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hard to start bongo

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:45 pm
by cuffemark
my bongo has recently had a new head fitted, when i got it back it was not starting well and i was told that it needed new glow plugs, i subsequently fitted these and it is still not easy to start though once warm its start easier than before the plugs were fitted what else should i be looking at to improve this.

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:58 pm
by westonwarrior
Is there voltage getting to the glow plugs?

or try leaving it a bit longer till you try and start I wait till the roof light goes out ( no good for bongalows)

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:10 pm
by cuffemark
ah ha my roof light doesnt go out! ever

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:26 pm
by daveblueozzie
nothing to do with starting ,but might help with the roof light.
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 80&start=0

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:08 am
by wonkanoby
i assume its turning over ok...the starters not clicking

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:52 am
by cuffemark
yes its turning over ok it clicks once before i try to start it, its definitely running a bit better since the new plugs were fitted, when it finally starts it struggles to idle for half a minute or so and with a bit of cajoling with the throttle it ticks over fine

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:54 am
by wonkanoby
is the click from the starter or from under bonnet...ie glow plug relay

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:53 pm
by cuffemark
yes that click is coming from under the bonnet the relay is just behind the battery is'nt it?, does the clicking indicate a nackered relay?

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:58 pm
by cuffemark
once warm the bongo starts fine it just cold starting that seems to be the problem

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:33 pm
by wonkanoby
is there juice getting to the glowplug rail

does the clicking indicate a nackered relay?
yes that click is coming from under the bonnet the relay is just behind the battery is'nt it?, does the clicking indicate a nackered relay? no

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:59 pm
by stevedon
its nothing to do with your glow plugs.You have air in the diesel line,bleed the fuel system by loosening the 10mm nut on the side of the filter housing and pump away until there is no more air present and then do up the 10mm nu.Tis should fix it .
The glow plugs aid initial starting and then play no part thereafter.

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:26 pm
by scarlet
i would take it back to the garage that fitted the new head and as them to check the timing of the cam as it could be slightly out,

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:44 am
by stevedon
if the belt timing were out the bongo would run like a bag of ...t.Also leaving starting till after the interior light goes out is a waste of time as as soon as the glow plug light goes out there is no more power getting to the glow plugs

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:25 am
by francophile1947
stevedon wrote:as soon as the glow plug light goes out there is no more power getting to the glow plugs
I believe you are wrong there. The Bongo is unusual in that the glow plugs work for quite a long time after the engine has started, until it is warm enough to no longer need them. See Page 4 of the Glow Plug Factsheet here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... wplugs.pdf

Re: hard to start bongo

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:21 pm
by cuffemark
i would quite happily bring it back but the garage is in weymouth and the bongo in ireland, though i did open the bleed screw on the side of the fuel filter housing with not a drop of diesel or sign of air i did this while said bongo was running and also the top of the housing has no pump mechanism(im presuming it usually does like in the manuel) [-o<