Stalling - how can that be, it's automatic?

dhonuill · Post by **dhonuill** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:23 pm

My Bongo either really takes its time to get going in Drive (in which case I select L or S) or it has actually stalled a few times. Even with fresh gear oil the same thing happens - anyone got any suggestions as to how to stop it happening? (I'm not pulling a load like a trailer, by the way.) Thanks.

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:43 pm

sound like fuel starvation. try a new fuel filter, fuel jets need cleaning (put jet cleaner into new filter) banjo filter blocked, or even try something as simple as opening the fuel cap to release pressure.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:20 pm

daveblueozzie wrote:sound like fuel starvation. try a new fuel filter, fuel jets need cleaning (put jet cleaner into new filter) banjo filter blocked, or even try something as simple as opening the fuel cap to release pressure.

Yup, I'd go with those. Worth also checking air filter isn't old / darkened with grime too just in case. All the above are pretty cheap in allowing you to eliminate them from your enquiries and - even if there is no improvement - reseting the servicing clock for 2 yrs if you are unsure how old the filters are.

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:49 pm

Is this happening all the time, or just from a cold start? ie is it ok once it's all warmed up?

dhonuill · Post by **dhonuill** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 1:33 pm

Many thanks for the suggestions everyone, and apologies for taking so long to come back to you.

missfixit, there seems to be no obvious pattern to these stalling events, although our suspicion is that it may may be related somehow to a 'bouncing' speedo (bad earth, perhaps?).

Anyway I'm going to have a look at the banjo filter just now and will report back.

Many thanks again, and happy motoring in 2010...

axeltramp · Post by **axeltramp** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 5:22 pm

Hi all,had mine 3 years now and it still stalls when cold, had oil/filter change ect, still doesit, if you leave it long enough in N while say scrapping ice from windows its no problem. allways been like it, still a smooth up change so I dont worry about it anymore its just a bongo quirk me thinks.

wonkanoby · Post by **wonkanoby** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:21 pm

sounds more like a glowplug problem to me axeltramp

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 8:23 pm

Mine has never stalled (2.5TD). I has occasionally missed a beat at tickover with aircon on and compressor backloading the engine. But that's all.

mikexgough · Post by **mikexgough** » Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:26 pm

There could be several causes......does it just come to a junction then stall or does it cut out?....

What I mean about Cutting Out ....does the engine just cut out while you are driving...but you keep travelling and it "fades" to a stop or does it come to a junction and the engine just stop?....

I would assume that your Bongo is a Diesel...... and you wait until the glowplug light goes out, then Bongo starts straight away with no stutter or hesitation?....but when driving off...it stalls/cuts out.....
If it is starting okay then I would go with DBO and check the fuel side of things....New fuel filter, clean out or replace the Banjo filter.... use some injector cleaner (best to fill the fuel filter if you change it) and check/change the air filter.......#

as for auto box changes on cold mornings, the guys n gals on here will all tell you that it takes a warm up period to get into top gear ....but mine shifts no probs when cold...

axeltramp · Post by **axeltramp** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 7:25 pm

Hi wonkanby, no not a glowplug problem as van never fails to start first turn of the key, it just stalls the motor if the box is not warmed first.

Alacrity · Post by **Alacrity** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:38 am

The transmission can stall the engine if there is a problem with the torque converter lock-up clutch operation. If this happens it will be quite violent when you put it into gear, when pulling up it will be like coming to a halt in a manual vehicle without depressing the clutch. I have not experienced this problem with these transmissions (some types are prone to it). Most issues as described here are engine problems. If it is the transmission then it can be the converter itself, electronic control, valve body, solenoid or wear in the trans itself.

Stew71 · Post by **Stew71** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:07 am

Alacrity wrote:The transmission can stall the engine if there is a problem with the torque converter lock-up clutch operation. If this happens it will be quite violent when you put it into gear, when pulling up it will be like coming to a halt in a manual vehicle without depressing the clutch. I have not experienced this problem with these transmissions (some types are prone to it). Most issues as described here are engine problems. If it is the transmission then it can be the converter itself, electronic control, valve body, solenoid or wear in the trans itself.

This happened to mine tonight (2.5TD, auto) - but with a warm engine, when pulling away just after startup. It seemed as if it was in too high a gear (like pulling away in 3rd in a manual car - no juice), then stalled (as it would if pulling away in 3rd etc...). Engine off, into park, quick prayer (to what? I'm a humanist...!), startup, into D and away as normal.

We've had it for about 6 months, no previous problem at all - except a flashing hold light for, ooh, about 3 seconds a month ago (when switching the ignition on for the glowplugs; it ceased when I turned the engine over and hasn't come back).

All filters, engine oil and gearbox oil were changed (at Allan's) back in October.

I'm driving to Skye in a couple of weeks. (How much) should I be worried?

(And if I break down - can you tow a 4WD automatic as usual? Sorry for the dumb question, but...)

Stew

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:19 am

Stew71 wrote:(And if I break down - can you tow a 4WD automatic as usual? Sorry for the dumb question, but...)

Stew

You'll need to let them know you've a 2 tonne plus vehicle & will need a flatbed if worse came to the worst, I've had mine (4WD) towed about a mile through Bradford once to get me to a garage but they had to use a rope as their A Bar wouldn't fit over the Bullbars.

Being towed on a bungee with no power steering & very little in the brakes department is not much fun.

Alacrity · Post by **Alacrity** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:30 pm

As a general rule of thumb it is best to adopt the rule of 'never tow an auto with the driving wheels on the ground'. If you must then have the engine running, don't exceed 30mph, & keep it under 5 miles. The auto box uses a pressure lubrication system like an engine does, so towing an auto that has problems with is trans or engine (ie won't run) is like starting your engine up with no oil in it & driving down the road. The end result is a transmission with most internals that are scrap due to lack of lubrication.

So when it messed about was the hold light out? If so it could mean internal transmission issues causing debris to stick valves & solenoids in the wrong place. Check the trans oil for colour & smell. Is it dirty or does it smell burnt? Remove the pan & take a look in there if ness.

If the hold light flashed then you will probably have something far less daunting ie solenoid, spped sensor, tps or the like, all very simple to sort out. The fact that by switching off & on again sorted it would seem to point to a much simpler electrical issue that the ECU has seen & put it into default, cycling the ign resets this (unless the fault is permament) until it re-occurs.

Stew71 · Post by **Stew71** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:27 pm

Thanks for the points.

Just checked the gear oil, nice red colour and no burnt smell. So I take that as an encouraging sign...!

The other possibilities you mention make me realise how little I know about what goes on underneath the hood (seats) of my Bongo. (Slightly worrying that this seems to be the case with some garages I've read about too... but in my experience, that can happen with any vehicle.) Is there an idiot's guide somewhere (I'm thinking 'head bone connected to neck bone'-level) so I can at least have a clue what these various parts are and how, logically, they work together?

Stew

Stalling - how can that be, it's automatic?

Stalling - how can that be, it's automatic?

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