V6 Starting Issues after Rain/Fog

[Crisbecky]

Hi there,

I'm wondering if any of you can offer me an "idiots guide/checklist" of things to try when my bongo doesn't start first thing in the morning after heavy rain and/or cold fog/mist.

It's happened a couple of times in the last few weeks. Both times the night/day before it has rained heavily. The battery certainly isn't completely flat as engine tries to turn over but just doesn't kick in. After a couple of days of dry milder weather the engine starts first time as usual.

The first time I recharged / reconditioned the battery (which was already showing a workable level) - still no start. Day later I Pulled out and wiped the plastic rods which I guess connect some how to spark plugs. It then started. (I now suspect this was coincidence!!) Used 3 times over the week with no further issue.

A week later after heavy rain, again engine would turn but not start. Tried the magic fiddle and wipe of plastic rods. No joy. 2 days later, this morning, after dry weather starts first time.

Having looked through forum it seems battery, spark plugs and distributor are often the cause. However, I'm a bit concerned to take to garage because I guess if I can start the bongo and get it there, they won't be able to see any evidence of moisture issues.

So, my question is, before going down this route are there any particular fuses under bonnet or elsewhere prone to moisture ingress that are worth pulling out and wiping? Also, are there any fuses I shouldn't pull out? Or other steps I could take?

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers, Cris

[Bob]

This sounds like damp in the ingition somewhere, likely HT leads I would guess.

Very unlikely to be fuses and seems not battery, although you say its "Trying to turn over". Is it acualy turning over at normal speed and trying to start, or struggling to turn over? If the latter it could be the battery.

I'm pretty sure the whole ignition system on the V6 needs to be in top condidtion.

Is it practical to drop it off with your garage in the evening when the over night forecast is suitable, ie wet and horrible? That way they could try and start it with the problem present.

Good luck.

[g8dhe]

Yes its worth checking the leads and the Distributor, and spraying the distributor all over with WD40, its located at the front of the engine on the passenger side, which means it gets road spray if its at all wet outside, its shown below far left, with the black leads coming from it.

[mikeWalsall]

Maybe as said .. the Indication of the ignition system not being 100% ..

As a stop gap solution spray the dizzy cap / plug leads with some Water Dispersal fluid (WD40) ..

New spark plugs are an easy DIY job and usually less than £12 a set of six off eBay ..

Dizzy cap / rotor / plug leads can be 'awkward' to DIY change job and if using genuine Mazda plug leads the parts 'pricey' ...

I used guaranteed for life 'cheaper' English made plug leads and never had the slightest problem ..

[Crisbecky]

Brilliant, thank you all for your helpful replies and clear photos.

Now I know where the distributor cap is I shall certainly give that a go with the WD40 if problem arises again. (Hadn't thought to follow HT leads to the other end - then I didn't even know they were called HT leads!)

I think it is time and money well spent to have the whole system overhauled as I can't really put up with inconvenience and knock on affects of it not starting when living in Brizzle which is obviously well known for its wet weather and drizzle!

I've got some spark plugs already, but will drop it of at local bongo garage, ADS, and get the guys there to give it a once over and change distributor cap, rotor, leads etc if felt necessary. Suspect it's necessary for my peace of mind anyway! I believe ADS use Mazda "dizzy" but UK made leads.

Once again, thank you for the helpful pointers - I'm enjoying getting under the bonnet and passenger seats of the Bongo and having a ham fisted go almost as much as weekends away in it!

[Bob]

ADS Should look after you well, we're just down the road in Nailsea and use them.

HT = High Tension, ie very high voltage.

[Crisbecky]

Thanks for all input.

For the record, it turned out it was corrosion in the distributor cap and at the end of the short HT lead as suggested.

ADS got it all sorted for me yesterday afternoon, with new dissy cap, rotor and leads for just over £200.

I note I could have got the parts (although not with original mazda cap) about £20 cheaper on fleabay but I was more than happy to get it all very quickly sorted without delivery hassle etc from ADS. Even showed me the corroded parts without me asking. Great service.

I shall keep a closer eye on the distributor cap now I know it's prone to moisture damage.

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for all input.

For the record, it turned out it was corrosion in the distributor cap and at the end of the short HT lead as suggested.

ADS got it all sorted for me yesterday afternoon, with new dissy cap, rotor and leads for just over £200.

I note I could have got the parts (although not with original mazda cap) about £20 cheaper on fleabay but I was more than happy to get it all very quickly sorted without delivery hassle etc from ADS. Even showed me the corroded parts without me asking. Great service.

I shall keep a closer eye on the distributor cap now I know it's prone to moisture damage.

Great result and pretty much what we all suspected. Hopefully the corrosion only became critical after many years of service and the new one will last for many years before it too succumbs. ADS always get good reports.

[Bob]

Nice one, thanks for updating us.

It is really useful to others when a result is posted.

[mikeWalsall]

There is a large 'O' ring between the baker light cap and the metal body dizzy .. I put a smear of Vaseline around mine to help seal out the moister ..



The contacts inside the cap can also get eaten away with HT spark erosion .. also the carbon rotor pick up is prone to wear ..