Poor Starting

[Nibs]

Hi guys and galls, need your help! Key in ignition turn to first position and wait for warm up light to go out ( used to hear a click, but not always now ) turn the key and nothing, this can happen a few times and then the old girl will fire up. She has never totally failed to start as yet, but its only going to get worse and I dont want to get to the point where I can't trust her, any suggestions please.
Cheers Nibs

[missfixit70]

If you're not hearing the click every timeit sounds like it could be the glow plug relay playin up (behind the starter battery bolted onto the wing under a plastic cover), check all the connections are tight for a start, check to see if it's getting 12v to the glow plug rail every time.
Could also be the glow plugs on their way?

[westonwarrior]

Do you mean its not turning over?

in which case its the contacts on the starter motor easy fix and under £25 diy

if it turns over then ignor this post:-)

[Nibs]

Thanks Kirsty will have a look at that tomorrow. And thanks Rob will check that as well.
Cheers Nibs

[Nibs]

Checked glow plug relay and getting 12v to rail so it looks like time to replace the glow plugs. ( what a nightmare if you dont know the size) Have managed to find out the date the vehicle was made, but the vin sgl3106882 does not show up when trying to order the correct plugs, anyone help on this or do we have to remove a plug and measure it? My brother found a great site for checking the manufactures date of our Bongo's j1trading.jp/pages/mfr-datecheck.html.
Cheers Nibs

[Doone]

turn the key and nothing, this can happen a few times and then the old girl will fire up.

Is the engine turning over? Our engine was not turning over and it was due to a faulty starter. The 'warm up' light would go out, we'd turn the key fully and it either started right away or nothing happened. If it didn't start, we'd flick the key 2 or 3 more times and it would start.
When our glowplugs were faulty the engine would turn over but it was a rough or spluttery start - a bit of misfire (and some white smoke), then within about 10-20 seconds it would clear and run smoothly.

[francophile1947]

it looks like time to replace the glow plugs. ( what a nightmare if you dont know the size)

Club shop sells them. You can fit the 83mm ones instead of the 102mm (just in case yours has the less common 102mm) with a slight modification to injector pipes or spacers on the glowplugs.

[Nibs]

No misfire when she starts, runs perfect, just sometimes nothing when turn the key. Think I will replace the glowplugs as these have never been touched in five years of ownership, but we will take one out and measue it when I get back from the top of Scotland next weekend. (not using Bongo for this fishing trip staying in B+B in Altnaharra) May have to check out the starter motor then?
Cheers Nibs

[mikeonb4c]

No misfire when she starts, runs perfect, just sometimes nothing when turn the key. Think I will replace the glowplugs as these have never been touched in five years of ownership, but we will take one out and measue it when I get back from the top of Scotland next weekend. (not using Bongo for this fishing trip staying in B+B in Altnaharra) May have to check out the starter motor then?
Cheers Nibs

This is beginning to sound like a starter motor problem if you're saying the engine doesn't turn over when you turn the key. If you are then there is advice on a cheap way to fix the starter motor provided yours is not the heavy duty type fitted originally to twin battery battery Bongos ( I think there may be a factsheet in the members area but otherwise have a search for info on repairing starter motors)

[missfixit70]

That's your starter motor on it's way then if it's occasionally not turning over easy enough to do yourself, get the contacts & plunger from these guys

Starter solenoid plunger and contacts *230221/13256 £16.45 inc postage. Auto electrical Supplies Southampton. 023 80211988 . Don't know what they are from, but at that price who cares Shakey

How to video here - http://bongooogle.ning.com/video/video/ ... deo%3A2763
Get it done asap, cos one day it just won't, I nearly got stuck in France at a fuel station

[Nibs]

Yep, checked the starter motor today and sure enough the brushes are all but shot, will be ordering from auto electrical supplies Southampton on Tuesday, Thanks for advice you lot are brill
Cheers Nibs