Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
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steve480
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by steve480 » Wed Jun 02, 2010 5:08 pm
hi all,
been having some starting issues lately, starter just clicking. i've read all the posts on getting it repaired so i took it to a garage that do them. they stripped it down checked it all & told me it was fine & reckoned it was the solenoid

does anyone know what else it could be ? if it is the solenoid im i better off just getting new starter motor ?
thanks........steve
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steve480
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by steve480 » Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:51 pm
hi rita
i thought that as well but the guy checked it & told me the contacts where fine so it must be the solenoid

just got new altenator last week, its 1 thing after another keeping these bongos on the road. thinking of selling it dont know i would miss having it but its just money, money ,money all the time. they really have a lot that goes wrong with them

.
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karen
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by karen » Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:19 pm
maybe just unlikey
we were just thinking today how cheap they were to run
our's past the mot today - that's her fourth and each year we say - there must be something and it's just go straight through
only real money she has cost was my own stupid vault when i changed hoses on fuel sender - i snapped it so had to replace - but that was 120 quid and scrapped knuckles
the video on utube is good for the contacts - even a mechanical muppet like me managed it after watching this
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steve480
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by steve480 » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:28 pm
hi dandywarhol
took starter motor off today & it has a mitsubishi part num on it. is this 1 of the heavier duty starters you mentioned ??? found bongo starters on ebay they look different but bolt & terminal locations seem the same. will these type of starters fit & do as good a job ?
thanks......steve

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dandywarhol
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by dandywarhol » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:46 pm
That looks to be the heavy duty one which usually comes with the dual starter battery and exhaust warm up valve as fitted to the winter pack models. I don't see why a standard motor wouldn't fit.
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steve480
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by steve480 » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:47 pm
karen wrote:maybe just unlikey
we were just thinking today how cheap they were to run
our's past the mot today - that's her fourth and each year we say - there must be something and it's just go straight through
only real money she has cost was my own stupid vault when i changed hoses on fuel sender - i snapped it so had to replace - but that was 120 quid and scrapped knuckles
the video on utube is good for the contacts - even a mechanical muppet like me managed it after watching this
the type of starter i have it cant be repaired, bongos cheap to run you obviously dont use your van much, i use mine everyday & the fuel costs are a nightmare & i have been very unlucky with my bongo in the 2 years i've had it, had to fit new head on it at a cost of £1500 all in. everyone has there own story to tell, i think i have the bongo blues

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steve480
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by steve480 » Thu Jun 03, 2010 4:52 pm
dandywarhol wrote:That looks to be the heavy duty one which usually comes with the dual starter battery and exhaust warm up valve as fitted to the winter pack models. I don't see why a standard motor wouldn't fit.
thanks dandy i do think i have 1 of the northern models it does have a warm up thingy, it dosent look as if this type of starter can be repaied will just order a new 1. why do the northern models have dual batts & heavy duty starter ? im guessing its to do with the colder climate winters in north japan

i have my start batt & a new leisure batt. do you think there wasn't enough power getting to the starter & this may have caused it to fail ?
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gmaczbongo
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by gmaczbongo » Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:26 pm
Test it on the bench.
Battery and jump leads and a wee wire.
Negative to body of starter and positive to post on solenoid.
Use wee wire to connect positive to the spade connector on the solenoid.
I cannot see the solenoid connections so might be a wee bit different.
Should kick the starter into life if it is working.
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mikeonb4c
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Contact:
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by mikeonb4c » Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:31 am
steve480 wrote:karen wrote:maybe just unlikey
we were just thinking today how cheap they were to run
our's past the mot today - that's her fourth and each year we say - there must be something and it's just go straight through
only real money she has cost was my own stupid vault when i changed hoses on fuel sender - i snapped it so had to replace - but that was 120 quid and scrapped knuckles
the video on utube is good for the contacts - even a mechanical muppet like me managed it after watching this
the type of starter i have it cant be repaired, bongos cheap to run you obviously dont use your van much, i use mine everyday & the fuel costs are a nightmare & i have been very unlucky with my bongo in the 2 years i've had it, had to fit new head on it at a cost of £1500 all in. everyone has there own story to tell, i think i have the bongo blues

Yup sounds like you've had your share of bad luck. Also, an expensive proposition for everyday use compared to - say - a Kangoo disel or somesuch. I'd love to have a go at making an occasional camper out of a Kangoo (I know there are converters who offer it). But I just love my Bongo - nothing will ever be as good, even when it comes times to change.
On the starter motor front, might it be cheaper to follow Dandys suggestion and get a non-winter type from a breakers. At least then it should be refurbishable cheaply if trouble strikes again.
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rita
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by rita » Sat Jun 05, 2010 1:55 pm
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steve480
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by steve480 » Mon Jun 07, 2010 3:10 pm
hi,
i did a deal with bongobits & got new starter from them today. old starter has 10 teeth but new 1 has only 9 will this make any differrence ? fit tommorrow will let you know how i get on, thanks for all your help to everyone......steve
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rita
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by rita » Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:27 pm
steve480 wrote:hi,
i did a deal with bongobits & got new starter from them today. old starter has 10 teeth but new 1 has only 9 will this make any differrence ? fit tommorrow will let you know how i get on, thanks for all your help to everyone......steve
Hi steve,
I would check with the supplier before you fit the starter,you don't want to knacker the new starter, or the ring gear if it is not compatible..
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patnben
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by patnben » Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:14 am
2 Years ago I replaced the 2.2kW heavy duty starter with the 2.0 kW standard one.
Flywheel ring gear is the same for either model. It's impossible to change the solenoid
contacts.
The solenoid is on the bottom of the starter on the heavy duty one, and the solenoid
is on the top of the light duty one, so yo will have to wiggle the cables a bit but it all
works OK.
No problems since.