85 FJ60 Sudden Fuel Starvation

[Bruce85]

Hi!

I'm brand new to the forum! I've been trolling the boards for months, but now I'm here and I need a little help.

I have and 85 FJ60 with original 2F - just shy of 200 K on it. I bought "Bruce" a few months back because he was nearly immaculate. No Rust, great interior, strong engine transmission...ect. (Payed 2K for it) The hitch was that previous owner had no service records. I figured for that price, I could learn as I go along. So here I am learning... ha!

Here's the problem.

Last week when pulling a hill with a relatively cold engine (running about 10 minutes) the fuel completely shut off, dead, as if someone reached over and turned the ignition off. Prior to this I had been noticing some slight stuttering and lack of power from time in 2nd gear, but otherwise mostly running fine. I figured I had a bad filter or pump.

So, I replaced the filter, then the pump (which had been mounted without the spacer). I sprayed the crap out of the carb and got Bruce running again.

BUT tonight, I tried to run a yellow light, and the same thing happened (Karma i suppose...i was the a-hole in an intersection). Engine died. I got over to the side and looked in the Carb Eye Sight, and it was empty. I sprayed cleaner down the carb to get turned back over, the carb filled up and I was on my way.

Question is... is this a simple issue of a tired carb or is there anything else should I be thinking about before I take that project on?

Thanks

 

[Dodobo]

Does your cabin also smell like gas sometimes? If so could be related to the charcoal canister and evap system. I had a similar issue that was plaguing me until I replaced the canister. Another pattern with mine that tipped me off to the evap system was that it only happened when the tank was half full or less,

 

[Bruce85]

Could be evap system but not completely sure how that works. I need to read up. Good food for thought!

Yes, cabin does smell like fuel from time to time, not overwhelmingly though. I've always assumed that was due to old time fuel system, IE carb and mech. fuel pump...ect.

When I died on the hill I was at less than 1/4th tank when I died tonight I was at 3/4+l tank. I replaced gas cap with generic locking cap from O'Reily's You think that can be an issue?

 

[Dodobo]

That certainly could be it. The OEM one creates a seal and I bet some aftermarkets don't. You can still get the OEM one from the dealer - I think its less than $15.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

blo air (compressed) thru the lines on the pump that go to the tank(back flushing) to make certain there isn't a clog in those lines. the cap was a good idea. Might also change the fuel filter and consider taking the top plate off of carb to check/set float level and clear any junk caught in the needle/seat area...

 

[inkpot]

Just went thru very similar symptoms on an 84. Pulled the access door in the rear floor and looked into tank. Found a lot of sludge/rust. Had to drop tank and get it flushed at a radiator shop. Also found some worn/damaged soft lines right where they come out of the tank and attach to the hard lines. Works much better now. John

 

[TicoCafe]

Could be evap system but not completely sure how that works. I need to read up. Good food for thought!

Yes, cabin does smell like fuel from time to time, not overwhelmingly though. I've always assumed that was due to old time fuel system, IE carb and mech. fuel pump...ect.

When I died on the hill I was at less than 1/4th tank when I died tonight I was at 3/4+l tank. I replaced gas cap with generic locking cap from O'Reily's You think that can be an issue?

I had a similar issue...I did go with a OEM gas cap and it helped with the gas smell in the cab. I also swapped the hoses for the Purge & Tank lines going into the Carbon Canister. Checking your carb bowl may also be a good idea...it may be stuck with goop.

 

[BigBen559]

I had the same situation happen to me. I got her running and then fuel system failure. I started with a Carb rebuild from Marlin Crawler out of Fresno CA, moved to new mechanical fuel pump, replaced all 62 feet of vaccum lines,( thank you California for leading smog control ) went trough 20 fuel filters in about a month and a half, and finally got a newish fuel tank ( Thanks to my buddy Steve, his wife and Georg from Valley Hybrids). My issue was the fuel tank. It sat with no stabil for 2yrs and just ate up the inside. A few other issues I have come accross is Vaccum lock, rerouting a ground wire for the anti-deiseling valve and also bad vaccum advance on the Dizzy. I'm planning on replacing Dizzy after a few other suspension mods since my dizzy is opperating just fine.

 

[John Smith]

Hi!

I'm brand new to the forum! I've been trolling the boards for months, but now I'm here and I need a little help.

I have and 85 FJ60 with original 2F - just shy of 200 K on it. I bought "Bruce" a few months back because he was nearly immaculate. No Rust, great interior, strong engine transmission...ect. (Payed 2K for it) The hitch was that previous owner had no service records. I figured for that price, I could learn as I go along. So here I am learning... ha!

Here's the problem.

Last week when pulling a hill with a relatively cold engine (running about 10 minutes) the fuel completely shut off, dead, as if someone reached over and turned the ignition off. Prior to this I had been noticing some slight stuttering and lack of power from time in 2nd gear, but otherwise mostly running fine. I figured I had a bad filter or pump.

So, I replaced the filter, then the pump (which had been mounted without the spacer). I sprayed the crap out of the carb and got Bruce running again.

BUT tonight, I tried to run a yellow light, and the same thing happened (Karma i suppose...i was the a-hole in an intersection). Engine died. I got over to the side and looked in the Carb Eye Sight, and it was empty. I sprayed cleaner down the carb to get turned back over, the carb filled up and I was on my way.

Question is... is this a simple issue of a tired carb or is there anything else should I be thinking about before I take that project on?

Thanks

What did the contents of the old fuel filter you removed reveal? My guess is your tank is full of rust and is clogging the fuel supply hose.

 

[Bruce85]

Put my 2nd Fuel Filter on a few months back, the original had some dirt on but really didn't look too bad considering I wasn't sure when it was last replaced. No dobut there is some crap in the tank, cleaning tank is on the list, but these issues are all relatively new and I've been driving for months with the tank.

Just got back from from a quick run and it's really starting to skip and lose power quickly, especially when hot. Came home with the engine hot and running, I looked at the fuel filter (installed last week) and it seems to be flowing fine. There a some bubbles floating, not sure if this is normal.

 

[Bruce85]

Reading through forum I learned about the fuel tank recall. After talking with Toyota service, I learned the swap never happened on my truck. Toyota is putting a new tank and lines in next week. I let you know how it goes.

 

[Bruce85]

Toyota is putting new tank in next week.

In the meantime, I found a rebuilt factory carb close by house, I bought it thinking it would be good to have around to have something to compare with as I rebuild the old one. (Carb rebuild seems a bit like watch repair to me, I'm a little intimidated)

New carb went in pretty easily and everything is running great.

Went to start up today, after a little convincing, it fired right up. Suspect i have to make a few adjustments.

 

[BigHighBlue]

Toyota is putting new tank in next week.

In the meantime, I found a rebuilt factory carb close by house, I bought it thinking it would be good to have around to have something to compare with as I rebuild the old one. (Carb rebuild seems a bit like watch repair to me, I'm a little intimidated)

New carb went in pretty easily and everything is running great.

Went to start up today, after a little convincing, it fired right up. Suspect i have to make a few adjustments.

I have this same problem in my '85. To add to the mystery I didn't have the problem all winter but now that its warming up I've noticed it a couple of times. I've also noticed that it doesn't happen on the first run of the day so to speak. Yesterday for example I drove it from work to the pub, ran like a top. On the way home the stall outs happened, same deal up the hill under a little load starts sputtering and acts like its going to stall but never actually shuts off. At first I thought it was related to the temp of the engine but now I'm thinking it has to do with drive time. I think there is a vacuum building up within the fuel system and when the engine calls for more fuel but enough vacuum has built up it starves the carb of fuel then as it sits overnight the vacuum dissipates which makes it run great first thing in the morning. I'm going to start with the charcoal canister and go from there.

 

[AlYamoni]

I have this same problem in my '85. To add to the mystery I didn't have the problem all winter but now that its warming up I've noticed it a couple of times. I've also noticed that it doesn't happen on the first run of the day so to speak. Yesterday for example I drove it from work to the pub, ran like a top. On the way home the stall outs happened, same deal up the hill under a little load starts sputtering and acts like its going to stall but never actually shuts off. At first I thought it was related to the temp of the engine but now I'm thinking it has to do with drive time. I think there is a vacuum building up within the fuel system and when the engine calls for more fuel but enough vacuum has built up it starves the carb of fuel then as it sits overnight the vacuum dissipates which makes it run great first thing in the morning. I'm going to start with the charcoal canister and go from there.

This sounds exactly like what I'm going through right now. What ended up being the culprit?

 

[BigHighBlue]

This sounds exactly like what I'm going through right now. What ended up being the culprit?

I had junk in my tank. The flexi lines that connect the tank to the hard lines were not actual fuel lines and they deteriorated and parts ended up in the tank and got sucked into the lines and thus clogged the filter. I ended up dropping the tank, cleaning it out and blowing the lines backwards like Rob suggested above. It’s run like a top ever since. Good luck!

 

[adamsfly]

I had paper in my tank. There were several pieces of paper, three of those pieces puzzled together spelled "Attached information". S0........... I'm thinking when the gas tank was replaced, on the recall, this paper somehow ended up in the tank.

 

[BigHighBlue]

I had paper in my tank. There were several pieces of paper, three of those pieces puzzled together spelled "Attached information". S0........... I'm thinking when the gas tank was replaced, on the recall, this paper somehow ended up in the tank.

Goodness. I can’t imagine the time you spent scratching your head on that one.