bit erratic in the morn?

[brorabongo]

Replace my plugs twice in the three years I've had the Bongo. First time was near three years ago with Un-named plugs of Ebay, they lasted under a year, then fitted NGK's for £35.81 including VAT for all 4, from a motor factors, and it's been great ever since.

[falcoron]

My Bongo when started in the morning stutters for a while til its warmed up. starts on the button no probs at all but when she is stuttering she puts out white smoke.
It clears up ok after a few minutes but was wondering is this normal? Do i need something set or checked out? not burning oil from what i can tell on the dip stick and water levels all good. Running superbly once going. Have a mazda 323 TD and she just fires up no stutter at all and no smoke.

Mine (P-Plate) is the same as yours when starting and has been since I got it ( 2yrs ago). I think it is probably the glow-plug(s) but have not yet got round to having them replace because it hasn't caused me any real problems so far - it still starts! I always give the heaters a bit more time when I start. Remember that the Bongo Manual recommends that you floor the accelerator pedal when starting - which helps.

There is no way i would "floor it" after starting, that is a recipe for desaster.
Cold engines take time to get the oil up to the higher bits and revving them cold is not a good thing at all in my book.
Thanks for all your answers.
Anyone tell me how its done? Not to bad with the old spanners and could suss it out im sure but if its been done and all the short cuts tricks of the trade ect. that would be great if someone could share that with me please

[wonkanoby]

there is a faq sheet

you remove gear lever consule under and then they can be seen

[mikexgough]

mine didn't do the white smoke puff this morning nor hesitate, but that was after running some of Mr Sainsburys tractor juice off 1/4 tank and topping up with some of Shell's blue stuff.....

[brorabongo]

there is a faq sheet

you remove gear lever consule under and then they can be seen

It can be done without removal, thank goodness!!

[francophile1947]

there is a faq sheet

you remove gear lever consule under and then they can be seen

It can be done without removal, thank goodness!!

But a hell of a lot easier with the cover removed - you can get straight down to them then

[hembramacho]

mine didn't do the white smoke puff this morning nor hesitate, but that was after running some of Mr Sainsburys tractor juice off 1/4 tank and topping up with some of Shell's blue stuff.....

That's wierd - no smoke at all from me and no stuttering whatsoever this morning either. I put it down to being a bit warmer this morning , but could be wrong!

Andrew

[Diplomat]

Has anyone gone down the route of removing the glow plug bus rail and wiring them individually to the supply with heavy duty flexible insulated wire?

This would enable each plug to be resistance tested easily. As it is, with four of them measured in parallel they present such a low resistance it is difficult to tell if one has gone o/c.

Frank

[mikeonb4c]

mine didn't do the white smoke puff this morning nor hesitate, but that was after running some of Mr Sainsburys tractor juice off 1/4 tank and topping up with some of Shell's blue stuff.....

That's wierd - no smoke at all from me and no stuttering whatsoever this morning either. I put it down to being a bit warmer this morning , but could be wrong!

Andrew

Nope, I think you are right. Spot on in fact. Mine has always been a beautiful starter. It seems to be only on days that are cold and - most importantly - damp that I detect a bit of unhappiness, not on starting but on running after first starting. Leaving the throttle completely alone when starting and afterwards, and not driving off for a couple of minutes, has been the best approach for me. If you throttle it at all, I suspect you quench the glowplugs and make things worse. Similarly, if you put the engine under even a mild load, the combustion seems too fragile to maintain itself evenly.

[hembramacho]

mine didn't do the white smoke puff this morning nor hesitate, but that was after running some of Mr Sainsburys tractor juice off 1/4 tank and topping up with some of Shell's blue stuff.....

That's wierd - no smoke at all from me and no stuttering whatsoever this morning either. I put it down to being a bit warmer this morning , but could be wrong!

Andrew

Nope, I think you are right. Spot on in fact. Mine has always been a beautiful starter. It seems to be only on days that are cold and - most importantly - damp that I detect a bit of unhappiness, not on starting but on running after first starting. Leaving the throttle completely alone when starting and afterwards, and not driving off for a couple of minutes, has been the best approach for me. If you throttle it at all, I suspect you quench the glowplugs and make things worse. Similarly, if you put the engine under even a mild load, the combustion seems too fragile to maintain itself evenly.

Glad you agree Mike. Bit colder this morning - lumpy start again! Bring on the summer, for numerous reasons!!!!!!!

Andrew

[mikeonb4c]

Bit colder this morning - lumpy start again! Bring on the summer, for numerous reasons!!!!!!!

Andrew

I think they are prone to bongotoid lumpitis, brought on by the cold and damp

[mikexgough]

Glad you agree Mike. Bit colder this morning - lumpy start again! Bring on the summer, for numerous reasons!!!!!!! Andrew

No lumps for me....... ..... since using Mr Shell over Mr Sainsburys offering