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Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:40 am
by klmx
I hope someone gave give advice about our issue.

We were driving along on Saturday when the the speedometer stopped working, the ABS and hold lights came on and all other electrics failed. We pulled over and turned the engine off but couldn't start it. After a quick read on here we got some jump leads from the local garage, started the Bongo up again and all was fine. Since then its started up fine on the drive with no probs but we haven't taken it out anywhere. We read that it could be the alternator but would that make sense with an intermittent fault? We're taking it in to be looked at but are not sure whether to go to a BONGO specialist or just to an auto electrics place?

Many thanks for any advice given!!

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 8:22 am
by Bob
I'd check battery connections first, then earth lead connects to the body work.

An auto sparks should be fine, nothing peculiar about Bongo electrics.

Good luck.

I'm guessing its diesel as the engine didn't stop with the electrical failure?

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:37 am
by klmx
HI, thanks for the advice. Its a 2.5 V6 petrol engine. About to call an auto elec now. Thanks

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:40 am
by g8dhe
The reference to total electrical failure is rather misleading! You still had power as some lights were still on. It sounds more like a brief intermittent event happened which has caused circuits to lock up. Yes the first place to check is the battery connections.

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:43 am
by mikeonb4c
Bob wrote: nothing peculiar about Bongo electrics.
Until we start tinkering with them and making custom mods! #-o :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 11:36 am
by Ian
Another thing to check is that the main 100 amp engine fuse has not become loose. This happened to me once on the A1; power shutdown at 60 mph!

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 12:47 pm
by Bob
g8dhe wrote:The reference to total electrical failure is rather misleading! You still had power as some lights were still on. It sounds more like a brief intermittent event happened which has caused circuits to lock up. Yes the first place to check is the battery connections.

And power to the ignition, that's why I assumed diesel. 8)

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:21 pm
by klmx
To a mere novice it felt like a total electrical failure - not sure what the correct term would be?

I'm hoping you're right about loose connections etc - thinking about it we had gone over a lot of speed bumps before it happened?!

Phoned the auto elec place and they said without the fault being present they couldn't test it. Going to a Bongo specialist Thurs.

Thanks

Re: Electrical Issue- complete electrical failiure

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 7:39 pm
by Bob
Sadly intermitent faults are a right pig to sort out, worth suggesting the 100 amp fuse to the garage if you haven't checked it already.

Good luck.