Guys, I need some help, I'm getting ready to douse the Cruiser in gasoline and fire it up in a viking funeral if I can't get it to start.
Here's the background. Truck was running well but a little rich when parked. Carb had about 120K miles on it so I thought the carb needed a rebuilt. Live near one of the Cruiser carb gurus, so I had him rebuild the carb. While he was at it, I asked him to check out the distributor, which had about 200K miles. Distributor is non-USA with a Pertronix ignition module in it. He rebuilds the carb, discovers the distributor shaft is worn beyond saving, so in goes a new non-US distributor with a new Pertronix. Put the carb back on, distributor back in. Can't get it started. We start the diagnostics, discover the alternator (original OEM, with external voltage regulator), which also has 200K miles, has croaked. Couldn't find a replacement (Cruiser is non-US), so I take it to get rebuilt. At the same time, I decide to replace the starter with a new Denso gear-reduction kit. While I'm waiting for the alternator, I replace the spark plugs and spark plug wires with new OEM Toyota. Alternator comes in, I reinstall it, try to start the truck. No dice. Consider that it's possible that the malfunctioning alternator took out the coil with it. Test the coil, can't figure out anything is wrong but at this point I'm desperate, replace it with a new one. Cruiser has two brand-new Optimas that I had treated her with during the time she was down, fully charged.
So here's the summary. Brand new carb, distributor, electronic ignition, alternator, coil, wires, plugs, starter, batteries. I have it at TDC, try cranking it, it turns over but I can't get spark. There is *some* smoke coming out the exhuast and at one point I have smoke come through the carb, but still no strong spark. After a while, I couldn't get it to crank again, now all I get, even with a full battery, is a click, like a solenoid or relay clicking, somewhere around the driver's side of the engine bay.
Anyone have any suggestions? I't s clearly an electrical gremlin but I am extremely frustrated, truck has been down for more than 4 months and the wife's tolerance has run its course, I need to get this thing back on the road.
Any advice, thoughts, suggestions, constructive criticism and/or witty remarks welcome, I could use some laughter right about now.
Cruiser is a non-US 1991 FJ62 with a hodge-podge of parts that makes diagnosis difficult and part replacement an adventure. I posted here rather than on the 60 series forum because the components are more akin to old FJ40's than the wagon's contemporaries. For example, distributor is the same as that on early FJ40's, coil is the same as 74-80 FJ40's, and the 3F is carburated.
Thanks in advance!!!!!
PS: Whenever people daydream of cool non-US Land Cruisers, there are the things you need to think about as well. Yes, you get a myriad of cool components, but you also get a lot of *obscure*, hard to source and expensive components, that make daily driving and/or remote four wheeling a nightmare.
Here's the background. Truck was running well but a little rich when parked. Carb had about 120K miles on it so I thought the carb needed a rebuilt. Live near one of the Cruiser carb gurus, so I had him rebuild the carb. While he was at it, I asked him to check out the distributor, which had about 200K miles. Distributor is non-USA with a Pertronix ignition module in it. He rebuilds the carb, discovers the distributor shaft is worn beyond saving, so in goes a new non-US distributor with a new Pertronix. Put the carb back on, distributor back in. Can't get it started. We start the diagnostics, discover the alternator (original OEM, with external voltage regulator), which also has 200K miles, has croaked. Couldn't find a replacement (Cruiser is non-US), so I take it to get rebuilt. At the same time, I decide to replace the starter with a new Denso gear-reduction kit. While I'm waiting for the alternator, I replace the spark plugs and spark plug wires with new OEM Toyota. Alternator comes in, I reinstall it, try to start the truck. No dice. Consider that it's possible that the malfunctioning alternator took out the coil with it. Test the coil, can't figure out anything is wrong but at this point I'm desperate, replace it with a new one. Cruiser has two brand-new Optimas that I had treated her with during the time she was down, fully charged.
So here's the summary. Brand new carb, distributor, electronic ignition, alternator, coil, wires, plugs, starter, batteries. I have it at TDC, try cranking it, it turns over but I can't get spark. There is *some* smoke coming out the exhuast and at one point I have smoke come through the carb, but still no strong spark. After a while, I couldn't get it to crank again, now all I get, even with a full battery, is a click, like a solenoid or relay clicking, somewhere around the driver's side of the engine bay.
Anyone have any suggestions? I't s clearly an electrical gremlin but I am extremely frustrated, truck has been down for more than 4 months and the wife's tolerance has run its course, I need to get this thing back on the road.
Any advice, thoughts, suggestions, constructive criticism and/or witty remarks welcome, I could use some laughter right about now.
Cruiser is a non-US 1991 FJ62 with a hodge-podge of parts that makes diagnosis difficult and part replacement an adventure. I posted here rather than on the 60 series forum because the components are more akin to old FJ40's than the wagon's contemporaries. For example, distributor is the same as that on early FJ40's, coil is the same as 74-80 FJ40's, and the 3F is carburated.
Thanks in advance!!!!!
PS: Whenever people daydream of cool non-US Land Cruisers, there are the things you need to think about as well. Yes, you get a myriad of cool components, but you also get a lot of *obscure*, hard to source and expensive components, that make daily driving and/or remote four wheeling a nightmare.
