Glow plugs etc.
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Glow plugs etc.
I've got rough starting at the moment in the cold weather. It sounds like it only starts on 3 cylinders (at most) and the other has to catch up. It gives a nice cloud of smoke out. A couple of seconds with a few extra revs and it clears, then runs perfectly.
I figure that it is probably the glow plugs. I have a mid kitchen so access is limited without removing the drivers chair. However I tilted it back and got it high enough for a quick look under. I found the glow plugs across the top of the side of the engine. However near here there are 4 plugs but the left hand two are not plugged in. What are these plugs for?
How much needs removing to access the 2 plugs towards the rear of the engine?
I figure that it is probably the glow plugs. I have a mid kitchen so access is limited without removing the drivers chair. However I tilted it back and got it high enough for a quick look under. I found the glow plugs across the top of the side of the engine. However near here there are 4 plugs but the left hand two are not plugged in. What are these plugs for?
How much needs removing to access the 2 plugs towards the rear of the engine?
Re: Glow plugs etc.
From a little reading, I take it, that the plugs go to the cold start solenoid?
I plugged them back in and it has started much better tonight but I need to leave it until morning to really find out.
Only question remaining is why would someone have unplugged it?!
I plugged them back in and it has started much better tonight but I need to leave it until morning to really find out.
Only question remaining is why would someone have unplugged it?!
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Glad you seem to be on the right track, but as for why people do things...
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Couldn't quite make out what it was from the image but as I understand it the cold start was a northern (very cold region) Bongo device that fed the warm raw exhaust back into the induction to aid combustion and warm up when first started, I don't know for how long or how it was switched out but unlikely to be of use in anything other than extreme cold conditions. So maybe it was deemed better to disconnect it from the system.sotal wrote:From a little reading, I take it, that the plugs go to the cold start solenoid?
I plugged them back in and it has started much better tonight but I need to leave it until morning to really find out.
Only question remaining is why would someone have unplugged it?!
Having said that I would assume there were sensors in place to ensure it were not triggered if not at those extreme temperatures. Hope that gives you something to search on.
Its things like this that I find fascinating about Bongos. Clever little vans.
Re: Glow plugs etc.
I'm not 100% sure that is what they are. As far as I was aware it isn't a cold region bongo. It didn't have the other bits associated.
It has 4 of these black things. They each have an electrical connector and a vacuum pipe connected. You can see the black and the white connector on the right of the image. These were both connected but the two rear ones weren't connected electrically. The vacuum pipes were connected.
They sit in front of the two glow plugs at the rear of the engine.
It has 4 of these black things. They each have an electrical connector and a vacuum pipe connected. You can see the black and the white connector on the right of the image. These were both connected but the two rear ones weren't connected electrically. The vacuum pipes were connected.
They sit in front of the two glow plugs at the rear of the engine.
- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Glow plugs etc.
the 2 rear ones that are disconnected are for the egr so yours must be blanked off or not working. to get at the plugs just remove the 2 10 or12 mm bolts that mount the plate to the inlet manifold and disconnect the vac pipes carefully as they are very very brittle, then lower the solenoids out of the way a deep socket is required for the plugs, be careful as these can snap while removing.
top tip.
lubricate with anti seize when putting the new plugs in and torque both the plugs and the screw tops to the man torque settings. make sure the connecting insulated bar does not touch or rub anything when refitting or it may short out the plugs.
when removing the vac pipes, mark them so they go back together in the right place.
top tip.
lubricate with anti seize when putting the new plugs in and torque both the plugs and the screw tops to the man torque settings. make sure the connecting insulated bar does not touch or rub anything when refitting or it may short out the plugs.
when removing the vac pipes, mark them so they go back together in the right place.
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Should I leave the rear 2 plugs disconnected then?
Are the front two the cold start ones then? I take it they are fitted to all bongos?
I'll try and take the drivers seat out and have a proper look.
Thanks
Are the front two the cold start ones then? I take it they are fitted to all bongos?
I'll try and take the drivers seat out and have a proper look.
Thanks
- Northern Bongolow
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Re: Glow plugs etc.
it depends whether you want the egr to work or not, short answer is egr are not a good idea on most engines as all they do is put used exhaust gasses back into the inlet manifold to re burn it again to clean it up more, but this puts crap into the inlet manifold and engine and into your oil. it does lower the temps in your engine though as a cleaner better air supply gives a better burn in the engine but creates more heat, its your choice really. the egr valve has a position sensor on it, so a faulty one can give a fault light to the ecu, if its not giving grief or a fault light it maybe best left alone.
the 2 front ones are fitted to all that model diesel bongos, cannot remember if the later facelift are pipped up the same,
of the 2 front ones the one to the left operates when the coolant is below app 10 degc then turns off at 10 degc, the white plug operates from just above 10 deg c to about 50 deg c then turns off. the white one also lifts the throttle when the aircon is switched on if the aircon works.
the 2 front ones are fitted to all that model diesel bongos, cannot remember if the later facelift are pipped up the same,
of the 2 front ones the one to the left operates when the coolant is below app 10 degc then turns off at 10 degc, the white plug operates from just above 10 deg c to about 50 deg c then turns off. the white one also lifts the throttle when the aircon is switched on if the aircon works.
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Northern Bongolow wrote:it depends whether you want the egr to work or not, short answer is egr are not a good idea on most engines as all they do is put used exhaust gasses back into the inlet manifold to re burn it again to clean it up more, but this puts crap into the inlet manifold and engine and into your oil. it does lower the temps in your engine though as a cleaner better air supply gives a better burn in the engine but creates more heat, its your choice really. the egr valve has a position sensor on it, so a faulty one can give a fault light to the ecu, if its not giving grief or a fault light it maybe best left alone.
the 2 front ones are fitted to all that model diesel bongos, cannot remember if the later facelift are pipped up the same,
of the 2 front ones the one to the left operates when the coolant is below app 10 degc then turns off at 10 degc, the white plug operates from just above 10 deg c to about 50 deg c then turns off. the white one also lifts the throttle when the aircon is switched on if the aircon works.
Very sorry for being old fashioned, I think most people would prefer the CRAP to stay where it should be rather in peoples LUNGS.
Its an easy job to remove the CRAP from the manifold but a bit more difficult from your LUNGS.
Ok who disagrees .....
Good Luck.
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Thanks, I plugged them back in yesterday and didn't get a warning. Seemed to run the same but it was only a short journey.
Will try starting it this morning whilst cold.
It has working aircon, and the revs seem fine with that engaged. They don't drop too low etc.
It is just the actual starting that gives rough running and smoke. It is fine during warmer weather but bad in cooler weather. Personally I think it is worse this year than last. A few seconds of throttle seems to clear it.
It is a 1999 facelift aft.
Will try starting it this morning whilst cold.
It has working aircon, and the revs seem fine with that engaged. They don't drop too low etc.
It is just the actual starting that gives rough running and smoke. It is fine during warmer weather but bad in cooler weather. Personally I think it is worse this year than last. A few seconds of throttle seems to clear it.
It is a 1999 facelift aft.
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Depends on the size of the particulate.
Yours
Fence sitting of London.
Yours
Fence sitting of London.
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Bongolia wrote:Depends on the size of the particulate.
Yours
Fence sitting of London.
Yep, but who wants to find out?.Diesel fumes may contain over 10 times the amount of soot particles than in petrol exhaust fumes, and the mixture includes several carcinogenic substances, meaning they have the potential to cause cancer.
The point is , if you intend or have removed the EGR capabilities , think of "Other" People first. Our children's future is in Our hands.
Good Luck.
- mikeonb4c
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Re: Glow plugs etc.
I decided not to tinker with my egr. Bongo runs fine and given what we're now learning it sounds like the egr is best left as per design?
Re: Glow plugs etc.
Ahh but yeah but no but EGR on Diesels increases particulate output.