FJ40 stalling, fuel pump problem?

[AJSFJ40]

I have a 1978 FJ40 that idles and runs great for a short distance, then it stalls out. If you let it sit for a few minutes, it will start up again and only run for short time until it stalls out again. I have checked the tank for anything in the tank, changed the fuel filter. Could it be the fuel pump? Or could it possibly be a vent problem? Any help would be great

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

Stock mechanical fuel pump or aftermarket electric fuel pump?

Are you using the stock-type closed cylinder fuel filters or the generic aftermarket clear plastic ones? Any debris at all in the fuel filter?

Have you drained and flushed-up the fuel tank?

Sorry, no easy answers to a question like this.

Good luck!

Alan

 

[CruisinGA]

try removing the gas cap

 

[Dirtsquirt]

Feel your pain

Been there done that.
I agree on the gas cap. improper desmogging can lead to no tank
vent.
In the end I replaced my fuel pump and Voila!

 

[brian]

when it dies.
if you try to refire right after it stalls, what happens?
does it try to light or just turn over with no effort to catch?

 

[AJSFJ40]

When I initially start it, it runs great. But after driving about a half mile it dies. I can start it back up, but it will not run very long. Really acts like it's starved for fuel. I am going to try the gas cap removal today and see if it's a venting problem. I have had the carb rebuilt and desmogged. Thanks for the help

 

[Texx]

Sure the fuel cut solenoid has power and is working?

 

[ducktapeguy]

Do you have your input and return line mixed up? Run the engine and look at the fuel level through the sight glass and see if it goes down while you're revving it up.

 

[CruisinGA]

I've had this issue twice.

1st time- bad gas cap
2nd time- failing fuel pump

Most vacuum guages can test fuel pump pressure as well. A good tool to have and very useful in this particular instance.

 

[74fjsemistock]

I second Texx...even North of the Red River.

 

[AJSFJ40]

I have tried removing the gas cap and it still stalls. When it does quit, I pop the hood and checked the site glass on the carb, shows no gas. I let it sit for about 5 minutes and start it and it will finally start and gas will slowly fill about half way up on site glass. Then I can go a short distance and it quits again with the sight glass being empty. I have remplaced the fuel filter twice, drained the gas from the tank, checked in the top of the tank and it dosen't look like there is anything in my tank. Can I mechanical fuel pump act up in this manor? After sitting for several hours, it will start and run great and then just stall. The motor is stock, the carb has been completely rebuilt by Jim at TLC. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[35inchoverdrive]

There was a local guy here with a 40 that had a similar problem. He had a small hole in the bladder of the fuel pump, and once it warmed up, it would leak, and fail to pump. Once his rig cooled back down, it would start and run again. If the sight glass is empty, you've ruled out the fuel filter, and you've checked the tank for obstructions, it sounds like the pump is the culprit to me.

 

[AJSFJ40]

I have tried the fuel cap, new fuel pump, drained the fuel tank, fuel filter, and cannot for the life of me get this problem fixed. It will run forever when it just sits and idles, but when I drive it a couple of miles it stalls out. Any other suggestions fellas? Thanks

 

[Hobbs]

Perform a fuel pressure AND volume test on it. Toyota used to provide pressure and volume spec's in the service manual....

 

[Dirtsquirt]

Man that sucks

Based on you posts.. you are having a fuel delivery issue.
The sight glass drops.
Could be:
1 Fuel lines from the tank to the fuel pump. Swollen or pinched
or partially plugged. Remove inlet to the pump and back blow.
remove the gas cap regulate shop air to 15psi and try a back blow
if nothing else this may dislodge chips or rust particles and move em back to the tank.
2 Disconnect the fuel pump outlet and the other end at the carb.
Blow this line also from the carb end.
4 replace the entire fuel line from the the tank to the pump. wouldnt hurt. the old one is 30yrs old.
5 not having a stock carb.. i cant attest to how hard it is to remove the fuel bowl and blow out fuel passage to the float.
6 other than that you have done everything I woulda done
I feel your pain . good luck

 

[Perrymason]

I have a simmilar problem with my fj40. Replaced fuel filter, pump, lines, rebuilt carb. Still having issues when it idles on an incline as the fuel pump seems to be inconsistantly delivering fuel to the carb. Through the viewing window i can see that the gas level almost drops to nothing before a big gush of fuel. The engine idles fine for about 5-8 seconds then chugs almost to a halt then kicks back to life. Driving is fine but when it heats up a little it starts to chug when it idles.

 

[numby]

With new fuel pumps and lines that aren't blocked I'd guess a sticking float or inlet valve.

 

[3_puppies]

one thing to add to dirtsquirts list would be the fuel pick up line being plugged, I needed to run a wire down 3 different tanks thru the years to get them clear.

Also if you have a "boat" tank, you could run a line from it to the fuel pump and see if you still have the issue. that might help narrow down the problem

 

[starsky73]

Distributor???

I have the same problem! I spoke with man-a-fre today and they said they had a similar problem a week or two ago. They said it can be quite difficult to solve, as you already know. How they solved this problem was replacing the distributor...apparently there was some irregularity that was causing the issue because the issue lays in one of 3 areas: Air, Fuel, or Ignition... I purchased a DUI distributor three weeks ago and has been running great, so I'm a little skeptical. But, I've tried nearly all the aforementioned recommendations and I still have the problem. Man-a-fre said these things can go bad. So I'm putting on the stock distributor tomorrow to see if that is indeed the issue. I'll let you know tomorrow evening if this worked or not...cross my fingers!

 

[SBmotorsports]

82' FJ40

I'm having the same exact problem, truck runs great after it's warmed up but after 15-20 minutes it stalls out. The only thing saving me the last two times was pulling the choke to keep the engine running while I limp home. Even that doesn't help after a while.

Weird thing is, if i pull the air cleaner off the carb it starts right up, idles and runs like it was mint with no choke.

Any ideas why this might be happening?