Bongo Fury

Hi guys need some help my diesel bongo aint starting too well,
Heres the Prob.
Turn the key to get all the usual dashboard lights on and the glow plug light go's out, then when i turn for ignition i get a faint click sound then nothing
The only thing that seems to help is is a good old wiggle of the gear leaver(automatic by the way) and a few stamps on the breaks then she fires (sometimes)
please help me, i'm a my wits end, as when i took it to the local garage it stared every time

mat and mel bongo @dudley

Replace starter contacts etc

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BONGO-FREDA-2-5-T ... 43a7dd646f

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=50322

Follow this thread, and there's a you tube video at the end.

Yep the above info is correct I have done this job myself and its not difficult.

I don't see how the shifter and brake "wiggle" would cause the starter motor to kick in.

It sounds more like one of the pick up points on the shifter has been disturbed (are they cable operated?) You'll notice the engine won't start unless the auto shifter is in park (and/or "N"?) It sounds to me as if the locator has come adrift so that when the shifter is in park it's interpreted as being in "D" OR "R" etc, etc...

wow cant believe how quick you guys are just been off to eat me diner and came back to 4 answers .
"i'm so very grateful to you all "
The mechanic at the garage said he had checked the cables and pick up points and they were ok which went over my head as im not very mechanically minded so for 13.40 off ebay the repair kit sounds a cheep punt

What did you have for your tea? Would you keep us posted on the outcome please to aid others if they do a search in the future and this thread pops up? Many thanks!

bigdaddycain wrote:I don't see how the shifter and brake "wiggle" would cause the starter motor to kick in.

It sounds more like one of the pick up points on the shifter has been disturbed (are they cable operated?) You'll notice the engine won't start unless the auto shifter is in park (and/or "N"?) It sounds to me as if the locator has come adrift so that when the shifter is in park it's interpreted as being in "D" OR "R" etc, etc...

my take on that is the stamping on the brake etc just rocked the car enough to get a spark in the starter or the constant turning of the key can get it to kick in
an old trick was to hit the starter with the key turned

the other stuff I think is coincidence

Maybe... The shifter and brake pedal seem a fair distance from the starter motor though...

I have had a similar problem "off and on" for some time now. I would start ( in P or N ) ,but now, seems to want "occasionaly" to need foot brake pressed. I WD40ed the electrical stuff under the autoshift and brake peddle area and was OK for a while. Now it's happening again.
INTERMITANT faults I HATE them.
Any moresuggestions?????

This has come up before where people think it's a gearbox/interlock type issue & it's turned out to be the starter motor contacts on their way out. The action of wiggling the gears/stamping on brakes is possibly equivalent to a tap with a hammer on the starter (which can work on a dodgy bongo starter, despite what people say ).
There is a video on youtube showing how to replace the contacts, which can be got for @£20 if it's a standard starter (don't think anyones come up with a recon option for the twin battery cold climate heavier duty starter, although a standard starter can replace it quite happily) I think there may be a factsheet too, certainly plenty of info on the forum if you do a search too. Relatively quick & easy job to do aswell.

Good advice thanks, the contact web site looks good, plenty of info'.
Which side is the starter, drivers or near side, so I can see which starter I've got?

Drivers side.

If you have a double battery setup with a button by your right knee with an engine symbol on it chances are you can't do the contacts

Single battery (plus a leasure), should be able to do it my self, even at my age and with arthritis!
What I do have is time.
Thanks for your help, my membership renewal due soon, worth every penny!