Starting problems

[Bob]

I think a cotton bud is useful for removing the little mesh filter.

[Gasy]

Yes
I use two cooton buds taped together ( length ways to reach down into hole and pull it out )
Made mine smoke and struggle to start and loose power / tick over when it was dirty
5 min job I wash mine out in petrol or spray carb cleaner through it
Let it dry and try that

[Barrypud]

Okay - an update after nearly five weeks. My mechanic has tried all the things suggested here including replacing the injectors after they tested poorly. The van runs much more smoothly but still has an intermittent starting problem following a short run. I agreed to repost here for any other suggestions he could try meanwhile my mechanic will ask a local auto-electrician if he has any ideas. Getting desperate now as it seems whatever is thrown at this van it just won't behave!

[mickc]

I posted this on another thread, might be worth a try as it's very simple to do if you're not mechanically minded...

I had a similar problem last winter, classic fuel starvation. I checked all the usual stuff filter, banjo filter, filler cap etc to no avail.

Following Mike at Wheelquick's advice, I rolled back the rear carpet, removed the small hatch to access the top of the tank and removed the plate containing the fuel sender unit and the suction/return lines. The interior of the tank was spotless and muck free. There is a small plastic strainer on the end of the lift pipe and this had a lump of snotty gunge in it preventing fuel being lifted in sufficient quantity and after a wash in petrol and replacing everything the problem was cured. I can only assume that it was veg oil gone bad that caused it, I normally run 75% VO in summer, 25% in winter.

Just another of the joys of running a Bongo.

from this thread...

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =3&t=73442

Good luck.

[Barrypud]

Thanks mickc. I take it this could still accumulate debris even with regular diesel?

[mickc]

Thanks mickc. I take it this could still accumulate debris even with regular diesel?

Yes if the tank has any rust inside and has been stood a while then filled up which will wash any rust into the bottom of the tank. I think the strainer is just the first line of defence against accumulated crud in the tank.

[Barrypud]

Thanks again - I'll check this out.

[Barrypud]

Mechanic gained access to the sender unit in the tank today and guess what? - no strainer. Having said that there is fuel reaching the engine but it still refuses to fire. The only way it will start is to spay Bradex into the air intake and once going it runs like a dream. I think we are at the end of our tether now and having spent so much time and money we are thinking we may need to cut our losses and dispose of our Bongo unless someone can come up with other things to try which are not going to involve much more expense. Any final offers of things we could try will be gratefully accepted!

[mickc]

One thing worth trying would be an auxiliary fuel tank gravity feeding to the short pipe at the banjo coupling, 1 litre should be enough to tell if the problem is on the inlet side (a leak drawing air in) or the pump itself. If there is an air leak on the suction side from the tank it may not be apparent and even though it has fuel it may not be sufficient to start. It's all a process of elimination.

Another one to try would be to use an airline to blow through the fuel pipes from the filter back to the tank to remove any possible blockage, especially as the tank strainer is missing it could have sucked up some crap which is causing a blockage.

Don't give up on it, mostly the most unusual and annoying faults are caused by something simple.

[Barrypud]

Thanks again for the suggestions - I'll ask my mechanic to try these though I think he's thinking it may be electrical but that would involve much more expense I fear.