starting trouble and exhaust fumes!!!

aid175 · Post by **aid175** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:35 pm

hi guys...
i've been having trouble starting my bongo in the mornings and when the van has been sat around allday....it takes 3-4 attempts of constant turning over to start and then when it does i get a dark grey bellow of smoke and fumes from the exhaust...can someone suggest a cause of this and maybe a solution! thanks

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:39 pm

Hi Aid, it sounds as if one or more of the glowplugs are on their way out, its a common bongo thing, in fact, its a common diesel vehicle trait.....

The smoke is down to all the unburnt fuel that has flooded the combustion chambers as you have been cranking the bongo over & over to try to start it

Nothing to worry about

aid175 · Post by **aid175** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:07 pm

cool! thanks for that,i thought engine was on the way out...had nothing but problems since i bought it a year ago!

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:12 pm

As a word of warning, some bongo's have different sized glowplugs fitted, if you are getting them replaced at a garage, see if they can temporarily remove one to check the size/ref no,re-fit it till a complete new set arrives... Glowplugs are available via the club shop.

waycar8 · Post by **waycar8** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:15 pm

just a thought, has anyone figured out why there is 2 different types of glow plug sizes?

i wonderif its the winterpack type bongo that has a certain sized glow plug maybe?, has anyone ever checked or noted

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:25 pm

There was simply a shortage of the 86mm? glowplugs in japan at the time wayne, so a substitute was temporarily used, with a suitably spaced glowplug rail ...

There are chassis numbers with the relevent sized plugs configurations in the members area...

waycar8 · Post by **waycar8** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:09 pm

ah right, havent read most of the fact sheets, will have to get around to reading them sometime

aid175 · Post by **aid175** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:41 pm

is it possible to change the plugs yourself? only was thinking of getting the workshop manual from the bongo shop

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:51 pm

Yep, most do change their own...it's not a big job. My bongo was in for a cambelt change at the garage anyway,so it seemed to make sense to have the plugs replaced whilst there...