Bongo Fury

Mango started immediately (as usual) on this very cold morning. However, as she ticked over for the first minute or so, I felt the odd firm kick (no she is not expecting) as she missed a beat now and then. She pulled away just fine and didn’t do it again. Is this normal behaviour – maybe in cold weather – or could be an early warning of something (under performing glowplug for example). While I remember, in order to be sure of getting the right length glowplugs, do I need to give the supplier a VIN number (and is the number I can get of a plate somewhere on the vehicle – drivers door recess? Under the bonnet somewhere?)

Interested to see what Bongo Diagnosticians make of the above.

Sounds fairly normal to me Mike - old diesels aren't fond of the cold.

The VIN number for Bongos is very short, not like the cryptologists dream as found on most other vehicles.

It is that thing which begins with "SG", found on all your paperwork but if you insist on going out in the cold it is on the plate on the driver's door pillar.

Cheers chaps, think I'll go and get chapped- never could stand paperwork

Funny thing mine played up this morning and I know she was fine, went to town shopping and got back in motor, turned key and would not start, had to use my battery boost pack so will have to keep an eye on it, looks like original battery tho. Happy motoring.

These Bongos - I dunno!

A Bongo is for Life.......

This sounds like a common problem, its been happening to me for a while now and was worse this morning with the cold.

Anyone know how much it would cost to get the glow plugs done if I went to a Garage to get it done.

Thanks
Tracey

Round about £65.00 but may be cheaper if you get the plugs, blue print do them as do the bongo site shop. Happy motoring.

Cheers

Mango was grumpy again this morning - a couple of secs rough running before settling down. I resisted pressing the loud pedal (which is my natural, but wrong, reaction). Love her to bits

Mine's doing the same at the moment, starts first time, then after a few seconds goes a bit lumpy with puffs of diesel smoke, then settles down. I tried leaving longer time after the glow plug warning lamp had gone out, but this seems to make it worse! Seems to start better in my case as soon as the light is extinguished. Nice thing about these Bongos - they've all got their own little characters and idiosyncrasies - bit like an old steam engine!!
Malc

Mine has done this on a few cold mornings and I think it is just one of these things as later in the day she starts with no cough at all.

Malc - Like you, I'm beginning to think I'm leaving the key 'on' for too long before starting her. I do it in the (mistaken?) belief it gives the glow plugs more time to warm but she seems to start v well if I leave it just a few secs after the light has gone out. She was 100% fine this morning with the weather a little milder. Great though isnt it. Reminds me of trying to start the plane's engine in Flight of the Phoenix. Get On Up Big Bird

Mine does this too, I think most diesels do to some extent.
As to the glow plug light, surely they start to cool down again once the light has gone out?

You'd think so Glynanderson but I think the light actually is saying 'Until I goo off, the plugs arent properly warmed. They then stay on for a while and you can hear them click off after 30 secs or so if you havent started the engine. No doubt a BF expert will correct me if I have that wrong