Fj62 hard start help

[WILLD420]

There is a ricer part that allows you to adapt a different fuel pressure regulator onto the fuel rail. Mostly a hot rod part for the turbo crowd but I bought one several years ago when FPR's were hard to find and going for 120-150$ for Chinese junk.

 

[php74]

Regulator changed out. All fixed. Thx!!

 

[AussieCruiser62]

Regulator changed out. All fixed. Thx!!

Excellent result, top job

 

[php74]

Not fixed....man..

 

[AussieCruiser62]

Oh noooo..bugger!

 

[c2dfj45]

Not fixed....man..

Went thru this on a customers 62....started kind of out of the blue for him. Hard starts....just crank and crank and crank. Usually after he drove and parked. Cold starts seemed to be good. We had been progressively going thru the system on his truck since we didn't know the history(185k miles) of it and he wanted everything new. Fuel pump and sock, regulator, pulsation dampener.....filter. The issue was kind of isolated but as it became more and more frequent, we dove deeper. Each time we would see the truck and do something, it would change a little. I seem to remember fuel pressure loss at the rail being within spec when we tested(we would always find low or no pressure in the rail which would point the finger at fuel loss....we could smell it too on the drivers side). We did find a lot of raw fuel on the number 5 cylinder's spark plug after we would crank and crank. Out came the injectors. We did those and the truck ran better than it had ever run.....MPGs and power were both way up. Really big change.

We install al lot of 3FEs in 40s....we go thru them from top to bottom so we never have issues like this but they alway have new injectors along with all the other usual suspects....pulsation dampener, regulator, filter, rubber fuel lines, fuel pump, sock, etc. Never fuel problems on those motors. All that stuff is plenty used up by now....time for new.

Also...have a look at that cold start injector.....they get horrible dirty. Important part of the system to having it work as it should.

If you do injectors, make sure you get replacement connectors as they will be brittle and break. Easy to replace when you have the injectors out. We have a source for them if you need it....I think Amazon has them...it's a common plug. I seem to recall there are 2 different style plugs for the injectors.

The last thing we did to that truck after the starting was solved was replace the charcoal canister.....the truck would have a lot of pressure at the tank once everything was up to snuff. Replaced that with a generic Napa one and the truck has been spot on since. Also went thru every vacuum line on that truck....found a couple that were problematic. Fixed them up. Truck has been rock solid since. Not a fun repair bill for the client but it will be good for another 30 years.

 

[AussieCruiser62]

Went thru this on a customers 62....started kind of out of the blue for him. Hard starts....just crank and crank and crank. Usually after he drove and parked. Cold starts seemed to be good. We had been progressively going thru the system on his truck since we don't know the history(185k miles) of it. Fuel pump and sock, regulator, pulsation dampener.....filter. It was kind of isolated but as it became frequent, we dove deeper. Each time we would see the truck and do something, it would change a little. I seem to remember fuel pressure loss at the rail being within spec when we tested(we would always find low or no pressure in the rail). We did find a lot of raw fuel on the number 5 cylinder's spark plug after we would crank and crank. Out came the injectors. We did those and the truck ran better than it had ever run.....MPGs and power were both way up. Really big change.

We install al lot of 3FEs in 40s....we go thru them from top to bottom so we never have issues like this but they alway have new injectors along with all the other usual suspects....pulsation dampener, regulator, filter, rubber fuel lines, fuel pump, sock, etc.

Also...have a look at that cold start injector.....they get horrible dirty. Important part of the system.

If you do injectors, make sure you get replacement connectors as they will be brittle and break. Easy to replace when you have the injectors out. We have a source for them. I seem to recall there are 2 different style plugs for the injectors.

The last thing we did to that truck after the starting was solved was replace the charcoal canister.....the truck would have a lot of pressure at the tank once everything was up to snuff. Replaced that with a generic Napa one and the truck has been spot on since.

Looks like injectors/cold start injector are the next thing on the list...damn

 

[c2dfj45]

And as dumb as this sounds, make sure your battery is 100% good. We had a car with a suspected lack of fuel issue and I remember it being the battery.....just didn't have enough power to start on a warm restart.....although it checked out just fine, it didn't have enough to get that thing turning over to light it off. It would crank and pause ever so slightly......then it would fire....sometimes it wouldn't. Strange one. Really strange. Maybe tighter tolerances when the motor was warm....not sure. Battery was brand new as I recall.

 

[c2dfj45]

Looks like injectors/cold start injector are the next thing on the list...damn

The cold start injector can be cleaned pretty easily....our injector guy can't clean them so we do them at the shop. Some compressed air and cleaning solution works. My guy made up a rig to clean it.

I don't think we have ever gotten back a set of injectors from our injector place without at least one of them failing.

We keep the OEM ones...I have been wanting to try some of the new ones with better spray patterns but haven't. I'm a sucker for keeping things all OEM.

 

[php74]

Thank you for taking the time to write all that, great info, really really appreciate. Will start going through this stuff, I’m an oem freak too. Thx!!!

 

[c2dfj45]

Thank you for taking the time to write all that, great info, really really appreciate. Will start going through this stuff, I’m an oem freak too. Thx!!!

It was very difficult to figure that truck out because it didn't always have an issue. Fortunately the customer was really good at being very precise when it would act up....as well as how the truck was performing. I'm not so sure by upgrading some of the fuel system parts we didn't maybe negatively affect the injectors. It was a really strange one. I was relieved when it was all fixed....we had hours and hours in that truck inspecting things....and I'd like to think we know the 3FEs pretty well.

I know for sure I'd get to those injectors and probably do the fuel pump(kind of a pain). 30 years is a long time on a lot of those components!

Post up what you come up with and if I can help in anyway, PM me. Happy to help if we can.

 

[Skniper]

The cold start injector can be cleaned pretty easily....our injector guy can't clean them so we do them at the shop. Some compressed air and cleaning solution works. My guy made up a rig to clean it.

I don't think we have ever gotten back a set of injectors from our injector place without at least one of them failing.

We keep the OEM ones...I have been wanting to try some of the new ones with better spray patterns but haven't. I'm a sucker for keeping things all OEM.

Couple of nice posts from you, thanks for sharing.

Couple questions...how are you replacing the injectors with OEM? I thought those were not available. Is there a solid aftermarket injector available?
And how are you replacing the injector connector plugs, are you having to cut and splice the new plugs onto the wiring harness?

 

[c2dfj45]

Couple of nice posts from you, thanks for sharing.

Couple questions...how are you replacing the injectors with OEM? I thought those were not available. Is there a solid aftermarket injector available?
And how are you replacing the injector connector plugs, are you having to cut and splice the new plugs onto the wiring harness?

We are having the stock injectors refurbished which any injector shop can do. We use Boost Lab in Tampa since we're in Tampa.

I know on one truck or swap we had to run different connectors.....there was a change at some point(maybe 91?) We use refurbished injectors that are on the shelf so sometimes that different injector style goes on a truck with a harness that has the earlier connectors. Not usually a big deal for us because we are building new harnesses for the trucks and match the connectors to the injectors.

These are the new connectors that we use. Pretty sure we just use the plastic portion as they tend to become brittle, break, and don't secure correctly. De-pin them and install new connector....good as new.

 

[baacani]

Did you get ever figure out your problem? I’m having the same issue. I replaced my fuel damper and FPR. Still having a hard start issues. It eventually starts. The problem happens after sitting overnight or parked for more than 8hrs. Ignition components have been changed within the last 3 years (spark plugs, cap, rotor, wires) recently changing fuel filter. I feel like fuel pump is fine since the truck runs once started. Idles fine when started.

I have two codes on my CEL which is 22 water temp sensor
And
43 which is the ignition circuit or ignition switch. I haven’t trying switching the ignition switch yet but wanted to see after changing my FPR and fuel damper

 

[jonnyd42]

Did you get ever figure out your problem? I’m having the same issue. I replaced my fuel damper and FPR. Still having a hard start issues. It eventually starts. The problem happens after sitting overnight or parked for more than 8hrs. Ignition components have been changed within the last 3 years (spark plugs, cap, rotor, wires) recently changing fuel filter. I feel like fuel pump is fine since the truck runs once started. Idles fine when started.

I have two codes on my CEL which is 22 water temp sensor
And
43 which is the ignition circuit or ignition switch. I haven’t trying switching the ignition switch yet but wanted to see after changing my FPR and fuel damper

Did you ever figure this out? I have the hard start issue but only when the truck is hot (driving it for a bit and then letting it sit).

 

[baacani]

Did you ever figure this out? I have the hard start issue but only when the truck is hot (driving it for a bit and then letting it sit).

I changed the water temperature sensor and it starts way better now. When it’s cold it takes a bit to start and I have to have the gas pedal down to get it going. After that it’s fine. Hope that helps.