Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
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Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
I have a 2.5TD 1995 and having trouble diagnosing a fault with our Bongo, it takes a while to start and when it does start it chugs and puffs out white smoke for roughly 15-30 seconds during which the revs are constantly high. After this time, it seems to correct itself and the revs drop and all settles down as it should be. Not sure if its connected but occasionaly when approaching junctions or roundabouts the revs drop right off and cuts out. Has any one experienced these problems and can give any advice on what the problem/s could be.
Many thanks
Paul & Kirsty
Many thanks
Paul & Kirsty
Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
Are you sure its white smoke?
has it ever overheated?
has it ever overheated?
Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
Not too sure if it is white smoke, just gives out loads of it! Had new cylinder head done but this problem was present before the head went. Could it be drawing in air?
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- Supreme Being
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Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
bongo65 wrote:I have a 2.5TD 1995 and having trouble diagnosing a fault with our Bongo, it takes a while to start and when it does start it chugs and puffs out white smoke for roughly 15-30 seconds during which the revs are constantly high. After this time, it seems to correct itself and the revs drop and all settles down as it should be. Not sure if its connected but occasionaly when approaching junctions or roundabouts the revs drop right off and cuts out. Has any one experienced these problems and can give any advice on what the problem/s could be.
Many thanks
Paul & Kirsty
Ok guys this could be an easy fix. are you letting the glowplugs warm up till u hear the solenoid "click" before starting?
If you are :
Pop up the drivers seat when she's stone cold, with the seat up turn the ignition on and you should see the cold start mechanism activate, turn the ignition off, in the end of the c/s mech is an idle adjustment screw held in place with a 10mm nut, slacken off the nut and wind the screw out till there is just a few mm sticking out the business end, before locking the nut turn the ignition back on and wait till you hear the solenoid "click" then fire her up, now adjust the cold start idle screw till she's on 900 rpm and tighten the lock nut, if your bongo is set above 950 rpm on cold start the ECU will prematurley shut the glowplugs off as it thinks it's being driven.
Keep us posted

Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
Many thanks, will try it this week and will let you know how we get on
- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
all good advice, but if the vacuum has been lost overnight the cold start may not operate until the engine has started running. best to run the engine for a little while to charge the vac system, then do the checks/adjustments.M 80NGO wrote:bongo65 wrote:I have a 2.5TD 1995 and having trouble diagnosing a fault with our Bongo, it takes a while to start and when it does start it chugs and puffs out white smoke for roughly 15-30 seconds during which the revs are constantly high. After this time, it seems to correct itself and the revs drop and all settles down as it should be. Not sure if its connected but occasionaly when approaching junctions or roundabouts the revs drop right off and cuts out. Has any one experienced these problems and can give any advice on what the problem/s could be.
Many thanks
Paul & Kirsty
Ok guys this could be an easy fix. are you letting the glowplugs warm up till u hear the solenoid "click" before starting?
If you are :
Pop up the drivers seat when she's stone cold, with the seat up turn the ignition on and you should see the cold start mechanism activate, turn the ignition off, in the end of the c/s mech is an idle adjustment screw held in place with a 10mm nut, slacken off the nut and wind the screw out till there is just a few mm sticking out the business end, before locking the nut turn the ignition back on and wait till you hear the solenoid "click" then fire her up, now adjust the cold start idle screw till she's on 900 rpm and tighten the lock nut, if your bongo is set above 950 rpm on cold start the ECU will prematurley shut the glowplugs off as it thinks it's being driven.
Keep us posted
it does sound like 2 seperate faults here, the one for starting, and the stalling fault.
the starting could be glow plugs or solenoids or the pipes too them.
and the stalling may be the fuel system/tank not breathing whilst fuel is used from the tank, try removing the cap, if this improves this look for the fuel tank breathers they may be blocked causing a vac in the fuel tank.
Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
Thanks for all the advice. The cold start mechanism is not engaging until I start cranking engine over - should this be right?. The revs were set at about 750 when started so have now raised them up to 900 rpm, but you won't believe this, there was no smoke today and is idling nicely!!
Where would I locate the fuel tank breather pipes? Are they on the tank itself??
Many thanks
Where would I locate the fuel tank breather pipes? Are they on the tank itself??
Many thanks
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- Supreme Being
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Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
Well thats a move in the right direction What time of day was it when you started it, Has it been warming up in the sun ?
Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
it was about 5 ish today and quite warm. The cold start disingaged when she warmed up and the revs dropped down to 750rpm. I will start her up and try it in the morning again. fingers crossed. 

- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
do a search on here for the fuel tank breathers, there have been several threads on this lately. they are clipped to the chassis near the fuel tank.
the threads mentioned above shows the lush projects drawings etc.
the threads mentioned above shows the lush projects drawings etc.
Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
Northern Bongolow wrote:do a search on here for the fuel tank breathers, there have been several threads on this lately. they are clipped to the chassis near the fuel tank.
the threads mentioned above shows the lush projects drawings etc.
thanks for that,i will see how she is in the morning on the starting problem and then take her for a run. if she cuts out i will try again without the fuel cap on and see what happens...

- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
if its not that try the throttle position sensor, and the crank sensor, sounds like something may be getting confused.
Re: Bad starting and low revs which leads to cutting out
good morning all.just tried the bongo and no luck. i turned on ignition waited for glow plug light to go out but did not hear the solenoid click, turned her over and she started, but the revs fluctuated for a few secs around 900/1000 and then went up to 1500 for about 10 secs with bluish smoke and then went back to normal and smoke stopped. where would i find the solelnoid. could this be a bad connection on it ? or something else i need to check ? 
