Bongo Fury

Yes I know I should have bought a manual by now but could someone tell me what the button with the engine on it is for? I really want to push it to try and find out what it does but that is not a very sensible approach,

I have still to organise the refurb. of my steering column in Bristol but I will get round to it when i find a garage that can keep the Bongo while it is repaired. I also need to have it rustproofed and further investigate some of my noise at above 30mph.

Someone mentioned an electrician in Arlesford did they also do mechanics? I have used the search facility but it is rather eccentric....

That's the switch for the hybrid Californian spec model's electric motor stuart

Stuart,
Ignore him he's taking the ****. Where is this button. can you get a picture of it on the forum? I have never heard (or seen ) of such a thing.
(not that that is anything to go by.)

It's to control a flap on the exhaust that helps to deflect warm exhaust gas somewhere(!) to help the engine warm up quicker. Haven't got one myself, but have seen reference to it on the forum. Try a search for "pre-heat" & you will find the answer.

agreed its to help warm the engine up, (I think its part of the "Winter Pack", along with dual batteries, or do many Bongos have it?) but I'm not sure how it actually does it has ever been confirmed.

An alternative theory seen on the forum is that its an oil-sump heater element, which to me sounds a better idea, in that sump heaters are a simple and well known way of heating diesels up in winter on large trucks / tanks and such.

Also, the exhaust flap would need a motor to move it, as the switch itself is just an electric on/off.

I'd like to think Mazda went with the sump heater, but that might just be wishful thinking?

I always thought it had something to do with the Glo-Plugs?

Oh well.

I have dual batteries/winter pack......never needed the switch though!

Yes that is it in the picture! Thanks a lot, now I can go ahead and push it tomorrow...

So I use it on cold days to help warm the engine up? Does it have timer liek a heated window or do I run it for a few minutes until the temperature indicator comes up?

not sure - do let us know though

I accidently switched it on and NO it didn't switch itself off...........

As with all vehicle at start-up time, more fuel is used.

I would steer clear of using it if the vehicle is starting normally!

Well, it was a cool morning and I pushed the button.......................and I noticed no change whatsoever! I think I'll save it for a Baltic morning.

Waste of time and fuel, like EGR. I dumped mine when I fitted a new exhaust.

UNless you are camping at minus 10(highly likely) and keep the engine running to give heat. It doesnt do anything of value.

I have exactly the same switch on my mitsibushi canter 7.5t pickup.
Its a 05 plate.
Havent pressed it yet, but if you do a search ont net for the canter controls, it might help.

the bloke I bought my bongo from told me its a diesel heater switch ,to thaw the diesel on really cold mornings ....beats building a bonfire under the diesel tank , I suppose

Unlikely to use it over here. However if a diesel engine is idling under very cold conditions the engine temp drops. When the switch is made it closes down on a valve in the exhaust thereby bringing the engine temperature back up. Its not a sump heater as mentioned which is a shame really .

I translated this moment from the japanese instruction
This is what there said:
System of heating.
This system decrease warming up time in the cold time
1) To start the engine
2) To press the switch, the lamp of indication on the button will light up, the system work
3) To press other side of the switch for switching-off system

Note: By pressing a pedal of gas the system is disconnected. With the release of the pedal of gas the system will be work again. The system of warming up is disconnected, when the temperature of antifreeze becomes above nominal and will be work again when temperature of antifreeze decrease


this theme on russian http://www.mikrob.ru/viewtopic.php?p=73872#73872
This system governs shutter in the exhaust