Lots of smoke !!!! Cracked wheels !!!

[goofyfoot]

Please be mindful I have the mechanical knowledge of a baboon, so make be gentle with your responses.My problems are two fold:

1.My van starts no probs, but coughs and splutters for a bout 5 mins, to a point where it even cuts out.Then it revs over 3000 before reluctantly changing gear.This problem sorts it's self out after about ten mins when it's warm.The problem appears to be getting worse and is a pain in cold weather on short journeys.I 've had it serviced and done approx 200 miles since, even used the old red ex stuff when refuelling. Is this injectors ? Do they need cleaning replacing ? Van has just over 127 k on the clock.

2.Just sat freezing waiting to be towed home from the Brecon Beacons by the old AA.Both my rear Alloys had cracked!! not good. After doing my research and advice from members on here I put RX8 alloys with suitable loaded tyres on.Has any body else had similar problems? I take it that the weight of the bus is just to heavy ?? We 're not talking hairline fractures here, AA bloke said I was lucky wheels hadn't collapsed. Advice please, do I buy similar to replace and put it down to a bad batch or refit whole van

Look forward to your replies... a very unhappy Bongo owner

[BongoMTBer]

Q1, I would suggest that your glowplugs are dead or at least the power supply to them.

Q2, Is there any chance that the wheels were already damaged when you bought them? Hairine cracks etc? Is there evidnce of them being kerbed heavily as this will cause a stress raiser. Where are they cracked exactly.

[BongoMTBer]

Check out the glowplugs fact sheet here: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... rsonly.htm

[goofyfoot]

Bongoiler.... nice forks !!

Cheers for the reply 1. If glow plugs are gone/gonig would the thing still start first time ?
2. Wheels were new and appeared to be Original part rather than OEM/Copies

[goofyfoot]

Sorry should Bongomtber... long day in the mountains had frozen my ickle brain cell .

[BongoMTBer]

The fact that is starts suggests to me that it is only some of the glow plugs as opposed the power supply. If a couple of cylinders are firing ok, then it will start, but those that are not ok will struggle until it warms.

When you start it, try revving it a little in N to see if it clears it before putting it in gear and driving off. Don't take the micky though as cold engines don't like being thrashed!

Ref the forks, I have sold them now as I couldn't stand the unreliability of the TALAS sealing on the left leg. I am now running Pikes which although a little more agricultural, need a lot less looking after and don't nearly so much. Which mountains have you been riding?

Hopefully someone else can give you some gen on the wheels, but I do know one person that uses them with no trouble.

[francophile1947]

Agree about the glowplugs
Lots of people have RX8 wheels fitted with no problems, although it might be worth them checking as 2 wheels failing is very unusual

[Rhod]

Then it revs over 3000 before reluctantly changing gear.This problem sorts it's self out after about ten mins when it's warm.The problem appears to be getting worse and is a pain in cold weather on short journeys.

If you mean that it takes longer for the Bongo to change up to 4th & then a bit longer again for lock-up, then that is normal! If you are on the main road, then yes, if you are sitting at 50mpg in 3rd then the engine will be revving at around 3000rpm. It will take longer to warm up in cold weather, though 10 minutes sounds a little long to me.

[munroman]

If the glowplugs aren't working properly, I think this means the engine will not heat up as quickly, as there is unburnt fuel which cools the combustion chamber.

This possibly means the issues with not changing up through the gears are linked, it is just as Rhod says.

its probably worth changing all the glowpugs, as likely the 'good' ones may fail soon, and at least you have a known good base to be working from.

Sorry about the wheels, I am wary of big wheels after seeing what has been happening to BMW alloys. There seem to have been quality issues with bad castings on some.

I hope you get things sorted and are back on the road soon!

[mister munkey]

They all smoke a bit when cold. What colour/flavour is the smoke?

Theres a little gizmo on top of the fuel pump called a Banjo Filter. If this is clogged it can cause similar symptoms. If it were glowplugs, the initial sart up would be lumpy but would sort itself way quicker than 10 mins.

As for the wheels, not heard of RX8s failing before, technically they are designed for a much lighter car & probably aren't up to the 2 tonne weight of the Bongo, but despite that, there have been no horror stories on here before.

I've been running on the same for 18 months with no probs. The only answer I can think of is you may have bought a previously abused set.

[BongoMTBer]

If you mean that it takes longer for the Bongo to change up to 4th & then a bit longer again for lock-up, then that is normal! If you are on the main road, then yes, if you are sitting at 50mpg in 3rd then the engine will be revving at around 3000rpm. It will take longer to warm up in cold weather, though 10 minutes sounds a little long to me.

I reckon mine can take 10 mins on a really cold morning. Will see if it happens any quicker now that I have a new stat fitted.

[missfixit70]

Re the gear change, have you checked the oil level condition of the gearbox oil? dipstick under the drivers seat, make sure it's warmed up & running ok, then check it with the engine running after ranging slowly through all the gear positions. Even if it seems ok, it may be worth getting it changed, as it's supposed to be done every 24,000 miles (I think) & most have probably never been done, there's a fact sheet in the mmebers area - just make sure you drop the sump, clean it & clean the filter - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=30096

[goofyfoot]

thanks all... some good points off to the garage for me then.

[helen&tony]

Hi Goofy
If you "use" your Bongo, then the wheels AREN'T up to it...the RX8 is some 500 Kg lighter than the Bongo (that's around 1100 Lb )..UNLOADED....If you wish to replace the alloys, buy through a respected dealer who will check if the wheels are up to the job...VAN- rated alloys are available , but expensive, however , if you hunt around, you can pick up van alloys reasonably at a dealer. These should carry a TUV certificate for insurance purposes, or you can look around to find wheels suitable for SUV / people carriers. The wheels should be stamped with a load rating, and, i believe , this should exceed 700- 720 Kg for safety.
The Autec Stratos wheels on here are SUV rated:
http://www.avtogumi.com/en/wheels/wheel ... rand_id=11
I haven't had a chance, yet , to go to the dealer and check the specifications. The company on the link is Bulgarian, but Autec are German made, so you should get someone at the German company to speak sense...you certainly won't over here
Alternatively, I have spoken to the "chap" at Bell hill...Tom, I think, and he says that they will only sell "rated" wheels and tyres, so he would be a good start. Also , if you use your vehicle hard, I would tend to want a tyre with a taller sidewall, as on a 15" or 16" wheel, as the sidewall absorbs more deflection forces
Happy Hunting
Cheers
Helen

[falcoron]

Mine takes a good ten mins to stop spluttering on a cold morning.