Folks --
I own a '96 cruiser. I was driving through Alabama in April when I was stopped by a State Trooper who searched my car for drugs (and drug money, which is what he was really after -- they keep the drug money). This was in "rural Tuscaloosa". The trooper said I "touched a white line", and gave me a written warning for an "Improper Lane Usage" violation. Then he changed his story and said he was just making sure I wasn't sleepy. I was returning to NYC after a month long road trip down the East Coast, via the Outer Banks, my folks house in Florida, and finally New Orleans. Really, I was pulled over because I was alone with New York plates in Alabama. Totally profiled. Bastards.
I did not talk back or put up any resistance which in hindsight was a bad move -- I was in the deep South and knew I was at these f**kers mercy. While they were searching my car I freaked out on them when they pulled out a bag of tools and were about to rip up my headliner. They had been under the hood of my car as I watched from the front seat of the troopers' car. They put me back on the road without giving me a ticket (just the warning). The next day, in Chattanooga TN, my truck burst into flames on the side of the highway.
After being towed to the Toyota dealer and having it looked at the next day, the cause of the fire was obvious -- there were multiple razor blade slashes in my fuel return hose. My accelerator cable became soaked in gasoline; after it was saturated it eventually made it to distributor cap which burst into flames. I immediately pulled over and tried to smother the flames with two sweatshirts I had in the truck -- I had to do something as I was surrounded by families in minivans at a crowded intersection. Just when I thought all was lost a trucker ran up and put out the fire with an extinguisher.
It doesn't matter how much evidence I have, no lawyer would touch the case (no one was hurt so ambulance chasers can't make money) and you can't fight the "Good Ole' Boys" in Alabamy. Sorry to anyone on this forum who's from the (deep) south but I was raped by these bastards. I understand now why the war on drugs continues -- it means revenue by the Alabama State Mafia who gets points from every dealer they stop
. This bastard was 2009 State Trooper of the year for seizing 1.6 million in cash.
I spent around 4 grand on new parts -- new distributor, new alternator (mean green), new injectors (3 were melted), new battery (my yellow top almost melted through case and exploded), new coil, etc. Engine wire harness and headlight harness totally gone and replaced. I had to replace several connectors in the main cowl wire harness. Windows were rolled down as well -- pretty s***ty situ all around.
I have been at my parents' house in Florida for nearly 2 months now trying to get my rig back on the road. It has 73K miles, is triple locked, so I didn't want to scrap it. I'm finally done putting it back together but it won't start. It cranks and maybe slightly sputtered once or twice, but won't start. I get spark and fuel. Here's what I have verified so far:
1.) EFI relay seems good -- I get CEL light when I turn key.
2.) I get spark from coil, so igniter and coil seem good (brand new coil). No water in coil. No water in distributor cap, distributor is brand new OEM.
3.) Fuel seems OK -- I disconnected fuel return line by fender, behind ABS motor actuator and fuel came out.
4.) No codes seen via OBD.
Here's what I haven't tried yet --
1.) fuel cap was off for 3-4 months as it sat in Florida -- this is because charcoal filter melted and vapor line to tank was leaking into engine bay when fumes built up on hot days here in Florida. We've had tons of rain here in panhandle. I am wondering if fuel is bad?
2.) Could my timing be off? I had to put in new Distributor and followed field service manual procedure to make sure I had TDC and put distributor in with mounting bolt in middle of bracket.
3.) Water in any spark plug tubes? Would this cause issue? Wouldn't I get at least a splutter or two? It just sounds like it just cranks and cranks but doesn't start.
4.) I had to replace throttle position sensor -- other one was melted. Could this be culprit? Is it possibly misadjusted?
5.) I'm not getting a strong fuel smell but I do see fuel in return line when I break the hose. Could it be fuel relay or fuel pump issue?
I've been here 2 months and losing my mind. Sorry if this message is all over the place. I am at end of my rope, mentally and financially. I need to get home ASAP. I haven't worked in 2 months and have spent thousands in savings. Thinking just to drop it off at dealer and have them figure out. Any help greatly appreciated, even if it's just sympathy. Thanks folks. Can give more info if needed. I am losing it.
I own a '96 cruiser. I was driving through Alabama in April when I was stopped by a State Trooper who searched my car for drugs (and drug money, which is what he was really after -- they keep the drug money). This was in "rural Tuscaloosa". The trooper said I "touched a white line", and gave me a written warning for an "Improper Lane Usage" violation. Then he changed his story and said he was just making sure I wasn't sleepy. I was returning to NYC after a month long road trip down the East Coast, via the Outer Banks, my folks house in Florida, and finally New Orleans. Really, I was pulled over because I was alone with New York plates in Alabama. Totally profiled. Bastards.
I did not talk back or put up any resistance which in hindsight was a bad move -- I was in the deep South and knew I was at these f**kers mercy. While they were searching my car I freaked out on them when they pulled out a bag of tools and were about to rip up my headliner. They had been under the hood of my car as I watched from the front seat of the troopers' car. They put me back on the road without giving me a ticket (just the warning). The next day, in Chattanooga TN, my truck burst into flames on the side of the highway.
After being towed to the Toyota dealer and having it looked at the next day, the cause of the fire was obvious -- there were multiple razor blade slashes in my fuel return hose. My accelerator cable became soaked in gasoline; after it was saturated it eventually made it to distributor cap which burst into flames. I immediately pulled over and tried to smother the flames with two sweatshirts I had in the truck -- I had to do something as I was surrounded by families in minivans at a crowded intersection. Just when I thought all was lost a trucker ran up and put out the fire with an extinguisher.
It doesn't matter how much evidence I have, no lawyer would touch the case (no one was hurt so ambulance chasers can't make money) and you can't fight the "Good Ole' Boys" in Alabamy. Sorry to anyone on this forum who's from the (deep) south but I was raped by these bastards. I understand now why the war on drugs continues -- it means revenue by the Alabama State Mafia who gets points from every dealer they stop
. This bastard was 2009 State Trooper of the year for seizing 1.6 million in cash. I spent around 4 grand on new parts -- new distributor, new alternator (mean green), new injectors (3 were melted), new battery (my yellow top almost melted through case and exploded), new coil, etc. Engine wire harness and headlight harness totally gone and replaced. I had to replace several connectors in the main cowl wire harness. Windows were rolled down as well -- pretty s***ty situ all around.
I have been at my parents' house in Florida for nearly 2 months now trying to get my rig back on the road. It has 73K miles, is triple locked, so I didn't want to scrap it. I'm finally done putting it back together but it won't start. It cranks and maybe slightly sputtered once or twice, but won't start. I get spark and fuel. Here's what I have verified so far:
1.) EFI relay seems good -- I get CEL light when I turn key.
2.) I get spark from coil, so igniter and coil seem good (brand new coil). No water in coil. No water in distributor cap, distributor is brand new OEM.
3.) Fuel seems OK -- I disconnected fuel return line by fender, behind ABS motor actuator and fuel came out.
4.) No codes seen via OBD.
Here's what I haven't tried yet --
1.) fuel cap was off for 3-4 months as it sat in Florida -- this is because charcoal filter melted and vapor line to tank was leaking into engine bay when fumes built up on hot days here in Florida. We've had tons of rain here in panhandle. I am wondering if fuel is bad?
2.) Could my timing be off? I had to put in new Distributor and followed field service manual procedure to make sure I had TDC and put distributor in with mounting bolt in middle of bracket.
3.) Water in any spark plug tubes? Would this cause issue? Wouldn't I get at least a splutter or two? It just sounds like it just cranks and cranks but doesn't start.
4.) I had to replace throttle position sensor -- other one was melted. Could this be culprit? Is it possibly misadjusted?
5.) I'm not getting a strong fuel smell but I do see fuel in return line when I break the hose. Could it be fuel relay or fuel pump issue?
I've been here 2 months and losing my mind. Sorry if this message is all over the place. I am at end of my rope, mentally and financially. I need to get home ASAP. I haven't worked in 2 months and have spent thousands in savings. Thinking just to drop it off at dealer and have them figure out. Any help greatly appreciated, even if it's just sympathy. Thanks folks. Can give more info if needed. I am losing it.
.
