[Tycho]

Hello

I just started working on my truck again, trying to get it back in working order (yeah winter is a weird time to work on a car in Colorado, but I have the money now, best to do it before its wasted on something else). I'm having some problems getting it started, I think I know the route to go from here, but I wanted to double check that I have the right ideas, and see if there might be any other solutions.

My car:
A 1982 FJ-60 Landcruiser, in Colorado. It sat for ~4.5 years (2.5 on the street, 2 in a car port). When I stopped driving it, the only problem was with emissions (high CO count).

What I have done so far:
*Replaced the Oil filter, drained and replaced the oil (Only ~3 quarts left out of the 8.2 capacity)
*Replaced the Air filter
*Replaced the hose from the front end to the air filter (Paper Wasps made a nest out of the old one )
*Replaced a few minor tubes that had broken/rotted, checked all the others I could find
*Checked the belts for wear/fray
*Replaced the negative battery cable (old one was frayed near to breaking)
*Replaced the battery, car has electrical power (radio, starter, and lights at least)
*Topped off the coolant, of the ~4 gallon capacity listed in Chiltons I only needed to add 2 quarts to have it to the top
*Replaced the spark plugs, and confirmed that they're sparking
*Replaced a VCV that I broke trying to get a hose off
*Drained ~2 gallons out of the gas tank in case there was any water in the tank, gas looked pretty much like gas, a few floating cruds, but not much
-I haven't yet replaced the fuel filter, it doesn't get in till friday
-The starter was replaced (rebuilt) about 6 months before I stopped driving it.

With all that done, we tried to fire it up, with no luck. After a few odd noises on the first try, the only sound was the starter doing is usual turn over, but the engine wouldn't catch. Sprayed starter fluid down into the carb a few times, got a small pop from that igniting, but nothing else. Currently we've got 2 problems.

1) After a bit a new and very odd noise started coming from the engine whenever we turned the ignition: Basically it sounds like there's a dying canadian goose somewhere in the back of my engine (near the driver's compartment). We couldn't see anything, and we're totally clueless as to what it could be. Any ideas?

2) Apparently there is some problem with fuel getting to the carb. Reading some threads here, I was going to try the following things:
*Relpace the fuel filter when it gets here
*Checked the fuel line into the carb. Didn't see the screen that I heard mentioned. No blockage as far as I could stick a small screwdriver in either direction
*Check all the fuel hoses I can for blockage: pull them off and blow through them
*Pour 1/4-1/2 cup of gas down into the carb and try starting it that way
*Buy some fuel additive to clear out any water that might still be in the tank
*If all else fails, replace the fuel pump.

Does it sound like I am on the right track there? Anything else that I might try before replacing the fuel pump?

Thanks in advance.

Josh

[Doc]

OK, for the fuel line I will give you this advice.

1. buy the generic in line fuel filter that's made of glass. SOOOOOO much easier to tell if you have fuel in the line, and if it's plugged. They are CHEAP too, like $5 at any auto parts store.

2. Pull the fuel line off of the carb and try to start the car (once you've confirmed gas in the line with the clear fuel filter). If the fuel pump works you'll 'bubble' gas out of the line, it's not high pressure so don't worry about 'spray'. If no gas comes out, you need to think about buying a new fuel pump ($65, but easy to swap out).

That's all the help I can give.

[Doc]

Oh, and WELCOME!

[Cruisergreg]

Originally Posted by Tycho

1) After a bit a new and very odd noise started coming from the engine whenever we turned the ignition: Basically it sounds like there's a dying canadian goose somewhere in the back of my engine (near the driver's compartment). We couldn't see anything, and we're totally clueless as to what it could be. Any ideas?

I'll bet the strange noise is the throwout bearing in the clutch - probably rusted in place from sitting.

[Tinker]

A famous philosopher (& the best American car mechanic I've ever known) once said:
"It's either spark, fuel, or both. But it's NEVER the coil!"

You're going to need a freshly-charged battery. Pull a spark plug & lay it on something metal that's grounded & re-attach the wire. Have someone crank the starter while you watch for a spark. If you have one, try checking the timing with a timing light.

If you have spark & the timing looks close, try the gas down the carb. Should turn over several times. If not, you may have stuck valves, & you need to do a leakdown.

Good luck! Volumes have been written about starting long-neglected engines. I only have 2-3 myself.

[Tycho]

Weather finally warmed up enough to give things another go. Thanks for the earlier advice.

We did check a plug for spark, they seem to be working fine, at least one of them is

I installed a new fuel filter - the old one did have some gas in it. The new one has some fuel in it now too, so I guess that the tank-filter line isn't clogged. I blew through the lines from filter to pump, and pump to carb, and they were clear. Also took off the line at the carb and turned the starter. I didn't have someone who could look for me but there was definate gas spillage at the carb.

Poured ~1/4 cup of gas down the carb barrel closest to the air filter - checked the glass on the carb, its got gas at about the halfway point now - and sprayed some starter fluid down the carb as well. Got nothing aside from one very small phut. I'm afraid to try starting it too much, for fear of killing my battery.

The barking noise went away after a couple of tries (fortunately I hope), but it now seems I have fuel, and spark, but nothing starting. Any other ideas for things I might try before I give up and start saving money to take it to the shop?

Thanks again

Josh

[rightlane]

don't worry about the battery, mine cranks for 8-10 seconds sometimes before firing and you can always charge a bettery for free

[TheGr8Doughboy]

When you replaced the spark plugs did you go one at a time? This guy I know, uh, put my-errr his plug wires in backwards and it made weird noises till I-I mean he switched them...
It'll take 30 seconds to check this cause the distrubitor cap is numbered and number 1 is to the front by the radiator.

Don't mean to insult you but I always forget to check this easy stuff first
Chris

[Tycho]

I'll double check to be sure, but I am pretty sure that when I pulled the plugs I only ever had one cable off at a time. It was a bit before I started my current attempt tho, so I can't remember for sure.

[Tycho]

Flu and bad weather kept me away from my project, but I finally got back under the hood today.

I re-gapped all the spark plugs (they were at 41 instead of 31)
Also checked to make sure that the plugs were wired correctly.
Looked at the ignition coil, everything there appears to be in good shape, as does everything at/around the starter but all I did was check the lines and connections.

Tried pouring gas down the carb again, and got a couple of half hearted *phuts* (more than before but still not close to starting)

I have a friend who's going to try to help me, but unless we get lucky it looks like I'm going to have to take it in to the shop. Any reccomendations in the Fort Collins, CO area for a good landcruiser mechanic?

Thanks again

Josh

[BlueCruiser84]

Check the fuel cut solenoid. Its the little green connector on top of the carb. Put your ear near it and have someone turn the key to the "on" position, and you should here a click. If not it's probably broke.