Bongo Fury

Evening everyone, I don't know if anyone can help but over the last couple of days I have had a few issues with my 1997 2.5 auto not wanting to start. The symptoms are as follows:
I drove down to Devon over the weekend and Bobby drove lovely on the M5 and then the A361, 60-65 all the way, everything hunky dory! Then whilst in Croyde, he decided he wasn't going to start. Initially I though I hadn't put him into 'P' but on checking he was. I turned the ignition key and the ignition lights were as they should be on the dash but there was nothing when I turned the key all the way. It was like the battery was flat but obviously it wasn't. I tried a few more times and then all of a sudden he started. I found this very odd as he hadn't done this before. I thought it was a one off and drove on to our next destination. Parked up, went to start him again and it happened again but eventually he started. I thought we were going to get stranded so we went back to our hotel and parked him up. Came out the next morning and he started first time. Went off, parked up and he started first time again. I drove home that day just in case. My thoughts were that it might it be something to do with the gear stick as when I moved it, he started.
I went out to him today and turned the key and low and behold he started first time. I did however take all the centre console off and checked the wiring under the gear stick. I can't really see anything electrically that would need checking. I kept starting him and he started first time every time. Went to the supermarket this afternoon, came back and he did it again. I wiggled the gear stick and he started!
Can anyone suggest anything I can check to try and prevent this from happening again? Has anyone else had this problem?
It's not giving me much confidence to take him out again in case he decides he won't start at all.
Hope someone can help!!!!!!!

I don't think this sounds serious, thankfuly.

Obviously there's a link from the gear selector to prevent starting in gear so I suspect it's just a little naughtiness in that department.

Hopefuly one of our experts will be along, meanwhile if it won't fire up in Park it's worth giving Neutral a go.

Foot on the brake to move selector.

Yes there is an Inhibitor switch on the AT models that is operated by the gear selector position which stops the starter being operated at all, A1-03 below;

and located here part 19-444 bottom right;


Another possibility is the starter motor contactors, but you normally here a clicking as the solenoid operates, but the starter motor doesn't turn.

Thank you for your replies. I didn't know about trying to start it in neutral so thank you Bob.

I did wonder about the solenoid and that was my first thoughts. It was only when I touched the gear stick that my thoughts changed. I didn't know if it was a bit of a red herring. There is no clicking when I try to start it. I was just trying to eliminate possible causes and wondered if the gear stick had anything to do with it.
It sounds like this could be the cause then.

....and its worth checking the battery terminal clamps are clamped tightly to the battery terminals. That one caught me out when I'd just bought my Bongo

Yep, definitely worth a check!!

I'm completely with Geoff here, but just for info the solenoid contacts can be DIY'd, parts off flea bay and You Tube instructions.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-BONGO-2 ... 2508657770

mikeonb4c wrote:....and its worth checking the battery terminal clamps are clamped tightly to the battery terminals. That one caught me out when I'd just bought my Bongo

Crikey Bill, you've got a good memory, that was years ago.

Thanks Bob, useful link.

46-300 on this drawing is the interlock cable, thats what your interested in, it stops it starting up whilst in gear, the plastic ends are known to crack or become detached at on end or the other, you could try a bit of lube also.

if you click on the numbers on the drawing then look in the left hand margin it will open up to give you part numbers and description etc.

http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... o=.html#10

Bob wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:....and its worth checking the battery terminal clamps are clamped tightly to the battery terminals. That one caught me out when I'd just bought my Bongo

Crikey Bill, you've got a good memory, that was years ago.

Selective Ben. If it's not a Bongo thing I'm unlikely to remember it. Probably why the wife left me

The symptoms are exactly what I had a year ago. That turned out to be the feed to the starter solenoid that had come loose and was making intermittent contact. When you turned the ignition on all the lights were there but there was no sound from the solenoid. Try a few times and then it might make sufficient contact to start. Naturally, I ordered a solenoid refurbishment kit and only found the problem when I went to fit it! It's worth a look, it only takes a couple of minutes. I just pushed it back on firmly and it's been fine ever since (I probably shouldn't have said that).

A few things to try then! Many thanks for everyone's help in this, guess what I'll be doing for the next couple of days!!!

Thanks again, this forum is definitely worth the membership alone!!

mikeonb4c wrote:....and its worth checking the battery terminal clamps are clamped tightly to the battery terminals. That one caught me out when I'd just bought my Bongo

... and me! Down to the contacts not being tight!

Sod's law. Been out in Bobby today and had to park up on at least 4 occasions. He started first time, every time. Typical!