Cutting Out & White Smoke

[missfixit70]

For both of the cutting out issues, have a look at this re the fuel filler cap/breather - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=38433 - I know it's not exactly the same, but worth checking?

[scribe1974]

hi. Different symptoms I'm afraid, The problems always happen on short journeys not long and only when the engine is cold. I've checked the filler cap before for a vacuum and none. I think the full tank thing may have been my imagination as it was cutting out with a full tank earlier this week.

Fingers crossed for an end to winter as the colder the weather the worse the problems. If it persists after that I may have to get the fuel pump striped on the off chance.

[scribe1974]

One thing I forgot to mention before is that straight after the engine stalls when still stationary on the drive I can hear gurgling coming from the fuel tank, is this significant? When the engine stalls once I've been driving I can hear sloshing.

[francophile1947]

One thing I forgot to mention before is that straight after the engine stalls when still stationary on the drive I can hear gurgling coming from the fuel tank, is this significant? When the engine stalls once I've been driving I can hear sloshing.

Well that's different - you haven't left a baby in there have you I have absolutely no idea what can cause those symptoms

[mikexgough]

I still reckon it's the diesel pump.........

[dandywarhol]

Lift the rear carpet and you can access the panel above the fuel tank. Remove the fuel pickup/level sensor and have a look in the tank with a torch - there might be something intermittantly blocking the pipe

[rita]

Lift the rear carpet and you can access the panel above the fuel tank. Remove the fuel pickup/level sensor and have a look in the tank with a torch - there might be something intermittantly blocking the pipe

Hi,and while you are in there it would be worth while cleaning the filter.

[scribe1974]

Hi, thanks for that suggestion, I didn't realize there was a panel that would let me look in the fuel tank, and it sounds like the technical level I can manage. I will try on Saturday in daylight. The van's got a full side conversion, hopefully this won't be a problem getting access.

I had an interesting new development yesterday, I left work with about a quarter of a tank of fuel and the van was playing up more than usual, cutting out three times in the first mile and for a change it was also chucking out big clouds of blueish smoke, the higher the revs the more smoke and it continued to blow smoke for the next ten miles by which time the smoke seemed to have died down but this was also the point when it got dark so I couldn't really see what was going on and this was also the point when I stopped and filled up with fuel. The next morning the van started first time and idled fine (even though there was a severe frost) whilst I scraped the windscreen, after a couple of minutes there was still no smoke so I revved it up to 3k briefly and still not a sign of smoke so I proceeded to drive to work with no problems at all. That evening it cut out as usual but still no sign of smoke.

Yesterday evening I was so peed off that I nearly took the day off work today to try and get it put into another garage but I guess it's a good job I didn't as they would of probably just told me they couldn't find anything wrong like the others have. Which is part of the problem, the vans always runs absolutely fine once warmed up and sometimes it's fine in the mornings (although not often).

Anyone got any ideas what would cause a one off bout of heavy blueish smoking? I've only seen it smoke whilst running a couple of other times.

P.S. I'm still open to the idea that it could be the fuel pump but it's a lot of money if it isn't.

[thehun]

Hi Scribe, this is exactly what happened to me and it took nearly a year to sort it out, we tried almost everthing that has been suggested on here and in the end I replaced the fuel pump this new year, and I'm happy to say that it's cured the problem and my Bongo runs like a dream . The cutting out thing really drove me mad as it never happened in a convenient place, I hope you get things sorted soon .

[scribe1974]

My big problem is I live in Northampton and the nearest proper Bongo garage is in Bath and I need the van for getting to work.

Oh yeh and by the way the white smoke on start up that I originally mentioned has pretty much gone away since I put the injector cleaner in.

[susan]

i think this has been said,but has anyone not heard the click of the orange light going out while having this problem,i get it thou after ive had a short run then turned off the engine,it clicks when started up again,i dont get no smoke still.

[dandywarhol]

Blue smoke is burning oil
Black smoke is excessive fuel being burnt
Grey smoke is pump timing out
White smoke is water vapour

I take it it isn't something simple like the oil level too high

[scribe1974]

Hi, oil is slightly under full. I guess it could of been grey smoke, I'm not sure how to measure the difference between grey and blue, I guess it's subjective.

The glow plug relay (orange light) clicks off after 15 seconds if engine not started, stays on when engine is cold and clicks off with light when engine is warm.

[mikeonb4c]

My big problem is I live in Northampton and the nearest proper Bongo garage is in Bath and I need the van for getting to work.

Oh yeh and by the way the white smoke on start up that I originally mentioned has pretty much gone away since I put the injector cleaner in.

Is Bath really your nearest from Northampton

Here's distances to some alternatives ( 1 and 3 are known top Bongo specialist repairers, 2 comes on here and sounds v. good but no sure if they service Bongos they aren't selling, but they may recommend someone nearby if not):

Northampton to Bath 106 miles
Northampton to Newbury 70 miles (Discount Trucks)
Northampton to Coventry 35 miles (LPG Imports if they'll do servicing)
Northampton to Market Drayton 108 (Ian Taylor)

[scribe1974]

I wasn't able to check the fuel tank because of the camper conversion. The vinyl flooring goes wall to wall with the cupboard units attached on top of the flooring. So assuming that the fault is not in the fuel tank I have bought a second hand fuel pump that was apparently running fine when it was on the original vehicle.

Do you good folks think I can get away with just having the pumps switched over or is it essential that I get the belts done at the same time?

Also I checked the banjo filter again, myself this time and it is completely clean although I did discover that the little allen bolt is missing. The main bolt seems to hold the thing in place ok so do I need to replace the little one urgently? I would like to replace it, so does anyone know where I can get a suitable bolt and what exactly I'm looking for?