Bongo Fury

Hello all.

Friday night I packed all my camping gear into the Bongo and turned the key.

All the lights did everything they were meant to, but it wouldn't start.

The starter motor was fine...until the battery went flat.

Called out the AA who whacked as much charge into me as they could, along with several doses of that magic spray stuff...it very nearly kicked in but as it showed a bit more oomph in trying to turn over, power faded again. Then Mr AA ran out of ideas and went off suggesting - but failing to remedy - fuel starvation.

So I had to take a ten-year-old tent, mouse-eaten and mouldy, in a Nissan Micra, to play Cavaliers and Roundheads in the rain near Bude. Not a happy bunny.

Came back and tried some ideas.

I didn't have masses of fuel - I guessed at around 1/8 of a tank but as I live on a steep hill, I hedged my bets, put a canfull of diesel into the tank, charged up the battery overnight, and last night reconnected it.

To no discernible difference.

So my next thought is to drain the filter (screw cap underneath, I believe?) and wash out the filter with white spirit.

When my old Land Rover 110 got low on fuel and wouldn't start, I could prime it by pumping a lever under the carburettor. If the Bongo is starved, how do I draw up fuel into it?

Or is there anything else I can do?

although you don't live in the Essex area, I'd still edit (or get a mod to edit) your FULL address out of that post. Low loaders won't care if it starts or not.

Cheers Scuba, good point. Although after everything that's gone wrong since September I think they can probably take the thing, and good luck to 'em.

FBI Dave wrote:Cheers Scuba, good point. Although after everything that's gone wrong since September I think they can probably take the thing, and good luck to 'em.

No worries, just seems you can't be too careful these days.... somebody could be watching....!

when you say you cleaned out the filter?, do you mean the actual fuel filter or the banjo filter?


theres loads of info on the forum just do a search for banjo filter, this could be blocked up?

Yep, the banjo. Haven't cleaned it out yet: that will be tonight's project.

This thread may suggest a few things you haven't tried http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 87#p302487
Have you checked the glow plugs are getting power & if so are they working?