Wet starting V6

[DrVic]

My 2002 V6 bongo has intermittent starting problems - only on wet days! Usually 'cures' itself after an hour. Battery is fine and I can smell the fuel getting through. RAC tried everything and finally the engine started after the distributor cap was removed and sprayed with WD-40. Presumably water is getting in throiugh the cap. Do I need a new distributor &/or cap? Help please.

[vinimorg]

do you see the problem on cold days or only wet days?

if cold days then make sure your engine oil is flushed and clean good oil in there, oil is hydroscopic and can absorb moisture letting it out when hot and condesing on the dizzy cap as the engine cools. This is usually seen with a small amount of emulsified oil on the oil filler cap but not enought to ruin the oil or show head problems.

if its only wet days check all bonnet seals and flush pipes to make sure they arnt blocked and letting the run off get to your dizzy cap, its amaizing what those bonnet seal actually do to direct water away from areas of the engine. Leaves have a nasty effect as well.


A bongo for work gives twice the pleasure

[g8dhe]

There is an gasket for sealing at the front 24-328
http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... mgno=.html
you might be lucky and find its just that ?

[Simon Jones]

if its only wet days check all bonnet seals and flush pipes to make sure they arnt blocked and letting the run off get to your dizzy cap, its amaizing what those bonnet seal actually do to direct water away from areas of the engine. Leaves have a nasty effect as well.


A bongo for work gives twice the pleasure

Do you actually know where the distributor is on a V6 Bongo? It's certainly not under the bonnet....

[windywatson]

Hi,

I have 2 V6 Bongos, both have gone through starting problems similar to yours. You will propably find the Van is still on its original HT leads and they may be breaking down badly when damp or just thier because of age. The HT leads are fitted very close to the rocker covers & held in a number of places by clips that nip the HT leads very tightly. So it is possible to get HT leakage without seeing the usual sparks jumping from leads to adjacent metalwork.
If as I suspect the leads are original their going to be 11 years old.
Do as I did with both and invest in all new HT gear throughout, leads, rotor & cap and you will be pleasently suprised how mutch differance this can make. Ho! and you can check that the O'ring disy cap seal is there whilst your at it.
If it turns out to be something else you will have at least future proofed yourself with respect to the enevatable breakdown of the leads, which will occur at some time.
Also if you can afford it, buy the pucker Mazda ones. I bought origonal for first van & generic for second one, should have gone for mazda second time as generic just didn't meet the quality of original manufacturers.

Cheers

[mikeWalsall]

Are your under body guards still in place .. if not .. being mid engined the dizzy / leads maybe vulnerable to road spray ..

[New Forest Terrier]

I had identical problems on my V6, not starting in rainy weather. Perfect in dry weather or after the first start of the day. In my case the carbon finger in top of the dizzy cap was almost completely worn away. A replacement cap cured the problem completely and no more trouble since.