Starter contacts

[karlos]

I have noticed my van on ocassions will not turn over just click. battery is new ish - all electrics work. Not had time to crawl all around my bongo yet to get familiar so...

I read some where on here about the same problem - are the contacts/relay part of the stater motor not a seperate unit like on most vehicles I have worked on, I see some one said you can replace them?

Most things Iv'e worked on everything is a sealed unit.

My van is a 2.5td awd auto - where would you recommend buying spares like this? cost?

Mine is Very intermitant, has failed twice in the two days I've had the bongo but that is with a lot of short journeys/start stopping(not enough to drain the battery more than it would charge) is it more likely the starter is on it's way out?

It worked almost straight away again the first time and today it worked after trying it the forth time after lifting the bonnet to try and feel what was clicking any black boxes etc. I suspect it was underneath that was clicking but hard to tell whilst in the cab. It does start first time/in the morning. I think I may have been pulling a bit of juice off the battery today -stereo and fan - so poor contacts would explain why it needs optimum current?

[missfixit70]

The search function is your friend - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ts#p338138

[wonkanoby]

http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/instructions.html

[Mike Jill and Emily]

Just done mine this week. Easy Job, quite easy access too but a bit messy

Bits were appx £30 delivered from Auto electrical Supplies Southampton. 023 80211988

There were some on e-bay but that did not include the plunger - which seems a bit pointless.

[dandywarhol]

I replaced mine from the ebay bits at around a fiver as that's where the problem was - the contacts! The plunger rarely needs replacing IMO

The winter kit Bongos from north Japan have a different starter motor and the contact set won't fit.

As folks say - plenty info in the Search facility

[karlos]

tryed my luck too much - wouldnt start in tesco's today- go it going in the end after calling for a tow.

got it home, pulled it apart (easy job) contacts were pitted and very thin and inturnally full of bits of poo.

Couldnt get bits here in time for my tues drive to get my gearbox so a bit of a temp refurb was required.

I buffed the lip of the copper disk -which I would call and armature, because it works on electromagnetism therfore the contact is made like a solonoid.- I tapped away at the recessed contacts on the out side edges of the solnoid housing as to move the copper in wards. cleaned up with contact cleaner.

I also rubbed all the cable conectors to the unit with a bit of emery and cleaned with contcat cleaner added ab it of copper slip,conductive grease to the connections, Also checked and cleaned all battery connections.

Works perfect, but I know it's a matter of time before the high current starts to eat away at whats left of my fragile contacts, should last me a little while.

Checked the battery holding a good charge and with alternator spinning getting good voltage.

Happy days! (wish every job was this easy)

Does any one know what new contacts might cost?

[karlos]

What a plum,

I can see that some one has stated the price already "sounds good" - appreciate your cost saving tip dandy, but I will do the plunger too as mine did have about a mill recess in its face.

Hope I have not got that heavy duty winter starter which is hard to get bits for, It doesnt look to heavy duty - could nt see any kw ratings anywhere.

[wonkanoby]

2 batteries under bonnet wired together is a big clue usually

[mister munkey]

If you have just the one battery under the bonnet Karlos, you don't have the Winter Pack.

[karlos]

Good, although I do look forward to awd in the snow.

I dont want the extra weight either! Sorry camper boy's and girls. I do like the camper thing.

But an mpv that can tow, be a van and a bed is great for me.

Yes I know a camper can do all that too but with a bit more messing about " the van bit anyway" Might look at minor conversions that still lend to work and people transport use too later.

The bongo is better for me at the moment than any vechicle I had before!

Shame it need's a bit of tlc - but it's not bad for what I paid.

[dandywarhol]

There's a fine line between an internet enthusiast and and internet troll karlos - you're really waiting for someone to ask how much you paid for it a few times now aren't you? when really nobody's bothered......................

[karlos]

No dandy - trying to get as much info as quick as I can - had this bongo less than a week, you seem pretty clued up so I'm sure you understand it's quicker to ask than look around the thing sometimes - plus expierenced owners have previous expierence although some time different info on the same subject means having to sus it your self anyway.

the info's been good so far.

The price thing - I might repeat my self (bad memory), when I originally posted people were obviously offended cause I said something like " I cant believe a vehicle this old can be worth the kind of money they sell for, must be a cult thing like the vw camper." I was hoping to find a good one for £1500 and I got laughed at "kind of"
I said I'd pay that caus the one I'm looking at works fine is pretty tidy other than no reverse - so Hence where I am now.

I dont care If any one wants to know what I paid, it's embaressing if it packs in then, not just on here either. - I will get "told you so". So far so good I'm happy AND THE HELP ON HERE HAS BEEN GOOD.(especially with the starter motor)

I prefur two wheels,

I always try to get alot for a my money when it comes to four wheels and end up doing a lot of work to get it to my standard- I supose the advantage is at least you know whats been done then, to what standard and can get round a emergency fix sometimes?