Ignition / exhaust mystery

[HiddenMission]

Early August, we took the Bongo (2.5 diesel) to Spain via ferry - long trip from Portsmouth to Bilbao (36 hours). On the day of departure, I discovered the exhaust was rattling, so had some emergency welding done to middle and rear sections. Drove 80 odd miles to Portsmouth, and then a similar distance when we arrived in Spain, stopping at a place we were renting near the coast. All was good with the vehicle.

On the first morning of our stay, the engine wouldn't start. Turned over, but wouldn't catch. I tried on and off for about 10 minutes, until it finally caught, idly feebly and then finally started running properly. It heaved out a big cloud of black gas when it got started. For the rest of the day it started fine. For the next five mornings, exactly the same routine, although less smoke. Somewhat cautiously, we drove around in it every day, and it was fine, except for the difficulties starting every morning.

Back in England, after the 30 hour return trip, same problem starting it to get off ferry. Then spent a week in Wales going up and down very steep hills. The problem became intermittent - happened approximately 50% of the time.

Back home last week, no problem at all. Mechanic has just looked at it, and can't find anything wrong.

Any ideas

For the record, the temperature in Spain was about 18-20 degrees, very mild - similar conditions to back home. Ditto Wales. It wasn't parked anywhere unusual, except up very tight to a bush which had lots of bee activity.

Apart from these events, I don't think I have ever had the slightest problem starting it.

Anyone had similar experiences?

[missfixit70]

Don't think it's anything to do with the exhaust repair, it's possibly glow plugs or glow plug relay? After the first start of the day from cold, is it then ok on starting? Are you hearing the relay click on & then off after about 10 seconds as the glow plug light comes on? check there's 12v getting to the glow plug rail when it should be.

[aitch]

sounds like a glow plug problem to me too - have them checked or replace all 4 should cure the problem mine are starting to play up - loads of smoke on start up soon goes then runs fine all day.
good luck with it.

[stilldesperate]

It wasn't parked anywhere unusual, except up very tight to a bush which had lots of bee activity.

Could you smell honey?

SD

---- Sorry, I'd go for the glow plugs too....

[munroman]

Sound like glow plugs, the only thing else I can think of might possibly be bad fuel, did you fill up in Spain?

Possibly improved in Wales because it was diluted, then cleared when it was flushed out of the system when more UK diesel was added?

Maybe it was homesick?

Adios!

[missfixit70]

It wasn't parked anywhere unusual, except up very tight to a bush which had lots of bee activity.

Could you smell honey?

SD

---- Sorry, I'd go for the glow plugs too....

I had to read through it 3 times before I could even see that bit Not sure what that says about my brain Must just bee tired.

[dandywarhol]

At least you weren't stung at Customs..............................

[HiddenMission]

Glow plugs were checked today and are apparently fine. Bad fuel would explain it - in terms of the dminishing frequency.

And yes, relays clicked, and it was only a problem on the initial start of the day, fine after that.

[bigdaddycain]

I think it's a little TOO coincidental that you had to have emergency repairs carried out on the exhaust, then the very next cold start caused problems... Could the baffles inside the exhaust have been damaged/collapsed whilst the repairs were being done? This would be like partially wedging a potato up your exhaust! I'd have thought that the overall running of the bongo would be compromised by this too though. I recall (on a different vehicle) one of the silencers being blocked due to a collapse of the baffle inside the said silencer, that too was a pain to start whilst cold (not glowplugs though, car was a petrol) A new exhaust sorted it!

[missfixit70]

I'd have thought with a blockage in the exhaust the start would have been ok (as per winterpack starting), but wouldn't run right?

[munroman]

I think it's a little TOO coincidental that you had to have emergency repairs carried out on the exhaust, then the very next cold start caused problems... Could the baffles inside the exhaust have been damaged/collapsed whilst the repairs were being done? This would be like partially wedging a potato up your exhaust! I'd have thought that the overall running of the bongo would be compromised by this too though. I recall (on a different vehicle) one of the silencers being blocked due to a collapse of the baffle inside the said silencer, that too was a pain to start whilst cold (not glowplugs though, car was a petrol) A new exhaust sorted it!

Would the next cold start not have been on the ferry when it arrived in Spain, which seemed not to be a problem, the problem started the next morning, so the 2nd cold start?

Had a friend who had a Corsa, I got a distressed call from her that the car wouldn't go above 20mph, on the motorway .

Went to meet her, and the car was grossly overloaded,which I thought was the problem, we ended up swapping cars, and I had the most horrendous 20 minutes of my life getting the car along the motorway to the next exit.
Limped it home, and next morning had a look at it. I had serviced it the previous week and knew the filters, etc. were new It would start fine and idle, but it was astonishingly quiet, and running hot. Then I noticed the black fibreglass sticking out the tailpipe, the baffles had collapsed and the wadding was blocking the pipe.
I used a walking pole to push the wadding back in and it ran fine, it took a couple of days to get a new exhaust, so when I felt it slowing down, I would pull over and perform the walking pole trick.

Just that if the baffles were affecting starting, they may well have affected running too!

[dandywarhol]

Ditto - on a 1970s Hillman Avenger

[HiddenMission]

Resurrecting this post, as the problem remains. To recap, half the time the diesel Freda starts OK, the other half, it chokes, and then takes about 5 minutes of turning the engine over before it catches. When this happens, it also responds very sluggishly to the accelerator, both in neutral and in gear. Otherwise, it seems fine. Also, not always a cold starting scenario - it misbehaves when warm as well, although less frequently.

Someone has suggested it could be a problem with the diesel pump. Does this seem possible? Have had the problem for about 9 months now.

Many thanks.

[g8dhe]

Might be worth checking that the fuel-cut off solenoid / valve is working OK and not getting stuck halfway or anything ?

[missfixit70]

What have you actually done or checked?