strange, very strange...

mac · 05-01-05, 03:14 PM

I'm posting this for my brother-in-law. His 85 BJ60 has had some unusual quirks lately. These things seem to be simultaneous. His idle fluctuates up and down slightly, the alternator light and filter lights flicker on and off and the voltmeter fluctuates slightly (needle width). Also his inop. fuel gauge started to function for about 200km and then stopped again- related or not, I don't know.
His batteries are fully charged and the truck starts up fine, his filters and seperator have been checked and drained/ replaced. I was thinking ground problem but he says all looks good. Sounds electrical to me. He also has a stereo and amp installed but they've been there for quite a while. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Mac

Radd Cruisers · 05-01-05, 03:25 PM

It was once explained to me how a diesl idles, its kind like those fleuresent lights, they flicker so fast the human eye cannot detect.

The rack in the fuel pump is continually cycling, yet so minnute you do not detect. When my BJ is cold I can hear it faintly until warm.

As for the electrical issues, as mentioned before check all grounds and connections, almost always the problem

Low voltage will cause problems also, by the sounds of it your alternator is charging fine?

Greater minds on this board will probably give some advice I have overlooked.

dieselbigot · 05-01-05, 04:08 PM

check the charge lamp relay (behind the glovebox) this was the source for me when experiencing similar syptoms. A new one is about $80 Cdn

silvercrusher · 05-01-05, 04:28 PM

Mine did alot of the similar stuff and it ended up being the voltage regulator. I don't know how it affects the idle but it does. Maybe the edic cycling? It took 10 min to do and all is better.

David*BJ70 · 05-01-05, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac

These things seem to be simultaneous. His idle fluctuates up and down slightly, the alternator light and filter lights flicker on and off and the voltmeter fluctuates slightly (needle width).

All this at idle speed ? When no other electricity is solicitate ? ... I meen, is that occure when the head lignt are on ? (for exemple) ...

... bad charge relay

crushers · 05-01-05, 06:51 PM

yep, my 97 HZJ75 has been doing this since 99. one of these days i will get around to replacing the charge lamp relay...
cheers

lshobie · 05-01-05, 07:18 PM

Check the wiring - sounds like some wires could be chaffing.

brownbear · 05-02-05, 12:44 AM

on many relays on aircraft they use a diode across the field. you install it so that power does not cross it , that means the silver stripe end towards the power. when the field collaspes the diode helps stop the shudder effect as the polarity changes momentarily.

hey I am not a electrical guru, but I know when this diode is not there in the generator relay we get all kinds of trouble. some of my snags go straight to a burned diode.

you would have to find the wires on your relay, splice and add in a diode. just have the diode put in so that you do not put power straight to ground.

for those who do not know what a diode is, it is a check valve for electricity. think of it as the same on a hyd line. allow flow one way but not the other.

It might stop the constant flickering of the relay making and breaking lightly. A diode is worth maybe $1. time in the manual would be 10 mins max.

05-01-05, 03:14 PM	#1
mac rust and moth consumables Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wet Coast Posts: 844	strange, very strange... I'm posting this for my brother-in-law. His 85 BJ60 has had some unusual quirks lately. These things seem to be simultaneous. His idle fluctuates up and down slightly, the alternator light and filter lights flicker on and off and the voltmeter fluctuates slightly (needle width). Also his inop. fuel gauge started to function for about 200km and then stopped again- related or not, I don't know. His batteries are fully charged and the truck starts up fine, his filters and seperator have been checked and drained/ replaced. I was thinking ground problem but he says all looks good. Sounds electrical to me. He also has a stereo and amp installed but they've been there for quite a while. Any thoughts? Thanks. Mac

05-01-05, 03:25 PM	#2
Radd Cruisers IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada Posts: 3,831	It was once explained to me how a diesl idles, its kind like those fleuresent lights, they flicker so fast the human eye cannot detect. The rack in the fuel pump is continually cycling, yet so minnute you do not detect. When my BJ is cold I can hear it faintly until warm. As for the electrical issues, as mentioned before check all grounds and connections, almost always the problem Low voltage will cause problems also, by the sounds of it your alternator is charging fine? Greater minds on this board will probably give some advice I have overlooked. __________________ Come and visit us in Duncan, BC www.raddcruisers.ca --> 60 Series Cable Lockers available - 4.11s or 3.70s - handles and cables included --> 12HT & H55F combos available - complete & running --> in stock and ready to go.

05-01-05, 04:08 PM	#3
dieselbigot IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA Posts: 699	check the charge lamp relay (behind the glovebox) this was the source for me when experiencing similar syptoms. A new one is about $80 Cdn __________________ ------------------ 88 FJ62 4spd/Toybox/SOA hardcore 99 UZJ100 softcore 03 VW TDI dd 92 M101 cdn

05-01-05, 04:28 PM	#4
silvercrusher IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: vancouver island Posts: 345	Mine did alot of the similar stuff and it ended up being the voltage regulator. I don't know how it affects the idle but it does. Maybe the edic cycling? It took 10 min to do and all is better. __________________ "it'll only take a minute to fix" 85 BJ60 all stock so far 03 VW JETTA WAGON TDI

05-01-05, 06:51 PM	#6
crushers IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9,793	yep, my 97 HZJ75 has been doing this since 99. one of these days i will get around to replacing the charge lamp relay... cheers __________________ pulling this info out of my ass so take it with a pound of salt "People are poor because they don't spend money wisely, tough sh!t !!! " John Galt 09/22/08 "educate yourself. Sorry if that seems too blunt." John Galt 11-01-08 Wayne in Ontario http://www.ivoac.ca join today

05-01-05, 07:18 PM	#7
lshobie IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,859	Check the wiring - sounds like some wires could be chaffing. __________________ Louis Check out my youtube videos at: www.youtube.com/lshobie Join the True North Toyota Land Cruiser Club in Ottawa http://landcruisers.ca/

05-02-05, 12:44 AM	#8
brownbear Mod in Hibernation Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Where diesels purr and turbos whine TLCA# 15584 Posts: 6,183	on many relays on aircraft they use a diode across the field. you install it so that power does not cross it , that means the silver stripe end towards the power. when the field collaspes the diode helps stop the shudder effect as the polarity changes momentarily. hey I am not a electrical guru, but I know when this diode is not there in the generator relay we get all kinds of trouble. some of my snags go straight to a burned diode. you would have to find the wires on your relay, splice and add in a diode. just have the diode put in so that you do not put power straight to ground. for those who do not know what a diode is, it is a check valve for electricity. think of it as the same on a hyd line. allow flow one way but not the other. It might stop the constant flickering of the relay making and breaking lightly. A diode is worth maybe $1. time in the manual would be 10 mins max. __________________ -84 BJ60, Finally on the FN road! -91 FJ80, wife's ride Iron Butt award winner of the Cruise Moab 08 !

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