Bongo Fury

So I've made my first long journey (Midlands to Torbay) in my new Bongo. All fine and dandy. The drive down was a dream with no hiccups at all. I am completely in love.

However, a few hours after we'd arrived I tried to fire up the engine to pop up the roof for my nephews to see and things were not good.

(Please bear in mind I'm not a mechanical bod and don't know all the correct terminology.) I turned the key and waited for the glow plug light to go out, then turned it round to fire up. It was turning over but not firing. I tried a few times, keeping the key turned right round and eventually it caught and fired, but not without a cloud of black exhaust. It ran then but very sluggishly and wouldn't 'pick up' power for ages. Then it was like something cleared and the revs picked up - all was back to normal.

The next morning I tried starting from cold and it was fine. No problems. It started with the first turn of the key and ran perfectly well. I thought this meant all was OK so drove to the next town and took the kids to the cinema (typical UK summer weather). When we came out a couple of hours later the same thing happened again. Coughing and spluttering and not firing without holding the key over for ages, then hardly any power 'til whatever it is cleared.

I'm not even going to begin to guess what the problem is or pretend I could fix it. Am I doing untold damage by starting it like this? Do I need to get it into a garage and sorted quick-sharp? Is it going to cost me and arm and a leg to fix? I've found a garage on the recommened list in Totnes which is the nearest one to where I'm staying. Should I just try and get it in there and get it fixed?

Please HELLLPPPPP!!!!!!

my initial concern would be that if your battery gets low on charge you may not be able to start it.
Is it better or worse with a full tank?
you could try opening the fuel cap and listen for a sucking sound,anything else involves lifting the seats.

For peace of mind a visit to the bongo friendly garage you mention may be worth while.

Thanks for that Robdrinky.

Have phoned Dart Motors and spoken to the lovely Dave. He suggested check coolant and oil levels first. Both of which are OK (and I lifted the seat!!! )

Am now going to try filling her up which is the next thing he suggested. The fuel is probably lowish - a dodgy fuel gauge is just another of her quirks so having to work it out by kms travelled.

Unfortunately the garage is shut tomorrow so can't take it in for someone to have a look at.

Will take her for full service and examination when we get back home.

Is a dodgy fuel gauge a common thing in Bongos? Mine has been reading empty for 4 days now and I know there is diesel in the tank!
Is it the clock that becomes faulty or the gauge in the tank??

maliboo wrote:Is a dodgy fuel gauge a common thing in Bongos? Mine has been reading empty for 4 days now and I know there is diesel in the tank!
Is it the clock that becomes faulty or the gauge in the tank??

It's probably the earth connection on the tank - there's loads about it on the forum, one of the threads here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... th#p330199

Regarding the starting problem, does your Bongo have twin starter batteries. If so it is probably one from North Japan and is fitted also with a cold start device. Owners have been known to inadvertently activate these (or else they just get stuck open) and the symptoms might then be a bit as you describe. Black smoke on startup is (I think but techies will correct me if I'm wrong) linked to uncombusted fuel.

My hunch is it's not serious and a (Bongo) mechanic will track it down without much trouble or - hopefully - cost. But get it seen to promptly as it'll wear the battery, starter motor etc. carrying on like that.

Have a search on here about cold start and winter packs as there's loads of chat about it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Mike

PS - lovely car to cruise in though aren't they

If it had the Winter pack valve problem, I think it would start ok but then wouldn't run well once you're trying to get anywhere. I'm sure someone'll be along to confirm this.

If it had the Winter pack valve problem, I think it would start ok but then wouldn't run well once you're trying to get anywhere.

Confirmed. When ours had the winter pack problem (jammed valve in the exhaust) it started OK, no spluttering or clouds of smoke, but it drank the fuel. I'm just guessing, but the problem does sound fuel related.

We have just had the 'cough and splutter' problem on the Land Cruiser, that had been stood for about a month without use, then used regularly for a week. It started to splutter because the fuel filter blocked, which can happen when diesel has been in the tank for a while without use. Your mechanic should be able to sort it once he's looked at it and heard it running, that's much easier than guessing. I hope you make it home without problems.

Another thing to try is to remove the diesel filler cap & listen for a big whoosh. If this happens then it suggests the vent on the filler cap or tank is blocked, so it will create a vacuum which will tend to suck the fuel away from the engine after it has been stood for a little while. If it then starts ok, then the next step is to replace the filler cap. I've had this happen before due to the previous owner fitting a non-standard filler cap.

Thanks for all this advice guys.

Yesterday it started every time without hiccup. I filled up with diesel and has been fine ever since.

Wonder if it was low fuel that caused the problem. Been talking to my B-i-L (who knows a bit about diesel boat engines) and he recommended that (with boats anyway) you should always view 1/4 tank as an empty tank to make sure there's plenty of fuel in the system.

The mention of the Land Cruiser standing unused for a while ticks some boxes. As I've mentioned before, we bought our Bongo from an old chap who only bought it himself in March. He planned many adventures but then ill-health struck and he was unable to use it. I believe since March he had driven it twice. We bought it 6 weeks ago so in between time it has been standing do very little.

I've now managed to sell my Saxo so the cash raised from that will pay for a serious service and thorough going-over when we get back home. Recommendations as to what I should get checked would be welcome.

I don't ask for much do I?

belly_bongo wrote:I've now managed to sell my Saxo so the cash raised from that will pay for a serious service and thorough going-over when we get back home. Recommendations as to what I should get checked would be welcome.

I don't ask for much do I?

I'd keep the dosh on deposit as much as possible for if/when trouble strikes. Defo worth fitting a low coolant alarm if it doesn't have one already. Also, have the serious checkup/service done by a suitable Bongo mechanic if poss. (though I can't think whose nearest for you in Lichfield - nearest I can think of is Ian Taylor in Market Drayton, but he's good by all accounts)

Had a similar problem a few years back, on investigation it was a small hole due to corrosion in the wavey metal fuel pipe to the injectors. went to Mazda to cost a replacement they quoted at least £55 +VAT as it would have to be imported from Japan. On the way home, popped into local Ford dealer and was charged £15 all in !!!! fitted later that day,never had "that" problem since.( several others though )

My 95 'N' reg 2.5 TD has the same engine as Ford Ranger.

belly_bongo wrote: Recommendations as to what I should get checked would be welcome.

I don't ask for much do I?

Hi there,

We are just over the way in Stafford, if you can afford to have a full coolant flush and bleed of the system done if it has not been done recently and fit a low coolant alarm etc. We had the head go on ours recently and I wished we had hoses and the rad replaced 'just in case' earlier i.e. spend £500 now to save £1500 on a new head later, so it's best to find a specialist and take their advice on system condition.

We used Ian Taylor to do ours, but he's in Market Drayton although you can drop the Bongo off at his home not far from Stone.

dobby wrote:

belly_bongo wrote: Recommendations as to what I should get checked would be welcome.

I don't ask for much do I?

Hi there,

We are just over the way in Stafford, if you can afford to have a full coolant flush and bleed of the system done if it has not been done recently and fit a low coolant alarm etc. We had the head go on ours recently and I wished we had hoses and the rad replaced 'just in case' earlier i.e. spend £500 now to save £1500 on a new head later, so it's best to find a specialist and take their advice on system condition.

We used Ian Taylor to do ours, but he's in Market Drayton although you can drop the Bongo off at his home not far from Stone.

excellent advice

mikeonb4c wrote:
excellent advice

Thanks Mike, the benefit of hindsight I guess.................