Bongo Fury

Well all the glowplugs have just been replace with new ones, and I trust they have been fitted properly.

lpgimports wrote:Hard to tell it sounds like either air in the diesel system or not enough heat from heater plugs be it them not functioning correctly or relay/timer not holding them on long enough or the relay not being told to hold them on long enough which could be a temperature sensor issue or wiring to it.

Try a decent set of jump leads from possitive terminal directly to the buzz bar on the heater plugs hold it on for 20 seconds or so and then crank the engine whilst holding on, if it starts better then you can rule out the diesel side and concentrate on the heater plug and heater plug control side of things, are all heater plugs confirmed working correctly and good connections to the buzz bar and between it and the heater plugs?

Regards

Paul

Poor old Berrega has not being having much luck. I wish he'd limp over to Coventry and let the experts take a look - might be cheaper in the long run (if your good advice above doesn't produce a result)

I can live with poor starting, I'm just relieved I have turbo boost and that ruddy yellow light has stopped flashing!

berrega wrote:I can live with poor starting, I'm just relieved I have turbo boost and that ruddy yellow light has stopped flashing!

It'd be good to get the old girl working just right though so you can at last start enjoying a Bongo as it should be

I did actually.

popped down Glastonbury on Saturday.
Started fine Saturday and Sunday morning.

Now I'm home its started playing up again.

berrega wrote:I did actually.

popped down Glastonbury on Saturday.
Started fine Saturday and Sunday morning.

Now I'm home its started playing up again.

Excellent

Next trip LPG Coventry if it doesn't settle down . But it can't be going that bad if it made Glastonbury and back. How did it feel on power during the trip?

berrega wrote:Well all the glowplugs have just been replace with new ones, and I trust they have been fitted properly.

Check the busbar isn't shorting out anywhere (especially if you had longer plugs in before & shorter ones have been fitted) & all connections are tight.

But it can't be going that bad if it made Glastonbury and back. How did it feel on power during the trip?

Power is fine now.

Although the fuel usage seams rediculous. I started with 75% tank full and had to full up twice during my journey and ended up with 25% left in the tank when I got home. So roughly thats about £110 to do Nottingham, monmouth, glastonbury, nottingham. Is that normall?

Just the starting problem to resolve now.
I am becoming familiar with it and know how to get it started.

Basically there is enough diesel waiting to be ingnited that you've got once change to start it easily before it becomes a problem.

so if I allow the glowplug light on three times before I try and start, that guarantees a good start the first time I try properly. If I allow the glowplug light to go out twice before I try and start it then it seams I have a 50% chance of it starting fist time. If I allow the glow plug light to light once and then try and start then it will act like its going to start and then suddenly stall. it then takes 30 seconds of turning over before it can be coaxed into catching.

So, presumably this is combination of an electrical problem and fuel running back issue?

Hi berrega,

I still think it would be worthwhile doing a Compression test,the symptons you are having point in that direction.

berrega wrote:

But it can't be going that bad if it made Glastonbury and back. How did it feel on power during the trip?

Power is fine now.

Although the fuel usage seams rediculous. I started with 75% tank full and had to full up twice during my journey and ended up with 25% left in the tank when I got home. So roughly thats about £110 to do Nottingham, monmouth, glastonbury, nottingham. Is that normall?

Just the starting problem to resolve now.
I am becoming familiar with it and know how to get it started.

Basically there is enough diesel waiting to be ingnited that you've got once change to start it easily before it becomes a problem.

so if I allow the glowplug light on three times before I try and start, that guarantees a good start the first time I try properly. If I allow the glowplug light to go out twice before I try and start it then it seams I have a 50% chance of it starting fist time. If I allow the glow plug light to light once and then try and start then it will act like its going to start and then suddenly stall. it then takes 30 seconds of turning over before it can be coaxed into catching.

So, presumably this is combination of an electrical problem and fuel running back issue?

I've lost track of this one and don't want to re-read the posts, but I presume you have new (quality) glowplugs fitted, good condition starter battery etc.?

I wouldn't expect to get more than about 400 miles out of my 2WD diesel Bongo tank and that would be on open roads / motorways where I was in lockout most of the time and doing 65-70 mph. You've done a reasonable distance there and (I'm guessing) a reasonable amount of it off motorways and in hilly country. The AA route planner seems to give about 385 miles for the bare bones of that journey (did you do much running around?). Also of course y0u really need to know exactly how many litres (refill to refill) you actually used as the fuel gauge is not a reliable indicator. But still, on the face of it, the consumption does sound rather heavy. What was your driving style like (motorway speeds? pushng hard up hills?), what kind of load were you carrying, were you doing a lot of driving into wind (makes a difference esp. with the AFT I think).

berrega wrote:so if I allow the glowplug light on three times before I try and start, that guarantees a good start the first time I try properly. If I allow the glowplug light to go out twice before I try and start it then it seams I have a 50% chance of it starting fist time. If I allow the glow plug light to light once and then try and start then it will act like its going to start and then suddenly stall. it then takes 30 seconds of turning over before it can be coaxed into catching.

So, presumably this is combination of an electrical problem and fuel running back issue?

I can't see how it can be a fuel issue if it starts OK just by working the glowplugs more - it really sounds as if they are not working properly. Even new glowplugs, especially the cheap ones, can be next to useless and fail easily. Also, remember that the glowplugs are still on after the light goes out and it's a good idea to leave starting until a few seconds after the light has gone off.

francophile1947 wrote:

berrega wrote:so if I allow the glowplug light on three times before I try and start, that guarantees a good start the first time I try properly. If I allow the glowplug light to go out twice before I try and start it then it seams I have a 50% chance of it starting fist time. If I allow the glow plug light to light once and then try and start then it will act like its going to start and then suddenly stall. it then takes 30 seconds of turning over before it can be coaxed into catching.

So, presumably this is combination of an electrical problem and fuel running back issue?

I can't see how it can be a fuel issue if it starts OK just by working the glowplugs more - it really sounds as if they are not working properly. Even new glowplugs, especially the cheap ones, can be next to useless and fail easily. Also, remember that the glowplugs are still on after the light goes out and it's a good idea to leave starting until a few seconds after the light has gone off.

D'ya think John that rita's compression test advice could be worth it too (presumably not expensive?)?

Could any garage do a compression test?

rather than having to take it to a bongo specialist...

mikeonb4c wrote:D'ya think John that rita's compression test advice could be worth it too (presumably not expensive?)?

Possibly, but every case I've come across that has poor compression has been noticeably lower on power or, if it's only one or two cylinders, runs unevenly. Also, if it's the piston rings/bore worn, there will usually be excessive oil consumption - not so if it's just burnt out valves (usually exhaust valves).

berrega wrote:Could any garage do a compression test? rather than having to take it to a bongo specialist...

Yes, shouldn't be a problem at all

no power problems, the thing goes like a rocket now...