acid smell when starting the bongo

[cabte]

For the last few days when i start the bongo in the morning i get a smell of battery acid in the bongo also when starting the lights on the dash dim then go bright then dim then go bright three times like i have a flat battery
but the battery is full.
any ideas

[jaylee]

What's the tickover like when warming up? If diesel, glow-plug relay clicking in & out causing a drain?? Just ideas...
Do you have the AC on when starting, for defog? That will click in & out...
Another one maybe a short somewhere in the dash, smelling a little like that?? (but then yer fuse 8 would blow.)

[Northern Bongolow]

i would get a meter on the alternator,see if its overcharging the battery,

[g8dhe]

Also double check, clean and remake the battery terminal connections also the ground connection from the -ve to the chassis.

[cabte]

Its a petrol 2l tick over has never changes just below 1000 revs when cold and just under 1000 revs when warm.
Not had to use the AC as its not that cold here yet also for some strnage reason my window on the bongo never frosts over,

Iv tested the allternater its fine,
all fuses are ok its not like a burning smell, and only does it first thing in the morning or when i start the bongo for the first time. after that its fine.
realy strange,

[Northern Bongolow]

carl the heater circ vent is behind the battery,just wondering if its picking up the stink that way.
try checking the battery(is it leaking) is it overfull of acid,check the caps are tight if it has them.take the batt out and check its not cracked on the casing.check the voltage from the alternator just after a start,it may be going to high at this time,

check the heater air ducting is tight up against the bulkhead.(2 bolts)

[cabte]

Just had a quick trip to wheelquick they checked everything and all is ok.
Gave me a spare battery just in case, they think its just the cold weather .

[dandywarhol]

I had exactly the same today in the Hiace - checked out battery - 1 cell dead battery trying to charge but doesn't hold a charge.....................

[lazyb5]

Is the heater inlet different in diesels as i have a large flatish air intake for the heater at the top of the radiator and the engine intake behind the battery?

[Northern Bongolow]

the large flat intake on top of the rad links to the heater,but when on recirc it pulls air from the bulkhead under the passy side dash,if any of this ducting is leaking it may let the battery fumes into the heater system.if it has a winter flap on the inlet of the heater,it may also pick up the fumes through this,as its designed to pick up radiator heat to help the heater get hotter.

[apole]

On mine there is a small metal lever on side of the air intake. From memory it must be forward to draw in fresh air. If it's backward it draws warmer air into the ventilation system, so is then more likely to draw in any engine bay smells.

[cabte]

will have a look to see what mines at.
when you say pushd forward do you mean pulled to the front of the bongo or pushed forward to the back of the bongo