, as the battery alone hasn't enough power to raise it on its own.

Perhaps the battery is the cause of your starting problems too...

alphabetter · Post by **alphabetter** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:30 pm

Kitegirl wrote:Hi people,

I've got problems with my top box.. basically it goes so far then wont go all the way up - without being forced manually..

Any ideas?

How far does it need to be "pushed"? Quite a lot seem to need a bit of manual assist to get the last half mm that turns the beeping off. Generally the problem seems to be the gas-props that assist the electric motor wearing out. If you search on the forum then you can find info about getting them regassed or replaced.

smartmonkey · Post by **smartmonkey** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:57 pm

Starting is probably down to glow plugs failing. If you don't know when they were last done they are the first things to change.

By top box I assume you freetop? If you have any type of top box on it puts a lot of extra strain on the roof mechanism. You can try greasing the runners and always leave the motor running. The other thing that helps is unzipping the tent bit.

Post by **mobilecat** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:03 pm

You could try my strange 'turn off the beeping' solution and see if it opens up your AFT properly.

I turn on the engine and press the roof button and up it goes, however when it gets to the top it stops beeping only far about a second - not long enough to realise and get my finger off the button. I then pretend to close it for about 2 seconds and then re-start to open it and it opens and locks in about 5 seconds.

I am sure I shouldn't have to do this but it has worked for me.

Shad · Post by **Shad** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:15 pm

I have the same problem - it's apparently common as the Bongo gets older, possibly due to ageing of the plastic tent fabric becoming stiffer so the mechanism has to work harder.

I have remedied it so far by greasing the runners, top and bottom, both sides of the van, and also using a silicone lube on the struts themselves.

This ususally does the job, allows it to fully raise and it sounds much better too. But as smartmonkey points out, if this fails climbing inside and unzipping the tent releases the strain and always allows mine to go right up.

Cheers, Shad.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:23 pm

Shad wrote: climbing inside and unzipping the tent releases the strain and always allows mine to go right up.

Its a good job we know you are talking about freetops shad

Post by **Bob** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:24 am

Don't leave it too long after the plug light goes out before turning the engine over to start it - things will cool down again - I'm not a Bongo expert but on most diesels the light goes out when the plugs reach optimium start temp. (Or the plugs are knacked or the battery is flat.)

jimsmimm · Post by **jimsmimm** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:33 am

Don't leave it too long after the plug light goes out before turning the engine over to start it - things will cool down again
not on the bongo Bob..... they can stay on for a considerable time after the light goes out and the plugs continue to come on and off at various times , leading to premature failure which is why some people fit a switch... theres info in the members section on doing this...

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:08 pm

If the ambient temp is average, i crank the bongo a second or so after the glowplug light extinguishes...if its particularly cold/frosty, then i wait till after the light goes out....then listen for the first click of the relay, then crank....Fires straight up!

Griffin · Post by **Griffin** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:26 pm

I've got a home made roof rack, does exactly the same thing when raising the Freetop. I reckon it's just the extra weight - I just give it a help for the last few inches of travel (oooer).

Pete & Sue · Post by **Pete & Sue** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:31 pm

Thanks for that Shad. I've saved that to my 'Nightly - must do' list!

Post by **mobilecat** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:21 pm

I think the roof elves have been at my AFT since I posted on this thread. I put the roof up this afternoon to do some roof bpard measureing (different thread) and it didn't stop beeping and I have to do the manual push up - ARghhhhhhhh. Someone on here has been giving Dydo Bongo ideas haven't they. It has never done that before.

Shad · Post by **Shad** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:25 pm

bigdaddycain wrote:
Shad wrote: climbing inside and unzipping the tent releases the strain and always allows mine to go right up.

Its a good job we know you are talking about freetops shad

Blimey! Good point, I'm not sure what I was thinking about when I wrote that. Can I fit a cold shower to my Bongo?

Shad.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:52 pm

Shad wrote:Can I fit a cold shower to my Bongo?

You can indeed Shad - a hot one even - I'll tell you about that one in Bongo Mods Pt.2 when you bring the Pela back

Top box wont go all the way up :(

Top box wont go all the way up :(

Re: Top box wont go all the way up :(