All smoke and no go....FIXED!!

[owelly]

AHA!! I didn't know there was a filter on the fuel pump banjo. I'll check that!

Then, after checking the timing, I'll try running it with the intake elbow off the engine to see if there is a blockage somewhere up the front of the intercooler side of things. Perhaps a collapsed hose.

Cheers for the replies folks.

[dandywarhol]

How are you planning on checking the timing owelly?

[oldgit]

If you're checking the Banjo filter, I think it's size 14 socket, just remove the Bolt, there's a spring first and under that the small filter, I used a screw driver pushed in and the filter came out on the end of the screw driver easily, give it a strong blowing and then clean it with a cotton bud. It's handy to have an extending magnet thingy to get the spring out. I's a 5 minute job. Cheers Tom.

[missfixit70]

Be careful you don't knacker the banjo filter by sticking the screwdriver through it, it's quite a delicate little thing & easily lost

[owelly]

I'll be checking the timing with a torch!! I took the timing belt cover off yesterday but as I was loosing so much blood from the various cuts and gashes, I couldn't be bothered to get my torch and mirror out!!

Cheers again for the replies. I'll go and have a look at the Freda as soon as it stops raining!!

[waycar8]

hmmn, strange one
if it struggles going up hills ect could it not be possible air starvation?, Pete had the same problem with his new engine, he later found out that it was the air filter that wasnt in correctly or wasnt tightned up properly because the clip for the housing was missing, have you had the air filter off ect and checked the air intakes/pipes

when you say it wont start?, does it turn over and just not fire up?

[dandywarhol]

I'll be checking the timing with a torch!! I took the timing belt cover off yesterday but as I was loosing so much blood from the various cuts and gashes, I couldn't be bothered to get my torch and mirror out!!

Cheers again for the replies. I'll go and have a look at the Freda as soon as it stops raining!!

sorry - i thought you were checking the pump timing..........

[owelly]

It turns over albeit a lot slower than it used to!! Befor eit stopped, the engine would spin over once, very quickly, as it should, and fire up instantly. Now it just churns over slowly. I've put the battery on charge but my magic battery charger was telling me it was already at 90% goodness.

So, I've just been out and checked for the little filter at the banjo bolt and there wasn't one. The little spring was there but no strainer.
With the fuel pipes back on and no intercooler pipes connected, it still refuses to start.
The timing marks are all lined up as they should be.
The valve gear clearances are all OK.

[oldgit]

I thought there wasn't a filter when I was first told but if you push a reasonable sized screw driver into the hole there is one there,honest. Not too small a screw driver as you might pierce the filter.

[owelly]

OK. I'll go back out into the pouring rain and have another look!

[dandywarhol]

I used a cotton bud to remove the filter - lovely evening up here - sun splitting the pavements

[owelly]

Little filter found, removed and inspected. It was clean. I cleaned it a bit more anyway!

Fuel lines reconnected and battery refitted and it starts! I think the reason why it had stopped was the fact that I had taken off all the fuel pipes so the pump had run dry. Then the battery had gone a bit soft before it had time to pump the DERV through.

Anyhoo. Back to where I started!

With the elbow still removed of the end of the inlet plenum, the engine runs. It ticks over perfect. As soon as you give it some throttle, clouds of black smoke.

That means that the intercooler pipes are not to blame (and I can feel the breeze coming back to where the elbow used to be). It also means that the smoke isn't coming from a dodgy turbo as the turbo is effectively, disconnected.

Ideas??



I may just put it all back together and sell it as spares or repairs. It still looks as good as it did when I bought it in 2005!

[scanner]

Well to me that is too much fuel for some reason, as to why.................beats me.

Do you have a decent diesel specialist nearby?

[owelly]

There is a diesel guy but he's 26 miles away. I'm not too sure what he would do that I havn't already thought of!!

[mikeonb4c]

Bottom line owelly - are you ready to end your relationship with teh Bongo. If so then disposal is understandable. But if still keen, I can't help but feel there is something we are missing and that might even not be exceptionally expensive to fix.

Are you sure the inlet airflow is not being obstructed by anything, for example?