First FJ

[Linkspast]

So about one month ago on my birthday I bought my first FJ40 a 68
It ran when the guy put it away, but that was about ten years back.
So I am restoring it (trying) to road worthy status. But I have not much experience doing these kind of things.
I know for a fact the engine is not seized up.

I think my biggest problem is the electrical.
I don`t know where to even start looking for problems. I have checked the fuses and they all seem to be in working order.
I bought a new starter and installed it.

There are a few wires that are just ripped out of places, and I don`t know where they come from or where they go. I would just follow the Toyota wiring diagram, but they are not the stock colors. . .

I have been looking at the FAQ`s but not getting too far as I don't even know where to start.

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[John Smith]

So about one month ago on my birthday I bought my first FJ40 a 68
It ran when the guy put it away, but that was about ten years back.
So I am restoring it (trying) to road worthy status. But I have not much experience doing these kind of things.
I know for a fact the engine is not seized up.

I think my biggest problem is the electrical.
I don`t know where to even start looking for problems. I have checked the fuses and they all seem to be in working order.
I bought a new starter and installed it.

There are a few wires that are just ripped out of places, and I don`t know where they come from or where they go. I would just follow the Toyota wiring diagram, but they are not the stock colors. . .

I have been looking at the FAQ`s but not getting too far as I don't even know where to start.

Any help will be much appreciated.

If the harness has been butchered by the PO I would rip the whole thing out and start over.

 

[My wife said no FJ!]

Where are you located? Maybe someone from your local club house can drop by for a beer

 

[romegadave]

Links,

There are some posts here with info from the Toyo Factory Service Manual....maybe from one of Coolerman's. Might want to bite the bullet and purchase this oh so necessary book.

I'm sure others will chime in with advice on a starting point. I know from experience with my fuse block that what looks good sometimes is not. Grounds and shorts....always a sneaky pain. Gotta meter? You'll need that. I'm sure others will be along with more experience and tech advice. Hang in there, Dave

 

[FJFOOL]

Does it crank over at all? Does anything electrical work like lights, etc.?Yeah, an FSM is a useful tool you should invest in, Good Luck !

 

[Coolerman]

Start with the obvious: Clean all the battery connections and cable ends. If it looks bad replace it.
Next clean the ground from the battery to the frame and the engine to bare metal.
Clean all the terminals on the alternator and make sure it is grounded well. Also check the ground and connections to the regulator.

Move to the fuse box. One at a time remove each fuse and use a Dremel tool with a wire wheel to clean each contact in the fuse block AND the ends of the fuses. Bend the clips in a bit to help grip the fuses better.

Unplug EVERY connector you can find one at a time and inspect it. If you see lots of corrosion attempt to clean the terminals as best you can, otherwise plug it back up firmly. Just the act of unplugging and re-plugging will make a better connection.

Now you can go through each circuit to see which ones work and which don't. Make a list of all non working circuits then refer to the schematic to trouble shoot or ask here for help. In my sig is a link to a lot of schematics and a 70's FSM you can download or view.
Good Luck!

 

[Ron B]

Where are the pics? we need pics!

 

[Foxsweep]

RE: FJ40

If it becomes too much of a project... sell it and take a look at the one we are selling...

 

[Linkspast]

ill try to post pictures tomorrow.

 

[orangefj45]

try to be a little more specific with your questions and info:

1) location?! most of the guys on here are beyond willing to help so i bet we'll find somebody close to you who can help get this rig back on the road.

2) does the engine crank over but not fire? or does the starter not turn the engine over? do you have fresh fuel and a new fuel filter in there? ten year-old fuel won't cut it....

try to post some more details. it's a cruiser so it won't be tough to fix. if the harness is butchered then replace it. tedious and time consuming work but not difficult.

hth

georg @ valley hybrids ( stockton CA )

 

[Combat Chuck]

I'd like to hear more about this cruiser. Is the engine stock? three-speed tranny, or did they add a conversion gear? Likes, dislikes, things you want to change, plans you may have for it in the future.

 

[Combat Chuck]

If it becomes too much of a project... sell it and take a look at the one we are selling...

That's a clean looking rig, by the way.

 

[SD_rdcruzer]

If it becomes too much of a project... sell it and take a look at the one we are selling...

Nice. Pimp your sh1t in someone else's help thread.

Like Coolerman said, start with the obvious. I had a bad time with the electrical on mine when i first brought it home. Tug on all the connections, if they look suspect, replace them. One step at a time.

Sometimes these things are like eating an elephant, just take one bite at a time.

 

[Linkspast]

well.. I cant find my camera. But I do have this blog where I have been trying to keep it semi regularly up dated. Its got pictures which Is all that matters right now.

The engine turns over, I have yet to check for spark.

68 Toyota Land Cruiser Restoration

 

[John Smith]

well.. I cant find my camera. But I do have this blog where I have been trying to keep it semi regularly up dated. Its got pictures which Is all that matters right now.

The engine turns over, I have yet to check for spark.

68 Toyota Land Cruiser Restoration

If you just want to see if the engine will run hook a wire from your + battery terminal to that electric fuel pump on your firewall and see if it will pump fuel to the carb. If it will, take a container of fresh fuel and put the intake hose from the pump to your fresh fuel container. Now hook up another wire from the + battery terminal to the positive terminal on the coil. Then with yet another wire to the + terminal on your battery connect it momentarily to the starter solenoid to turn over the motor. You may need to pour some fresh gas into the carb throat to get the carb sucking fuel also. If it does not run check for spark first.

 

[subzali]

you've got yourself quite the project! If you go search around the junkyards you might find a wiring harness that is in decent condition that you can use instead of the hacked one you currently have.

 

[Linkspast]

stuff you said

I checked the pump. and I think it works.. I had some gas in a milk jug, but I think the hose was to long or something, Because I was not getting any gas out the other end... might be because the battery was running low.

 

[John Smith]

I checked the pump. and I think it works.. I had some gas in a milk jug, but I think the hose was to long or something, Because I was not getting any gas out the other end... might be because the battery was running low.

Just pour gas some into the carb then. That will get it running if it is going to.

 

[Linkspast]

YouTube - FJ40 Work in progress
So heres a short video of me touching two points on the starter. . . Any advice.


Ill put some gas in the carb.. So I just splash a bit in the top there?

 

[GarnerFJ40]

It's becuase the bezel is upside down. Cruisers don't like to run with the bezel upside down...