The Mystery Switch?

[DazzaJay]

G'day from Australia.
My brother owns a 2001 Bongo Friendee Camper, and he's been looking everywhere for the answer to this question.

(His bongo did not come with the owners manual, and Google has been even more useless than normal. I even tried asking an AI, but it got it wildly wrong by claiming its a warning light for coolant too hot)

What is this button/Switch? It's located to the down and right of the steering wheel.

The Mystery Button

IMG_20240527_090448~2.jpg (25.6 KiB) Viewed 434 times

The Mystery Button and surrounding area.

[g8dhe]

Its the engine fast heating button, used in Northern Japan, it forces the exhaust gasses back around the engine to get it hot quicker by closing a valve in the exhaust. In the UK they are immediately stripped out as they are fully exposed under the vehicle and handle the hot exhaust gases hence they rust badly and invariably seize up in the re-circulate position - NOT A GOOD OPTION!!!!

cold_start_exhaust_valve.jpg (26.37 KiB) Viewed 420 times

Try a search on "exhaust recirculate valve" for more info or "Northern Japan" plenty of info about removing them and sealing the vacuum pipe!

[DazzaJay]

Thanks for that. I will let my brother know, as he lives in a coastal area, so it's probably started rusting out already.

[DazzaJay]

Its the engine fast heating button, used in Northern Japan, it forces the exhaust gasses back around the engine to get it hot quicker by closing a valve in the exhaust. In the UK they are immediately stripped out as they are fully exposed under the vehicle and handle the hot exhaust gases hence they rust badly and invariably seize up in the re-circulate position - NOT A GOOD OPTION!!!!
cold_start_exhaust_valve.jpg

Try a search on "exhaust recirculate valve" for more info or "Northern Japan" plenty of info about removing them and sealing the vacuum pipe!

Just to confirm that i am 100% looking at the correct thing, that would be what Yoshi Parts are referring to as the "Exhaust Shutter Valve System"?

[g8dhe]

Yes 13-540 is the valve itself the rest is the connection and control from the vacuum system which operates it. You need to seal the vacuum tube when its removed otherwise your other vacuum operated controls will be affected!

[DazzaJay]

Awesome! thanks for that.
I also just started a new thread on an issue my brother is having where it does the dreadded flashing glow plugs light and goes into limp mode, and was wondering if i should add this valve to the already big list of things to check that i have obtained from searching other threads...

viewtopic.php?t=79022

[k1r4p7b6]

By the way, have you had any luck finding solutions for similar issues in other threads?