Bongo sat. Bongo started. Bongo ran. Bongo stopped. Help!

[cavalcade]

I've had a look through the first few pages of the forum to see if this is a common problem, but I can't quite see the exact problem I have. I am also a mechanical numpty, so be gentle with me. The last thing you all taught me how to fix involved me kicking a bit of the Bongo, which was great, and about the limit of my mechanical know how.

Anyhoo. My Bongo (1995, 2.5TD, automatic, 70K miles, last serviced including timing belt about a year ago) has been sitting around for about 4 weeks. I decided it needed a run. We've had no problems with the engine at all up till now, but I figured it could do with an outing (I expect it would get sad sitting on the drive all day - Bongo's need to be free, not caged like a zoo animal).

So, about 3 or 4 days ago I'd ran the engine for about 30 seconds as I'd moved it slightly. All fine. Today, before setting off for a drive I started it, and for some reason I thought I'd leave it for a while before I drove off, and rushed inside the house to get an oatcake (this isn't critical, I'm just scene setting). While I was inside my wife was near the car and heard the engine just cut out. Thinking this was odd, I went to restart it and it kind of goes...

WHEEDLEWHEEDLE
*as if it's going to start*
WHEEDLEWHEEDLE
*as if it's going to start*

etc...

It sort of almost catches, and then makes a sound like an old man wheezing, and then repeats.

It's not fuel. The gauge registers 1/4 full. and I put a bit more in to be sure.
The sort of starter motery bits of the engine seem to be working, as it gets to the point of "catching" and then just fails to get going.

Here is where I'm stumped. What can I do to narrow down the problem? I've seen stuff about glowplugs going wrong here, is it the glowplugs? if I recorded audio and put it up, could an expert here listen and tell me what the problem is?

Thanks....

[mikeonb4c]

Hmmmm. We can certainly try. Where are you located (roughly), in case there's someone nearby who might take a peek at it.

Could it be fuel starvation maybe. We'll have to start eliminating possibilities but if you are not mechanically minded you probably need to get it to someone who is. With luck, it shouldn't be serious

[missfixit70]

Just because the fuel gauge says a quarter full doesn't mean it is, first thing I'd do is stick a good 20 litres of diesel in to make sure, check the banjo filter (fuel strainer) - there's a fact sheet in the members area.
If it's turning over, the starter motor is fine, it's permanantly engaged, so as long as it's turning it's working. The next problem i suspect you'll face if you're not careful is a flat battery, be worth sticking it on charge, unless you've got some hefty jumpleads to keep trying while connected to another vehicle with it's engine running.
Is the glow plug relay clicking on, is voltage getting to the glow plug rail under the drivers seat when the glow plug light is on?

[cavalcade]

"Banjo filter" sounds exciting! I wish I had one of them, I hate bloody banjos.

I'll do a more thorough diagnostic tomorrow (and chuck some more fuel in) when it's light and post the results here.

And the chances of anyone being close by are remote! I'm in a godless (Bongoless) land in Continental Europe. Annoyingly the Bongo was having the run today as it was due to go back to West Wales in 2 weeks time where it's staying for months and months. Sigh. Typical.

[mikeonb4c]

"Banjo filter" sounds exciting! I wish I had one of them, I hate bloody banjos.

I'll do a more thorough diagnostic tomorrow (and chuck some more fuel in) when it's light and post the results here.

And the chances of anyone being close by are remote! I'm in a godless (Bongoless) land in Continental Europe. Annoyingly the Bongo was having the run today as it was due to go back to West Wales in 2 weeks time where it's staying for months and months. Sigh. Typical.

Oh well - we'll just have to help you get it mended where it is. Lets get to work.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Godless and Bongoless....not Bulgaria , by any chance?... If so I shall be over your way today....'Phone Nicky if you need help
Cheers
Helen
P.S.....if it's not Bulgaria....don't phone

[haydn callow]

Sounds like your battery was low and just managed to start it the first time and had no power to do it again.
Either "jump" start it and go for a long run or put a charger on it....If this dosn't fix it then we can think again.

[Hippotastic]

but why did it stop on its own? Battery would not be the cause of that?

[haydn callow]

perhaps it was ticking over slow and stalled.

[Ian]

I had this problem on my previous diesel Bongo. It had not been turned over for a few weeks, and fuel had evaporated in the lines, and water collected in banjo filter, causing fuel starvation. Replacing the fuel filter, and cleaning out the banjo filter (with a toothbrush) did the trick.

[dandywarhol]

but why did it stop on its own? Battery would not be the cause of that?

Fuel cut off solenoid connection? It's in the same loom as the TPS on top of the pump

[saracen]

Mine was doing something just like this, and it turned out to be a fuse blowing - the one marked number 9 on the fusebox fact sheet. Replaced it and it worked again; With the help of the excellent people on this forum I eventually isolated the problem and got this sorted out, though I got through a few fuses on the way! Probably not the same problem as yours (I too am not a mechanic in the least...) but possibly worth a look?

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Surely the glow plugs and flat battery can be discounted - for the former the engine had already started and had been running for a short while and, for the latter, after having conked out the engine was able to be cranked over successfully?

Things for the non-mechanically minded to check are as suggested above - 1st the fuse controlling the solenoid cut-off, and then (also?!) remove fuel bowl and check for water. If there's water present, then be suspicious of this as a cause - even if not the actual cause on this occasion, worth adding emulsifier to the fuel to remove water which must be sitting there?

Am I remembering correctly that you can easily check visually for the cut-out solenoid under the driver's seat - you can see the 'rod' move when you turn on the ignition?

[dandywarhol]

Surely the glow plugs and flat battery can be discounted - for the former the engine had already started and had been running for a short while and, for the latter, after having conked out the engine was able to be cranked over successfully?

Things for the non-mechanically minded to check are as suggested above - 1st the fuse controlling the solenoid cut-off, and then (also?!) remove fuel bowl and check for water. If there's water present, then be suspicious of this as a cause - even if not the actual cause on this occasion, worth adding emulsifier to the fuel to remove water which must be sitting there?

Am I remembering correctly that you can easily check visually for the cut-out solenoid under the driver's seat - you can see the 'rod' move when you turn on the ignition?

Trouble - thats for the fast idle - the solenoid is purely an electrical cut off switch - no visual indication. It would be worth breaking into the circuit to ensure there's power going to it with the "ignition" switch turned on.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

Ah. Cheers, Dandy.