White Smoke & Lumpiness On Startup - Glowplugs Fine . . .

[M 80NGO]

Ok this may just be complete pie in the sky but for the last couple of days i've been starting my bongo the same way i used to start me old vw camper and it hasn't missed a beat and absolutely no white smoke.

I've been turning on the ignition to let the glow plugs warm up and whilst i've been waiting for the relay "click" i've been giving the throttle 3 slow pumps prior to fire up and no misfire or unburnt fuel.

Give it a try just to test the theory

[Peg leg Pete]

Mine has same symptoms and I suspect the glow plugs, they do need changing!!! I usually turn ignition on leave till light goes out, repeat 2 more times and the old girl fires up fine, just getting the cills repaired this coming week then glow plugs next

[mikexgough]

Ok this may just be complete pie in the sky but for the last couple of days i've been starting my bongo the same way i used to start me old vw camper and it hasn't missed a beat and absolutely no white smoke.

I've been turning on the ignition to let the glow plugs warm up and whilst i've been waiting for the relay "click" i've been giving the throttle 3 slow pumps prior to fire up and no misfire or unburnt fuel.

Give it a try just to test the theory

The owners handbook says.....

" When the engine is cold...... turn the igniton on, pre-heating will operate and preheating light will appear, Depress the accelerator firmly and turn the ignition to start when the pre-heating display light disappears, release the accelerator when the engine starts".....

I just wait 'till the glow plug light is out and turn the key...

on a hot engine it says "depress the accelerator halfway on starting".......don't do that either.....

[Doone]

I just wait 'till the glow plug light is out and turn the key...

on a hot engine it says "depress the accelerator halfway on starting".......don't do that either.....

That's what I do and I don't have any problems starting, but if it gets really cold here and problems start, I'll give the guidelines a try.

[ChrisCT]

Don't trust your indicator light for glow plugs especially during winter time and summer time starting first time during a day.
After yellow light comes off wait +/- 15sec till you here small "clik" from under the dash, now glow plugs are properly hot then start the engine don't have to press accelerator pedal. The "clik" comes from glow plug relay and doesn't work with the light it is stupid but you can't change it. If you crank engine straight after yellow light comes off or doing same for 3 times you starting engine with all glow plug cold. Winter time white smoke comes from exhaust pipe (smell nice unburned diesel ) or you can't start at all, summer time dark grey-brown-black smoke and engine misfiring for about 1min. If that doesn't help then check your glow plugs, take them off, one by one connect directly to the battery same way like testing bulb, if you burn yourself or see it comes nice red like your home electric heater that mean glow plug is OK. Very often driving Bongo 2,5TD when outside is -20*C, mine starts first click . During last 5 years replaced so far only 2 glow plugs.

[mister munkey]

Thanks all. Most of the above is the same sort of advice I've been dishing out on here for a year or three. Tried all methods & nowt makes one ounce of difference.

Glowplugs work okay but still unsure how much current they are drawing.

The problem lies there, methinks, will shortly be spending pocket money to get the rest of the circuot checked out..

[teenmal]

Hi Mr Munkey,

I would check how long the heaters are staying active,they(depending on temperature)should stay on up to 5 minutes(even longer if cold enough)once the engine has started,always worth a check.

Cheers

[ChrisCT]

Hello Mr. Monkey
Before you start scratching your head looking at electric diagram take test light, check current on main flat metal rail between glow plugs when ignition is ON. No current check if you here the "clik" under the dash and 2 fuses one in fuse box in engine compartment another in fuse box under the dash. If you have current do the same with each plug connect test light right to top end of each could be bad connection. If you haven't current to glow plugs, take piece of 1-1,5mm diameter electric wire and connect directly "+" on the battery with main glow plug rail, wait 15-20sec and start the engine. If she starts nicely this way you know where is the problem, if you want start this way remember always to disconnect your wire before closing the bonnet otherwise you add the engine nice self made electric WEBASTO heater & if you lucky you can use top of her bonnet as
barbecue grill for really big party

[M 80NGO]

Ok here's another angle, My Bongo is starting lumpy but only on the first start of the day the rest of the day, eve, night it starts fine , if i let it fire up and it starts to run lumpy then i switch it off reheat the glow plugs and start it up again and it runs fine, i'm thinking that altho my head gasket was done earlier this year with recon head i have a sneaking suspision that it may well be leaking very slightly again, i've made the garage that done the work aware of the possible issue and am now monitoring the coolant header tank just in case.

[M 80NGO]

Topped the header tank up this morning it was above the lower level mark so 1/4 of a litre took it slap bang in between empty and full, i have marked the level with a permanent marker and will monitor it over the next couple of weeks.

[munroman]

Hello Mr. Monkey
Before you start scratching your head looking at electric diagram take test light, check current on main flat metal rail between glow plugs when ignition is ON. No current check if you here the "clik" under the dash and 2 fuses one in fuse box in engine compartment another in fuse box under the dash. If you have current do the same with each plug connect test light right to top end of each could be bad connection. If you haven't current to glow plugs, take piece of 1-1,5mm diameter electric wire and connect directly "+" on the battery with main glow plug rail, wait 15-20sec and start the engine. If she starts nicely this way you know where is the problem, if you want start this way remember always to disconnect your wire before closing the bonnet otherwise you add the engine nice self made electric WEBASTO heater & if you lucky you can use top of her bonnet as
barbecue grill for really big party

Maybe worth checking that the Earth lead is in good condition, if the circuit cant flow full current back to the battery this could cause 'poor glow plug' symptoms.
Had this on a couple of cars, lead looked ok but was corroded internally.

Easy way to check is to get a good connection between engine and chassis with a heavy duty jump lead and see if things improve any.

[ChrisCT]

Hi munroman, you are absolutely right. One main earth wire should be between the chassis and gearbox not far away from starter motor. If this wire brakes you are not able to crank engine. Another earth wire should be on the frame where is bonnet catch and is connect directly to cylinder head both ends have round terminals for 6mm screw. This wire likes corrosion specially on chassis side terminal inside black insulation and holding bolt. Often if is there bad earth connection the engine won't fire especially on Hondas, is worthwile to check it.

[bigdaddycain]

Hi Chris, a couple of points... Have a look at the connector to your engine fan temp sensor, if that is disconnected (or is dodgey) that disables the glowplug circuit. I can't remember if that also disables the orange glowplug dash light. When you start the bongo from cold, what revs are you seeing on tickover? Mine is around the 1000RPM mark, then drops to 800 (ish) after about 7-8 minutes of tickover in this weather.

[mister munkey]

A little over 600rpm.

All the time.

[bigdaddycain]

AHA!