Starting Probs

[Bully bongo]

Hi there help needed.Scanned forum still a bit stuck.My bongo 2.5 diesel hard to start on a morning.Once started runs absolutly perfect.Could this be the fuel filter needs changing as i run the van on 80/20 veggie mix.I put a new battery on today and it seem to fire up no problem,but this was not from cold.I have just checked glow plugs about 1000 miles ago and they were all changed about a year ago.I read it could be starter relay,could anyone give advise on how to check please.Going to try in morning from cold to see what it is like.If no good try adjusting the cold start mech.It was great till about a week ago and has just gone all to pot.I put new battery on as a precation for winter as it was getting a bit long in the tooth.Many thanks again. #

[francophile1947]

Any smoke when starting from cold? If so, what colour is it?
A blocked fuel filter would probably also stop it running properly when warm.
If there is white smoke, I'd opt for glow plugs, even though they were changed about a year ago - did you take them out to test them, or just do a continuity test?
I assume that's 80% diesel and 20% veg oil - if so, that shouldn't cause any problems.

[Bully bongo]

Hi there yes i get a bit of white smoke,when the rain stops i will have a look at the plugs.Many thanks,going away in a couple of weeks so need it spot on.Just done over a thousand miles over the hols and it never missed a beat

[stuc]

Is it an easy job to change the glow plugs as mine need doing despearately. I am not too far away from you if you needed a hand so I can see what to do.

[Bully bongo]

Yes easy to do,going to look at mine now,between my work.The only thing to worry about is the lentgh of plug you need.Mine is the longer of the two.The rear cylinder is the arkward one,even then it is not to bad.Do job in half hour.Get fact sheet off here and you cannot go wrong.Hope this does the job,started a canny bit better this morning with the new battery on.

[Bully bongo]

Well seam to have found a problem,3 out of 4 glow plugs not working.I suppose that would do it.Just trying to source a set of 101mm ones.Looking like £51.00from e-bay.Any suggestions anyone.Many thanks.

[francophile1947]

I couldn't get the long ones when mine went, so I fitted the 85mm ones. I then gently bent the fuel pipes, between the injectors, down slightly so that they didn't touch the bus bar - others have extended the height of the bar by fitting a spacer between the glowplug and the bar.

[321Away]

And stupid as it sounds, test the new plugs before you put them in!! Only have faith in NGK, even then i've seen 2 duff out of the box (admittedly amongst about 2000 lol), but with non brand and even Blueprint, i've seen high numbers of non working out of the box.

Julian

[Bully bongo]

Thanks for advice,can get 85mm one,s for about £36 going to look into the spacer route.Is it just the top of the plug that is a different length and the rest of the plug the same.When i replaced last time i went through the same dilema.Wanted to buy the 85mm but didnt dare lol.Thanks again

[321Away]

yes its the just the top of the plug, as francophile said, you just have to bend down the fuel rail a bit to clear the plug rail, i use a 1/2 sockect extension bar as its quite a broad area, only requires slight pressure and not much movement, be gentle as its quite easy to damage the rail where it joins the collars if your too agressive (as any1 will tell you when removing injectors! bloody rail is a pain in the backside!).

Julian

[Bully bongo]

Sorry Stuc,would have done that,but needed them done quickly.I had two spare in garage.Turns out there were three out anyway so i am ordering new one,s.Even with the three working it started no probs at all.If your stuck i will try and get some time and show you the crack.No probs,thanks.