starting in cold

karena · Post by **karena** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:12 pm

bongo wouldnt start this morning but it is exceptionally cold around minus five, we didnt keep trying too long because didnt want to flattern battery
which brings me to

question 1 does anyone know of a portable battery that you can run jump leads off

question 2 is this a problem others have, if so would throwing a blanket over the bonnet overnight help or does the coil system work differently to petrol cars.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:22 pm

You can get those battery packs with built in tyre inflater etc. but most are no good with a large diesel engine.
Can't see how a blanket over the bonnet would help cos' the engine's not under the bonnet

Don't understand the coil bit - diesels don't have coils!
Does it normally start OK? Try leaving the ignition on for a few seconds after the glow plug light goes out - the plugs continue to heat and helps cold-starting.

Post by **Ian** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:36 pm

Make sure your battery is man enough for the job. On especially cold mornings, weaker batteries won't be strong enough. I'd suggest you need a minimum of 95a/h, and preferably 105a/h.

Post by **Bob** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:36 pm

Agree with franco's comments, if it lives on your drive you could prehaps leave a trickle charger connected and either run it over night, or have it come on with a timer, say 2 hours before you need it.

A lot of garages use a spare large battery mounted on a trolly, I'd guess one of those suitcase jobbies would do, to jump start.

Manny · Post by **Manny** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:07 pm

I am surprised nobody has suggested you have your glow plugs checked, as if they are not working properly this could also be the problem.

Manny

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:10 pm

Are you using veg oil at all karen?

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:59 pm

Hi Karena
When the electrolyte in any battery is cold, the battery doesn't work as well . A tip I learned, is to warm the electrolyte up by turning the car's headlights on for a few minutes before starting. This raises the temperature in the battery, as it is having to "work". You would be surprised how effective this is, as long as your battery is not totally "knackered"
Cheers
Helen

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:16 pm

Hi Karena
-4 here last night the bongo fired up just as normal first turn
of the key if the starter spun the engine OK I would get the
glow plugs checked you did wait for the glow light to go
off I take it and give it a bit of accelerator ? I think the book
says full throttle but I never give it more than about a quarter
Hope this helps.

brianwfl · Post by **brianwfl** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:44 pm

Hi Karena,

Black and Decker do a portable emergeny start battery for about £60 ish,
you charge this up and carry it in the van. flat battery - plug the unit into the ciggy lighter socket wait 10-15 mts then start car. this pesumably be plugged in overnight to trickle charge your battery.

I can only comment on this unit on the experiences of a work collegue. have a look in halfruads/decent diy store for more info.

also get your glowplugs tested.

this morning i had lumpy running for first 3-4 mts. vegoil concentration to high i suspect. oat @ 0600 -6 degrees

brgds brianwfl

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:54 pm

brianwfl wrote:Hi Karena,

Black and Decker do a portable emergeny start battery for about £60 ish,
you charge this up and carry it in the van. flat battery - plug the unit into the ciggy lighter socket wait 10-15 mts then start car. this pesumably be plugged in overnight to trickle charge your battery.

I can only comment on this unit on the experiences of a work collegue. have a look in halfruads/decent diy store for more info.

also get your glowplugs tested.

this morning i had lumpy running for first 3-4 mts. vegoil concentration to high i suspect. oat @ 0600 -6 degrees

brgds brianwfl

I wouldn't trust one of those to start a diesel.

You really need one of the 20amp Halfruds Powerpacks (looks like it's made by Ring) for about £75 quid (it has an inverter built in as well)
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ryId_31417
or even better the 40amp Ring one for £125 from Maplin (web only not in shops) that has an even bigger inverter built in.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... &U=strat15

But neither of them is a substitute for getting the battery and glowplugs checked.

As a temp cure try letting the glowplugs heat up two or three times before you try and start it, if they are weak that will allow the heat to build up before it tries to fire up.

karena · Post by **karena** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:22 pm

since writing this morning, hubbie had another attempt battery is now too flat to "turn it over" (whatever that means)
sorry Franco meant glow plugs when i said coils. know nothing about engines myself something got lost in translation.

I ordered RAC power pack / engine re-starter which has 400 amp booster current a bit more than the halfords one i think, something we planned to get anyway as we seem to jinx our neighbours batteries at meets.

Meanwhile hubby is now trudging round the village trying to find a farmer with jump leads.
will certainly be checking battery and glo plugs last thing we need is a repeat performance new years day out in the sticks, and thanks for tips
usually starts first time until today and has only been stood since sunday.

really suprised about putting headlights on i would have thought that would drain the battery i assume you switch them off again before attempting to start.?

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:17 pm

I would think that, as it normally starts with no problem, the cold weather has, as Ian said, exposed a weak/failing battery. You would have noticed rough running when first started if the glowplugs had failed.

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:26 pm

Hi Karena
Yes, you turn the headlights off before you turn the ignition key....It's a trick used to start cars in really cold climates, but only if the car functions normally, and the battery is in good condition. As I say, I have often used this technique if the temperature really drops
Helen

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:01 pm

just a point but i think the bongo needs bout 650cca to start.
i have a problem with my transit in winter, so use easy start squirted in air intake. that starts it.

karena · Post by **karena** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:08 pm

update on this,
jump started last night on first attempt from my car battery and has started this morning so could just have been exceptional cold, the place we normally park doesnt see the sun in winter and is exposed, so parked between the house and a wall last night. (keith thinks it hillarious that i now have to reverse up the drive to park my car where i can be first out in the mornings cos reversing isnt my stongpoint. how hillarious will it be when i park in my usual spot and just take the bongo instead

)

starting in cold

starting in cold

cold starting

cold starting