Trouble Starting and Black Smoke, lots of it!

Will Slatcher · Post by **Will Slatcher** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:07 pm

Hi,

For some time now, over the winter anyway our Bongo has been a little difficult to start. I now need to get this sorted else I'm gonna kill the starter motor which has to run over time for it to start.

Does this mean the glowplugs needs replacing?

Also if i blank the EGR will this stop all the black smoke on statup?

Thanks

Will

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:16 pm

Could be glow plugs - is it smooth when it starts?
Blanking EGR will probably reduce the amount of black smoke.

samuel · Post by **samuel** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:20 pm

Agree with John. Tired glowplugs is the likey cause.

Will Slatcher · Post by **Will Slatcher** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:22 pm

Thanks!

Yeah it is smooth when it starts, it coughs and it splutters immediately after starting but this clears after about 20 seconds, the black smoke then dissapears aswell, but there is hoards of it.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:25 pm

Sure sounds like glowplugs.

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:47 pm

Glowplugs for sure but maybe only one or two. . . .

The black smoke is the unburnt fuel from the weak pot/pots.

My local Ford Truck dealer quoted me £58 + Vat EACH for genuine Ranger plugs.

I'm sure you can do better than that though.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:58 pm

mister munkey wrote:Glowplugs for sure but maybe only one or two. . . .

My local Ford Truck dealer quoted me £58 + Vat EACH for genuine Ranger plugs.

I think the dealer may be taking advantage of you MM, he saw your small stature,soft fur....

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:16 pm

Maybe a grown up would get a better deal.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:53 pm

If you stand on your little monkey tippy toes,he may think you are about 8 years old and may knock off the v.a.t....

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:07 am

To get a better price MM send the cat in!!

petebee · Post by **petebee** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:15 am

I had 4 new glow plugs sourced from Ebay fitted.Two went faulty after one week.

Then fitted 4 new ones from the Bongo shop no problems since.

cheapest not always best!

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:31 am

Member dandywarhol would suggest NGK Y701J. I for one, will be buying them next time round.

Bear in mind that there are two lengths of plugs, so check which ones you need.

here you might get some idea
Glow plug thread

Will Slatcher · Post by **Will Slatcher** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:51 pm

Thanks for the info everyone, great help!

I will probably replace the lot with the NGK ones but if i was to replace just the faulty ones, how would you know which was good and which was bad?

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:59 pm

Will Slatcher wrote:Thanks for the info everyone, great help!

I will probably replace the lot with the NGK ones but if i was to replace just the faulty ones, how would you know which was good and which was bad?

You have to take them out and short them across a battery (centre contact to body), just don't hold the business end when you do it.

If they glow RED they should be OK.

It really is best to replace the whole set while you are at it though.

Croz · Post by **Croz** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:26 pm

I have had lumpy starting and lots of smoke since shortly after we got our bongo last November. Suspected one dead glowplug so........

Last Sunday got at 'em based on the fact sheet info for access and after removing the rail/bus checked each one with a multimeter for resistance and determined that no. 2 (from the front) was the dead one.

Bongo shop (thanks Ian amd Mariane for quick service and telephone response to the voltage query)supplied new plugs - fitted this morning and what a lovely smooth starting machine now

Now to tackle droplinks etc to stop the clunk going over speed bumps when I have plucket up the courage. Though the clunk only seems to be there when the vehicle is cold (just starting down our road).