2.5TD 1995 - intermittent starting problem

[walty666]

I can leave my Bongo on the drive for weeks on end without running it and it'll start first time. I took it for a long weekend camping to Cornwall last weekend and it started everyday without fail. On the way home after driving all the way from Padstow to Exeter services, I stop for 5 mins and the thing won't start (luckily parked up next to a lorry driver with a portable jump starter). Get home and leave it for a week - starts fine. Drive to local Wickes last night, struggles to start (although it did eventually).
When it struggles to start it sounds like a flat battery, it tries to turn over but not with enough umpf to get it going. I can often try five to ten times, and then all of a sudden it'll fire up and run fine.
Is this likely to be a duff battery or a starter on the way out? I have recently replaced the battery.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Starter Contacts, or earth are the likely suspects...also clean the battery terminals. The starter rarely fails, and you can get the contacts on e-bay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-BONGO-F ... 3a814b66a1
For the money, it's worth having in your spares box
Cheers
Helen

[Northern Bongolow]

as helen says check the earths.
neg battery to the inner wing and the little one that goes from the engine to the chassis rail. they can both give grief.