Intermittent Start of Bongo

[bongogreenride]

Go to start bongo, glow light on etc, goes, click click... No attempt of starter motor. Click click again, and again, then bongo suddenly starts. Can`t stop him have to keep him going to avoid symptoms of no start.

Thought it was battery so got a new battery.

Same symptom, click click no start, again, and again. Then the starter motor kicks in and bongo starts.

All electric windows etc working.
Looked at connection to starter motor seems ok (But anyone know differently ???)

If you don`t switch off Henry bongo he goes.

Any ideas folks?????

[g8dhe]

Two common problems;
First is the gear selector inhibitor switch, on a cable and if not correctly adjusted can stop the relay operating that powers the starter, moving the gear selector to and fro will identify if this is the problem.
Second more common is the contactors on the starter motor itself wear out, they are replaceable, kits on ebay and give the intermittent problem as they turn onto worn areas then turn to cleaner areas. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... s&_sacat=0

[bongogreenride]

Thank you indeed for this information.
Can you get a new starter motor????
Will now get some diagnostics done,

[g8dhe]

Yes you can get new starter motors but its not needed, the contactors bolt on the side of the motor see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pnySma88gY
The only exception is if you have a cold start Northern Japan version then its a different starter motor and the contacts are inside.

[bongogreenride]

Thank you for this info, understand what you say. So grateful for reply...

[bongogreenride]

hi g8dhe just a query.....
Looking at getting the starter kit on ebay the link you sent, and the Youtube guy seems to have only one piston in the starter motor.
I looked on my bongo starter and it is a DENSO 228000 4830 WLOR
On ebay they show eg
MAZDA BONGO 2.5TD - FORD FREDA 2.5TD DENSO STARTER MOTOR CONTACT REPAIR KIT
With 5 pistons (I presume)
Any idea which kit I would need ????
Thanks
Kevin

[g8dhe]

Ah the pictures just show a variety of types of kit there is a only a single plunger in the system, some kits replace the contacts alone some include a new plunger as well. The plunger is driven down by the magnetic solenoid and bridges the contacts to allow the very high current that the starter motor itself needs (several hundred Amps), on each operation the plunger also turns a bit to spread the wear out, so you have a pair of fixed contacts at the bottom bridged by the plate at the bottom of the single plunger. A spring returns the plunger once the ignition switch is released breaking the contacts.

[kandabongogirl]

That's right, as Geoff says that picture is f a 'generic' goodie bag; but don't worry you won't be the first person to be misled by it.
So read the actual detailed description of the item which should be an accurate description of what's in each pack; as Geoff says some have the plunger as well as the contacts, some just the contacts which are the bits most prone to wear with use.
KBG

[bongogreenride]

Ahhh, thank you folks, hadn`t eyeballed inside so thought the things shown were plungers

what fooled me was Geoff saying in a previous post....

“The only exception is if you have a cold start Northern Japan version then its different starter motor and the contacts are inside”

The starter motor on mine says DENSO Japan 228000 4830
So wondered if it was the cold start version on my Bongo, and contacts were inside .

The only kit on the ebay site, Geoff sent that mentions DENSO was EG Mazda Bongo/ Ford Freda 2.5TD DENSO Starter Motor Contact Repair Kit.

So I wondered if I had the right kit.

[g8dhe]

Not sure of the number for the colds start starter version. I do know its shaped differently, might be worth doing a search on here and see if some one has identified it by number.

[bongogreenride]

Thank you... With it having DENSO Japan, on starter, thought it may be the original cold start version, thats all.

[g8dhe]

Is your vehicle a cold start one ? Does it have the extra switch ? Does it have the extra cable under the bonnet for the extra battery ? Does it have the valve in the exhaust pipe ?

[g8dhe]

Ah googling your numbers indicates that its rated as 2Kw starter which is the rating for the non-cold start type, the cold-start starter is rated at 2.2Kw so it sounds like the type that can be repaired.

[bongogreenride]

OK its got on the starter
WLOR
228000-4830
DENSO Japan
L
Nxt to Denso a number going to have a re look.
maybe 2

[bongogreenride]

CORRECTION

WLO1 (not R)

ND nxt to DENSO

22800-4830