Bongo Fury

Whilst I'm driving, I loose all power - the engine, brakes steering and lights- but not the radio. The fault happens about every 10 minutes. My mechanic has checked all the earth wires. He can't trace the fault. Does anyone have any ideas?

What causes the power to come back ? Has it been going on long ? Has there been any work done on the vehicle ? Do you have a leisure Battery powering the radio ?

The fault started about a year ago, but went away for 6 months. It's been back for about 4 months so I've finally put it in to be looked at. They've even had the engine out and still can't find anything. The problem doesn't happen when stationary. If driving at more than 20m/hr, you coast for a couple of seconds, then everything restarts on its own. If you're going slow, it doesn't restart and you have to pull over and turn the ignition key. I'm guessing the mechanic has checked where the radio is powerd from as he asked if the radio carried on working. I've just called him to double check but he was busy (hopefully on my bongo).

What engine is it ? But do you have a L/B ?

2L, yes to the lb.

Right that makes more sense now, I think I would check the earth connection to the S/B and to the chassis as first thing, despite what the garage say they have checked!

Also worth checking the large fuses on the +ve terminal, remove them (undo the bolts first) and clean the blades.

Thanks for the suggestions, the earths were the first thing he checked. I've passed on what you said. He seems to have been round it with a fine toothed comb, checking and cleaning all the connections he can think of/find. There was an immobiliser fitter when it was imported. He's trying that.

Ah that could easily be the cause, especially for ones installed outside Europe, its not an impossibility that radio interference could be causing the receiver to behave badly (but not that likely), do you have a remote for the doors ?

Yes, there's a button on the fob to unlock the doors.

I would put the immobiliser high on the list of things to check in that case, might be worth trying the Fob when parked up with the engine running - have you ever had the alarm (if fitted) go off ? You might find its just an immobiliser without an alarm.

Hi,had the same problem with a vehicle a wee while back,it was a hidden battery isolator that had gone faulty.
Looks like in your case it could be the immobiliser,Geoff,should that affect the lights.

A straight immobiliser in Europe wouldn't but I can't say for other areas, they might switch a lot more items....

Hi guys, just been reading this thread.

I'm thinking if the immobilizer affected the fuel cut off solenoid instead of the starter motor then the engine would cut out??

Could the CL/immobilizer alarm be fitted to the LB in this case to disrupt power from the starter battery & a dodgy connection somewhere when disarmed cause the disruption??

A straight forward immobilizer installation should not affect the lights...

mr brightside wrote:Whilst I'm driving, I loose all power - the engine, brakes steering and lights- but not the radio. The fault happens about every 10 minutes. My mechanic has checked all the earth wires. He can't trace the fault. Does anyone have any ideas?

Turbo timer cutting in & switching off....??

I'd be inclined to check out the immobilizer installation from the ignition loom...??? Maybe. Just to add the alarm could be in some sort of "passive" arm mode & a dodgy connection from the ignition could trick it into thinking you have stopped the engine???

Hi Geoff,Aye,it would be worthwhile activating the immobiliser with the lights switched on to see happens,if they stay on it will probably be another fault.