Bongo Fury

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at this forum for a few weeks and I thought I'd join as you all seem a helpful bunch, but unluckily I have a few problems with my new Bongo. Mainly smoke and a starting problem.

I started her up this morning and she failed to start first go, just a click a crank and nothing but a bleep. I restarted and all was well except the massive cloud of white smoke that was blowing into my garage. I was hoping it would clear and it did after two minutes driving except for that two minutes the whole road was covered in a fine mist of diesel clouds. There is smoke also when sat idling at the lights. I've checked a few threads on here also about the smell and colour and it seems like an oily smell, hopefully not a gasket problem. One thing once warm and driving there is hardly any smoke except under acceleration.

So two problems, failing to start and the smoke. I've just yesterday renewed the oil, oil filter, air filter and fuel filter doubt that would cause the problems. Sadly it looks like she's been a bit neglected during the 100,000 miles.

Could faulty or worn glow plugs be the problem as I don't think they've ever been changed. She is a bit lumpy at startup and could be the cause of the dodgy starting.

Hope you don't mind this essay but I thought the more information the better.

Thanks in advance.
Steve

Worth checking your glow plugs Steve and if they're shot then best buy NGK ones - cheap ones fail with regular monotony - they've also been known to disintegrate

That should clear up the white diesel smoke when starting, the oil burning is another issue.

I've all but sorted a friends smokey Bongo by flushing out the engine with engine flush, replacing with fresh oil and filter AND adding a couple of tins of Wynns "Seal Swell". I was sceptical at first but it worked - I can only assume the problem was hard valve stem oil seals which the additive softened.

I also blanked off the EGR system with a home made plate under the pipe from the EGR valve to the inlet manifold.

There's still a little bit of oil smoke on initial startup after lying for a few days but only a fraction of what it was belching out!

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, just ordered some glow plugs so hopefully I can have a bash tomorrow. I've read about blanking the EGR might be worth while me doing that.

The starting problem is a bit more weird, just went out to test her and she failed to start twice it cranks but chokes and a weird whine is heard. Started her the third time but waited a few seconds more after the glow plug light went out and she fired up with less smoke, so could be a glow plug problem. I've also been reading a few other thread, perhaps a relay issue?

I've also had a check at the battery, original japanese one it looks like could this be the cause of dodgy starting. It's only charging to 13.8v with the engine switched on which seems a little low unless it needs a rev to get it higher?

Thanks for the help.

Hi and welcome, if as you say you have only just bought it, then if from a dealer there should have been some sort of warranty and I would go back and see them straight away and have them sort it, otherwise if it is anything serious and you leave it longer it could affect any claim you make. Then again I hope the new plugs will sort it for you, good luck. Happy motoring.

Hello and welcome Steve. You say you've not had it long. As David says, if it was bought from a dealer, go back. The problems are obviously not new, so were evident at time of purchase - the dealer should have known about them. (If you imported it yourself, through an agent, you'll have no 'come back'. ) If not bought from a dealer, do you know any service history? Has it been standing for long?

When you switch it on, do you wait for the glowplug light to go out, before cranking the engine over? This helps to warm things up and eliminate white smoke, unless there's another problem - in which case I'd start by replacing the plugs as you say. Then see how it starts.

What colour is the smoke when idling? Is the (idling) smoke produced all the time?

I don't know about the battery and can't pick my husbands brains right now. Someone else will help in a mo.

Thanks for the replies everyone,

I bought the vehicle privately so not a lot I can do sadly, me and a friend who knows his way around cars didn't spot any immediate problems, a bit of smoke, but nothing overly excessive. Normal for a diesel I would've thought. Seems my problems have started on Wednesday (bought on Saturday). No service history, bit daft of me not to find out why but most of the components looked in good order. It has a years MOT would this type of smoke cause it to fail the emissions test?

I wait for the light to go off and wait a few seconds longer which seems to help starting, it still isn't great bit lumpy but it cranks and starts.

The smoke is white in colour and is present most of the time but is worse when idling, although strangely I started her earlier and there was hardly any smoke out of the exhaust. Very weird.

I'll try and change the plugs tomorrow and I'll report back to see if its cured the problem, fingers crossed. If not I might try and find a garage around Cardiff that will help me out.

Pity really as it's lovely, great drive too, shame I cloud everyone in white smoke.

Even with a private purchase, if it happens after only 3 days I'd be tempted to call them and say it has happened and have they had this problem before. There are still some vendors with a sense of honour, but you can only hope, not expect. Good luck

Hi and welcome I had this and it was a dirty wet air filter, hope that helps I tried it without the air filter (BUT I did not take to the road incase in sucked up something) and all was well, ordered and fitted new air filter, problem gone cheap fix

Sparky

I did the dreaded thing and sold an old Rover to a work mate.. She had just blown her car up and needed another quick.. By day 6 she had blown the Rover up also (head gasket) I had to give her her money back as it was her right within 7 days of purchase the Car was not fit for purpose (trading standards).. Just check it may have changed, but I honored the standard and gave a full refund and let her keep the flippin thing..

Doone mentioned Water in the fuel.
Is this smoke not Steam?
Is you water level ok?....Just a thought.

Hi everyone, thanks for the help.

Bit of an update, fitted the new plugs and she seems a lot happier, still a bit of smoke but nothing major any more. What I might try, that could help is cleaning the banjo filter. I've read other threads on this and it wouldn't do any harm.

Apart from this I think the radiator might be blocked which doesn't bode well so I'm going to give it a good flushing through tomorrow. Hopefully these little niggles will be sorted and I can start enjoying myself.

I'm pretty sure its smoke and not steam, seems to linger around and smell oily not a steamy smell, quite hard to describe, but I'm pretty certain its smoke.

Steve

If you are flushing the rad, make sure you bleed the system thoroughly