Is my Bongo wired for a leisure battery?

[keycare]

Hi all,

Bought a bongo this xmas and plan to start using it this spring. Got a bit to do on it to prepare for first camping trip but my starter for ten is about leisure batteries.

My Bongo has a 2nd tray and a 2nd pair of +ve and -ve terminals. They have been taped up as there is no battery there. How can I tell if this is wired up for a leisure battery?

Much appreciated - really looking forward to our first trip.

[dandemann8]

Hi and welcome to Bongo land . On your main battery there will be a split charging unit which connect's the two batterie's. Most members use the WILLINTON KIT which can be found on Ebay which is a straight forward fit and a good bit of kit to boot.

[dave_aber]

Follow the positive cable.

If it goes directly to the other battery positive terminal, then you have a twin-battery installation. This is a factory-fit arrangement to make starting easier in cold temperatures. If this is the case, you should also have some other bits & pieces which are part of the same 'cold weather kit' - notably a valve in the exhaust to aid warm-up times (which is not needed over here, and can be more trouble than it's worth).

If however your Positive lead goes to anything else other than the main battery, you more than likely have a leisure battery install. This will always be wired in via an isolator of some sort, to allow you to use the leisure battery without draining the starter battery - most commonly a device called a 'split charge relay'.

Have you got a photo of the layout under the bonnet?

Since you have no battery fitted in the second tray, is there anything not working? (12v sockets, radio, blinds, etc) If everything is working, then it's likely that you have a cold weather kit with one battery removed.

[mister munkey]

If its been wired up with a kit, there will be some extra wires patched into the fuse box by the drivers right knee, it'll look something like this

[mikeonb4c]

Welcome keycare and hope you are enjoying the Bongo. Nothing to add to the advice above. I'd recommend installing a low coolant alarm if your budget will run to it - gives peace of mind if you should get a coolant leak (bad news on a Bongo if not spotted).

Its worth putting your (rough) location in your profile as local members may then offer to help out if you get stuck.

Happy motoring

[stilldesperate]

If it was a leisure battery that was in poor condition that was removed, then some items wouldn't work. (Mentioned before).

If it's a second starting battery that was shot, then the previous owner has probably taken both old batteries off, and just replaced one. Look by your right knee when driving - is there a switch with an engine on - if so, it IS just a second starter battery.

SD

[keycare]

Ah switch with engine picture on. I have one of those and no extra cabling in the fuse box, probably a cold start battery then.

A coolant alarm has already been fitted and it's been waxoiled. I haven't really done anything else other than drive it yet. Still have the largely unusable Japanese radio in it.

I think the leisure battery will be the first camper related install then.

Thanks for all your help guys. I'm sure I'll have more questions later on.

Cheers.

[missfixit70]

Here's the link to Willinton on ebay if you want his kit - http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/willinton/ - nowt listed at the mo, but if you send him a message he should be able to sort you out.

[stilldesperate]

It's a "winter pack" bongo you've got, from memory the starter motor and alternator are uprated (maybe just one ), and there's a valve on the exhaust pipe, under the passenger seat. With the "engine" switch on, the van warms up quicker, but, I understand, that it's for thr "really" cold weather, not the UK, and the valve can stick, reducing mpg. (Though I've had two, and neither caused any problem).

Enjoy your van, it sounds with the underseal and coolant alarm, that you've bought well.

SD

[Ron Miel]

If its been wired up with a kit, there will be some extra wires patched into the fuse box by the drivers right knee, it'll look something like this

If a kit has been patched into the rear of the fusebox, as is also possible (more likely?), it won't look like that.