Bongo will occasionally not Start

[surfkernow]

Hi , 96, 2.5 TD 4X4

In the last few months my Bongo will not start. I turn the key, the glow plug orange signal lights up, i wait for it to go out and nothing. I turn the key and nothing, no noises, just silence.

This happened again today. On the 4th attempt , the Bongo roared into life as usual but I am little concerned by this behavior. My battery is fine and fully charged. I am not used to Diesel engines. In my petrol Volvo, you can hear the starter motor trying to start the car, and if you have complete silence than usually the battery is dead, but in Diesels I am not sure.

I am guessing glow plugs? Do these need to be changed like spark plugs? Or is there something else I should be looking at?

Thank you in advance for your help

[Bob]

I doubt this is a glow plug problem.

There is a cable link from the gear selector to the ign switch to prevent starting in gear. It's possible this is slightly out of adjustment.

Without pressing the button on the selector try jiggling it slightly with the key turned to 'start', if that doesn't do it try moving the selector to 'N' and have another go.

[surfkernow]

Thank you. I will try this and keep it in mind when it happens next. I have been doing some research and the only other variable is that the I have filled up with Diesel earlier on in the day, and I have read this could also cause a similar issue to mine.

[mikeonb4c]

Could be the starter motor solenoid? There's replacement kits available if its that i think.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2467532437

...and maybe a factsheet in the members area

[phil 1]

Hi,
Mine started being a bit temperamentall a while back. I changed the starter motor contacts which are cheap on ebay and easy to fit and it's been fine ever since.
Try searching the forum for +starter +motor +contacts
Good luck

[mikeonb4c]

Hi,
Mine started being a bit temperamentall a while back. I changed the starter motor contacts which are cheap on ebay and easy to fit and it's been fine ever since.
Try searching the forum for +starter +motor +contacts
Good luck

Yes apologies, i cant remember if its contacts or solenoids i'm thinking of

[surfkernow]

Thank you for the replies, i will look at the starter motor contacts. Out of interest when others have had problems with the starter motor contacts, was there just silence when you tried to turn over your bongo?

[Ian]

Something else to check (it happened to me recently) is the main 100 amp blue engine fuse. Mine had cracked and led to intermittent starting. On the times it didn't start, no noise, nothing.

[phil 1]

Hi,
Yes turn the key and nothing happens no noise completely dead. Not a nice feeling sitting in a car park hoping it will come alive again. Since changing the contacts it's been fine.

[Bob]

Thanks for the update.

It's really useful in the future to know what it was, and well done on the fix.

[surfkernow]

I will check the fuse as well, as it is intermittent it is frustratingly hard to replicate the problems and troubleshoot

[surfkernow]

I will close this post for the moment as I have been unable to troubleshoot further as the Bongo has decided to start every time recently, which paradoxically is quite frustrating. I will update if the problems occurs again. Thank you for the advice.