Bongo Fury

Hello all,

My Bongo sits around for while - I only really use it in summer.

I have a problem just after starting up.

Bongo can sit for a week or so. When I start up - it kicks into life no problem. However, before engine has warmed up - the engine rattles a lot. After running about a mile or so - if I stop at lights and down to ticking over, it is smooth as anything and runs OK.

I've been told by someone who works with diesels every day that he reckons I have a slight air leak and there is some 'priming' which needs to be done. He then launched into some long technical explanation which I didn't understand.

Can anyone tell me what is happening in plain English?

All I want to know is this:

Is it something I should get fixed or just live with it?
I can't do it myself - any idea how much it might cost to get fixed?
Should I be running my Bongo more and not leave it sitting around?
Is it anything I've missed?

Appreciate any help

A.

When you say "rattles", do you mean it actually makes clattering noises or is just running rough? Could just be until the oil is circulating properly as it's not used very often.

Could also mean you have a gloplug not working...mine did this prior to getting gloplugs checked and we found one was duff.

H

Hi,

I would say that it is rough rather than rattles.

Because it fires up quickly and easily I didn't think that gloplugs would be a problem

Had new gloplugs fitted 2000 miles ago - how long do they last?

A.

Sounds like a faulty glow plug. They should last more than 2000mls but, like anything electrical, they can go at any time. It should start OK on 3 plugs, but will be rough and produce lots of smoke from the exhaust until warmed up.

Thanks for your replies.

Just been out for a run in the Bongo with the dogs.

Whenever I start from cold (live in Scotland) - there is no smoke at all - ever, hence why I am skeptical about the gloplug theory.

To describe the sound after it has just started from cold and then idling - I've thought about it more.

It does rattle as if there is an engine mounting (or something like that) loose. This lasts for a time once I've gone about over half a mile to the shops - the rattle has gone and the engine is running smoothly.

The guy who explained before what was wrong, works with diesels on a daily basis and, I assume, he knows his stuff.

I will try to explain in a crude way - please forgive me - I know not how a diesel works.

There seems to be a feed (pipe?) of fuel to each cylinder. If the pipe is airtight and there is no leakage then there is no problem.

However, if one of these pipes has a pinhole of a leak the air enters, fuel evaporates (over a while) and it then takes the diesel feed from the fuel pump a wee while to fill this pipe. This seems to be called 'priming'.

By the way, the guy who explained all to me lives 400 miles away and doesn't do 'homers'!

What I want to know is - has any Bongolier experienced this and (more importantly) any idea how much it will cost to get fixed.

At the moment it is just an annoyance and does go away. In the past I have been in this situation and things can get worse.

I know I seem to be answering my own question but - I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I would appreciate it if anyone could help.

I don't think your diesel man's got the answer. With the amount of pressure in a diesel line it would be primed in seconds.
If you'd like me to listen to it for you give me a PM with your home number - I'm also in Edinburgh.

Hi,

Is this rattle anything like those described in a recent thread on 'engine rattle' ?

I was following that very closely as I was about to post the same thing - I was monitoring my version of the rattle over a period of a couple of weeks trying to assess it. The weekend after the thread was posted I spent a morning in / under the engine and was able to prove Dandy's suggestions as not the source of my rattle. All relays operating as they should and idle controlled as it should be.
However, as was the nature of my rattle that day was one of the 'not very noticable' days so I was only able to trace it to the front, lower area of the engine before it died away.
Since then it has dissappeared all together - because of the improved climatic conditions ? i.e. it's warmer!

May be this impending cold snap will start it off again !!! I'll let you know if it comes back.

Confused of Aberdeen

Not sure what the rattle is without hearing it, but I know my works Ford Escort diesel van does it too. That usually does about 500 miles a week but sometimes it rattles for a while after starting and sometimes it doesn't.

You say you only use your Bongo in the summer. All vehicles deteriorate much quicker if they are left standing around for long periods, so that won't help. I would take it for a decent run once every week. Regular use is the key to keeping everything as it should be. I don't use my Bongo every day as I have the works van, but it does get used two or three times a week.