Trouble Starting and Black Smoke, lots of it!

coco bongo · Post by **coco bongo** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:30 pm

Ive had new glowplugs as well last year. Recently it has been rough on first start. Almost like fuel starvation, put yer foot down and no revs, but just about ticking over.

Then i realised after the glowplug light goes out, and you wait a further 8 seconds there is a "pink" noise, and start after that.

Much better starting now.

Agree that buying cheap ones, is not always the best. I paid £50 ish.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:00 am

Croz wrote: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).

There's nothing quite like a smooooth Bongo croz. Just got back from a smooooth 200 miles trip to Nottingham and back. When a smooth running Bongo gets on the open road and locks out in top and its long long legs get going, there's nothing to beat it. My driver fatigue is virtually zero since getting the Bongo.

Great news about the plugs. Get the drops done and smooooth off into the distance

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:30 pm

coco bongo wrote:
Then i realised after the glowplug light goes out, and you wait a further 8 seconds there is a "pink" noise, and start after that.

Much better starting now.

Spot on advice there coco, plenty forget to ignore the light, and listen for the "pink" noise, that's when the first glowplug warming cycle has ended, time to crank the engine....

Croz · Post by **Croz** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:51 pm

mikeonb4c wrote:

Q
There's nothing quite like a smooooth Bongo croz. Just got back from a smooooth 200 miles trip to Nottingham and back. When a smooth running Bongo gets on the open road and locks out in top and its long long legs get going, there's nothing to beat it. My driver fatigue is virtually zero since getting the Bongo.

UQ

I have to agree about the driver fatigue (or rather lack of it). I find our Bongo more comfortable than any other vehicle I have driven (my other current vehicle is a high spec Volvo estate (don't ask why - it's just down to the order the vehicles came into our lives and the poor economics of trading the Volvo which is a lovely car). It would be nice to put it's 2.5 ltre 5 cylinder engine in a Bongo!! That would be even smoother ....................... and more economical

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:22 pm

Something about having a commanding view of the road, and the grunty/torque/long legged engine seems to be part of it too doncha find. Also, I feel more at one with the Kings of the Road (the HGV drivers) than the silly p*ssy rep. type people all trying to outdo each other in the fast lane. Altogether a totally de-stressing effect.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:28 pm

Have you noticed that some of the big rigs flash you in Mike? I don't get that in the car

Windswept · Post by **Windswept** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:19 pm

Evening, all.
I too have a hesitant starter, so I'll try listening listen for the 8-second ping!
The glowplug light goes out after 5 secs of ignition, but comes back on after the engine starts for about 5 more secs

Plus, during the first 5 minutes, I hear a quiet click from under the bonnet every 30 seconds

.

Is this due to poor glowplugs? Is the click from the glow-plug relay? Will new plugs solve both issues?

If so, then I'll be getting four NGK Y701J's (per the fact sheet).
Members might be interested to know that http://www.sparkplugs.co.uk do them at a very competitive price of £36.38 per set of four, delivered

The link for a Ford Ranger or Mazda B2500 pickup (same plugs) is:- http://www.ferodo-brakes.co.uk/pages/pr ... iesel.aspo

The other question for 'The Exalted Ones' - who know all about Bongos:-
Is it normal for a diesel to take approximately 5-6 miles to come up to working temperature? Which means that the heater takes a while, too

Or is this a symptom that the thermostat has failed in the open position?

See you all at the Southern Softies do - if it's suitably windy, I'll be windsurfing there!
Paul
BDC: you are right; I even get waved on by white van man at times!!

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:25 pm

Windswept wrote:
The other question for 'The Exalted Ones' - who know all about Bongos:-
Is it normal for a diesel to take approximately 5-6 miles to come up to working temperature? Which means that the heater takes a while, too
Or is this a symptom that the thermostat has failed in the open position?

I'd suggest that is normal, if not a tad annoying if, as me, you work 5 or 6 miles away from home.

I always start with the heater blowers off, run two or three miles, stick the front blower on number 2/re-circulated air to get a tinge of warmth then crack the back burner on to get it toastie.

30 seconds after I arrive at work, its really snug.

Roll on summer!!!

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:09 am

bigdaddycain wrote:Have you noticed that some of the big rigs flash you in Mike? I don't get that in the car

Sure do. My bet is some of them know the Bongo and it would be their leisure vehicle of choice. As far as I'm concerned, HGV drivers are the REAL highway drivers, the ones who understand how to drive well in a motorway environment. If you don't behave like a wally, they won't treat you like one. There are exceptions of course, but they are very rare.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:11 am

My thermostat was taking 10 mins to get the engine up to temp. I changed it and now its 5 mins. Since my journey to work was 10 mins, it made a useful difference. I now use an electric bike to get to work (saves loads of Bongo juice for better things) so my heater never warms up

Windswept · Post by **Windswept** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:54 pm

Happy Easter, & thanks, Mr.M & Mike

My commute thrice a week is 3 miles = 5 mins, so it's marginal

If fitting is not too difficult, next time I put Tiki in for any work, I'll ask the mechanic to put in a new 'stat.

Now off to fit my BMW clock

Windswept (& snow-capped for a while this morning!)