Bongo Fury

Hi all,

I'm hoping you might be able to help with my bongo not starting. Basically all the lights come on on the dash, glow plug light goes out after a while but others stay on. Then when I turn the key everything dims but no starter motor. It basically feels like a low battery to me, but...

I borrowed a Halfords charger from a friend. It doesn't say what amps but I'm guessing it's not super-powerful. I put the battery on charge for two days in the hope that it would give at least enough charge to turn her over but it appears to have done nothing. Hence now I'm not sure if it's the battery or not.

Unfortunately I couldn't charge for longer as I have her booked in at the garage tomorrow lunchtime and I really needed to check I was going to be able to start her up.

The only other thing I can think of is when I first hit this issue - it was when I jumped in the cab and turned the engine over without waiting for the glow plug light to go out (used to driving petrol cars) it turned a couple of times and stopped. That couldn't have caused problems though could it?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

If the battery was completely discharged it may not be possible to recover it.

Worth trying a jump lead from the LB for a few seconds and see if that does it, otherwise the battrey can be tested by a garage or auto shop.

A rough location will help us to help you, someone local may take a look.

Edit: Wonder if its the main fuse?

Bob wrote:If the battery was completely discharged it may not be possible to recover it.

Worth trying a jump lead from the LB for a few seconds and see if that does it, otherwise the battrey can be tested by a garage or auto shop.

A rough location will help us to help you, someone local may take a look.

Edit: Wonder if its the main fuse?

Thanks for the help Bob.

Just to be clear... Do you mean turning the engine over with the LB connected in parallel? I heard that was bad for the LB and could buckle the plates, but willing to give it a try if you think that's unlikely.

I'm in Godalming, Surrey btw.

As for main fuse - it feels like current's being drawn when I turn the key - not sure it would do that if fuse was gone but my knowledge of mechanics and electrics is pretty limited so could easily be wrong.

Try not to use the LB to start directly, but what you can do is use the LB to charge the SB, by connecting the +ve terminals for 20-30 minutes (or longer), then disconnect the LB and try starting again.

g8dhe wrote:Try not to use the LB to start directly, but what you can do is use the LB to charge the SB, by connecting the +ve terminals for 20-30 minutes (or longer), then disconnect the LB and try starting again.

Ah! Got it! OK, I'll give it a go. I have to nip out for half an hour in a bit so will leave it charging then and see if it turns over when I get back.

Thanks again for the prompt response.

Agree with Geoff there.

I connected +ve to +ve between the two batteries and left it for about forty minutes. I didn't connect -ve to -ve cos I figure they both went to vehicle earth anyway - is that right?

End result - No change at all I'm afraid so looks like I'm stuck.

I could get to Halfords in the morning and buy a new battery, but it's a chunk of money and I'm not even sure the battery's the problem. It doesn't feel to me that the current battery's unrecoverable 'cos it's not completely flat - just not enough guts to turn the starter. It looks pretty new too.

I have a neighbour with a vw transporter that I can ask for a jump-start, but he's not around til tomorrow evening which will mean I'll have to cancel the garage booking. Typical.

Thanks for all the help though folks - was good to feel I had folk trying to help

I'd try and get your battery tested before you spend, and there are some good on line suppliers much cheaper than Halfords.

A search should reveal previous advice but Tayna and Europarts have been ok to me.

My two pence worth would be a knackered battery. If its a diesel a jump should get you to the garage. Leave the jump leads attached for a good few minutes after you start it to avoid potential damage to the alternator.
If you do decide on fitting a replacement yourself put it on charge for a couple of hours first before trying to start the van.

P.S. ask the garage to check for any parasitic drain whilst its with them.

Bongolia wrote:P.S. ask the garage to check for any parasitic drain whilst its with them.

Thanks all - I've finally managed to get her jump-started by borrowing extra jump-leads to jump from a car parked in next door's drive.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that now the gear lever won't move (she's an automatic). The button doesn't go all the way in, hence the lever won't move.

It seems destined that I won't make this garage booking.

Silly question, but did you have your foot on the brake pedal? You need to.

MalcW wrote:Silly question, but did you have your foot on the brake pedal? You need to.

Ah... I hate to admit this, but that was indeed the problem

She's now up and running again just in time to take her for her check-up, and I'm a happy man. Thanks to all that helped on this forum - much appreciated.

MalcW wrote:Silly question, but did you have your foot on the brake pedal? You need to.

Well done that man. Not a silly question at all!

Exactly, most of us have been caught out by the odd Bongo 'quirk'.

Better to ask here than spend time and money looking for something simple.