Page 1 of 2
Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:04 pm
by warriorsteve
Hi everybody, first post and looking for some help please.
I stupidly left my interior lights on and my battery has drained almost flat. Ignition lights all fine but not enough power to start the engine.
Now then, I'm certainly not technical minded but I do know how to jump start a vehicle. Or thought I did until today!
Using 25mm booster cables from my 1.8 Mazda saloon to my 2.5 diesel bongo.
Nothing doing even after 20 minutes. Still scratching my head, what have I missed?
Thanks in anticipation guys. Steve
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:11 pm
by scanner
What are you connecting & to where?
I.E. If your Bongo has 2 batteries, which one are you connecting to?
Is the other car a petrol? If so battery might not be up to starting a bigger diesel?
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:15 pm
by Bob
Can you put a charger on it overnight?
Have a Google around for correct jumping technique, nothing complicated but can save stuffing the electronics on one or other car.
Possibly if Bongy's battery is completely flat it could be dead, possibly take it to auto sparks or garage to get it tested?
Good luck, and welcome aboard.
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:17 am
by winchman
Are you sure its flat?
Could be a starter motor circuit issue
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 11:32 am
by briwy
I assume you have got the engine running on the car??
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:18 pm
by mikeonb4c
Weird, was sure I posted but it's not showing. I had this problem and faulty old jump leads proved to be the problem, even though they looked fine. A new set of heavy duty ones and all was ok.
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 4:50 pm
by dunslair
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 6:31 pm
by Bob
If you took a really long time doing the rad the battery might go flat.

Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:58 pm
by cmm303
I left lights on and killed the LB. With Fuse 1 (?, from memory) off LB, I think this upset the ECU. Ended up recharging both LB and SB (to be sure) separately before it started and ran without warnings flashing.
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:33 pm
by mikeonb4c
Doh! I blame the smartphone

Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:29 pm
by Bob
warriorsteve wrote:Hi everybody, first post and looking for some help please.
I stupidly left my interior lights on and my battery has drained almost flat. Ignition lights all fine but not enough power to start the engine.
Now then, I'm certainly not technical minded but I do know how to jump start a vehicle. Or thought I did until today!
Using 25mm booster cables from my 1.8 Mazda saloon to my 2.5 diesel bongo.
Nothing doing even after 20 minutes. Still scratching my head, what have I missed?
Thanks in anticipation guys. Steve
I've got to do it.
Possibly the cables are too short.
You'll get used to us on here.

Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:35 pm
by ELZE
mikeonb4c wrote:Weird, was sure I posted but it's not showing. I had this problem and faulty old jump leads proved to be the problem, even though they looked fine. A new set of heavy duty ones and all was ok.
You're not alone...I posted two previous messages this week and when I looked they were not there also???
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:36 pm
by Simon Jones
If the battery is past it's prime and been allowed to get heavily discharged, the plates can distort which short out the cells so not only will it not hold a full charge, it will drag the voltage down on anything else that is connected to it.
Hopefully by now, there will have been time to have charged it up by conventional means.
Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 8:57 pm
by warriorsteve
Guys thanks for all your help.
In the end I have charged the battery as per normal, refitted it and away first time.
I can only presume my car didn't have enough 'ummph' to start the Bongo.
First lesson learnt!

Re: Jump starting a Bongo
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 9:06 pm
by Bob
Good result, thanks for updating us.
