Starting problems

[Nobby]

Hi All
I have been having problems with the Bongo starting, It just clicks until you move the gear leaver from park to drive then back to park or neutral and it starts ok ......... Until last night then it just will not start. The battery is fully charged.
Can anyone tell me where the switch is so I can check it or over ride it Thanks

[daveblueozzie]

it sounds like the starter motor is on its way out, if it just clicks.
or what Kirsty said below.

[missfixit70]

If it works after moving the gear selector, it could be the interlock, try starting it in N, but usually you just get nothing if it's not in P or N. As Dave said, if it's been clicking when you try & start, usually that's a sign it's the starter needs sorting, or the battery is on the way out, have you actually checked the battery voltage? Worth checking the earth leads too?

Just reread yours & you said you tried it in N

[missfixit70]

Here's the diagram of the selector & interlock cable 46-300- http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... o=.html#10

[daveblueozzie]

Here's the diagram of the selector & interlock cable 46-300- http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... o=.html#10

Just realised if you click on the number on the lush projects it gives you the name/description of the item. Doh i am so thick.

[missfixit70]

Here's the diagram of the selector & interlock cable 46-300- http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... o=.html#10

Just realised if you click on the number on the lush projects it gives you the name/description of the item. Doh i am so thick.

You're probably not the only one Dave took me a while to suss that.

[missfixit70]

This thread may help if it's the starter contacts - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=34631

[Nobby]

The battery is fully charged, and the starter motor has been tested ok, I have had this problem for the last two years but a little wiggle gear shifter usually sorts it out. But not today, There is a switch of some sort that stops you starting in gear. Can anyone tell me where it is? Ta

[missfixit70]

Did you look at the link I posted above to the diagram for the interlock?

[Nobby]

Did you look at the link I posted above to the diagram for the interlock?

Yes thanks for that but it dose not tell me were it is, I need to use feeda in the morning so need all the help I can get

[Nobby]

Can anyone please help I need my Freeda back on the road

[mister munkey]

Here's the diagram of the selector & interlock cable 46-300- http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... o=.html#10

I see your problem, the (Excellent - as always) lush diagram shows the interlock cable but I cant see a switch in there unless its in that block listed as 46-300, there seems to be a lot of gubbins going on there.

[francophile1947]

Can't really add much to what others have said, but I had the same symptoms and it was the battery. The fully-charged battery read fine with a volt meter and hydrometer, but the cranking capability was failing - it couldn't deliver the power quick enough to work the starter properly every time. A new battery solved the problem once it had had a run to fully charge it - starts first time every time now.

[dave_aber]

There is a switch of some sort that stops you starting in gear. Can anyone tell me where it is?

Nobby, It isn't just a switch as such, it's an interlock system. On the diagram Kirsty posted, there are 2 cables attached to the gear shift. The big one does the gear selection, the wee one which goes to the top left of the diagram is the interlock cable which goes to the steering column.

I've not had a problem with this on my Bongo, but if as you say a wee wiggle of the gear shift used to allow it to start, it sounds like the interlock cable is a bit out of adjustment.

Id whip off the panels around the steering column, and have a play with the cable there, see if pulling it a bit allows the car to start - and if so see if there's an adjuster on the cable or the switch? Looks like there might be one at thee gearshift end from the diagram?

Without seeing what you are looking at with the covers off, it's difficult to be more helpful really - bit like doing a haircut by email!

[pilajake]

Can't really add much to what others have said, but I had the same symptoms and it was the battery. The fully-charged battery read fine with a volt meter and hydrometer, but the cranking capability was failing - it couldn't deliver the power quick enough to work the starter properly every time. A new battery solved the problem once it had had a run to fully charge it - starts first time every time now.

I had a similar problem when i first bought my Bongo.
It would not start at all in the mornings the first week , after many phonecalls to the dealer , who told me to put it into park then drive then back to park and then turn the key, It started
He did not understand why and told me it was probably a japanese safety system to prevent theft
I used to regularly do this prior to starting Bongo only in the morning (1st turnover) once it started it would turn over all day without problem
This went on for about two weeks and then dissapeared I can only think it was a battery problem as the dealer used to fire all his vehicles up with a charger every morning
However i have owned Bongo for three years and apart from a glowplug issue last year I have had no more problems starting