Bongo Fury

Hi we don't use the Bongo around town so it sits for long periods unused. When we try to start it it clicks instead of starting. I've tried charging the battery but this doesn't work, however it always works with a jump start. Do we need a new battery or is there something else we should be thinking about? Typical before the summer holidays!!

Sounds like you have a problem with the starter motor.

If the battery is OK and relevent lecky leads clean .. bright and tight .. maybe the contacts inside the starter motor need cleaning or replacing .. (kits are easily obtained from ebay)

I did my Toyota recently .. which as a similar starter to the Bongo and a very simple job to do ..

I recomend that you do one side at a time so you do not mix the insulaters / contacts .. and do not overtighten the connections as you may crack the insulaters and / or put the contacts out of horizontal line ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pnySma88gY[/quote]

Could be the solenoid contacts need replacing (as Mike says), but if you need to jump start it then it may indicate a battery on its way out. If the battery is faulty then it won't matter how much you charge it. Can you check the voltage with a multimeter?

If it starts always on a jump start, and always just clicks when on it's own power, your battery is dead. It doesn't matter if it shows 12.6 volts, if it's dead it can read full but provide no useable power.

It sounds like your dead battery is pushing the starter solenoid but hasn't got the gumpf to actually turn the engine over.

You could easily diagnose this by putting a different battery in and testing it.... but you already are doing this when you have a jump start. You are plugging the other vehicle's battery (and alternator) into yours.

Yep, battery.

Thanks so much for all your replies will try a new battery tonight and see what happens!

Thanks for all the advice turns out it was the battery, the original battery (Bongos 02 plate) gave up the ghost!

Done pretty well, then.

Glad you're fixed.