91 FJ80 Hot Starting Problem

[waterstone]

Hello again,

Okay, just bought a 91 FJ80 today to replace the 92 that was totalled. This one has seen little activity for a few months or more. Started and driven occasionaly on weekends.

On the way home, after an hour of driving, I stoped for a while in a parking lot. I shut off the car and started it twice. It was fine. Then drove to a gas station and put in some gas. Tried to start it and nothing - no clicks, no response whatever except the dash indicators all come on correctly.

Mechanic thinks starter and I've called cruiserdan to see if he can ship one out asap, but he's not in.

I know I've seen this on the forum before but cannot find the threads.

Supposed to leave on vaca Saturday but doesn't look like I can now.

Thanks,
waterstone

 

[CJF]

You should be able to get this fixed before Saturday.

Where is it now; at the mechanic's or at your place?

Curtis

 

[FrankTorres]

When the key is it the ON position, the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT should light up.
...If no light - do a search on EFI relay on the 3fe motor.
...If YES - check out your starter. Plus starter can be rebuilt easly for a fraction of the cost.

Good luck, hope it helps and let us know

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

Maybe starter. But don't rule out the 50 amp fuse under the hood.

Can you discribe what happens when you turn the key to 'ON'. What lights display on the dash.
If no clicky for the starter and you don't get any other lights on the dash when the key is 'ON', then you might look at the 50 amp fuse under the hood. Lowridetide experienced this about three weeks ago.

 

[waterstone]

This forum is the best. It just left for the mechanics. It starts now. Started after the tow home, about 90 minutes to 2 hours after it would not start. When it would not start all the dash lights lit up, including check engine, but absolutely no engine response, not even the clicking of the starter solenoid.

When it starts now is hesitates a bit, sounding like a weak starter, just for what sounds like a half turn or so. Mechanic will put a rebuilt starter in it tomorrow.

My concern is that it only happened when hot, and not every time. I shut it off and restarted it a couple of times before the time whe it would not start. It would not start after I put about 13 gallons of gas in it. Since it starts now it'll be hard to be sure it is fixed.

 

[CJF]

My concern is that it only happened when hot, and not every time. I shut it off and restarted it a couple of times before the time whe it would not start. It would not start after I put about 13 gallons of gas in it. Since it starts now it'll be hard to be sure it is fixed.

I think you're confusing the issue.

Yes, 3FE's have a couple specific no start issues, namely the EFI relay (and/or possibly the fuse) and the notorious "no starty when warm" fuel pressure regulatator. But your problem sounds way more like common, generic troubles like bad battery connections, a bad alternator, etc.

Keep us posted,

Curtis

 

[Trailbus]

I had the EFI problem on my 91. It ended up costing me ~$240 at the dealer for them to replace a $13 part & upgrade the wiring when it went out for good. I was troubleshooting the lack of spark. I guess the computor shut down the ignition when it sensed no fuel. If it turns over but won't fire, buy a new relay before wasting money elsewhere. It's a good trail spare it it is not the problem. But what you have going on sounds like the contacts in the starter. Another cheap fix if you do it yourself. No need to spend a lot of money on something this easy.

 

[waterstone]

Got the cruiser back from the mechanics and it starts strong now. Hope that's all it was. It's frustrating to have to pay to have a starter switched out without taking it out myself and trying to repair it, but time is a big factor and this old body is still recovering from an accident. Maybe next time.

I had the fuel pressure relay problem with my 92. The good folks here identfied it for me but it was totaled before I could fix it (literally hours after the replies were posted to my query). But it's good to know about it.

Thanks all.