Passing through St.George and if anyone who’s keen to lend a hand I’ve lost fuel pressure and will be starting diagnosis in the morning. Was traveling from CA to CO with my daughter and on an incline just north of Logandale NV saw some sparks out of the exhaust and pulled over, idle got weak quick and I shut it down. Won’t start up so I got a tow to a place in St George. I’ll be figuring out the issue tomorrow 1/25/26 but I figure if someone with some know how and perhaps a tool I don’t have may be up for a good old fashion fix it fest. I’ll check here in the morning.
If you wanna help St George UT
- Thread starter HuKiT
- Start date
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Pull the plugs and look at them. Stick your finger in the hole, crank it over - got compression. A real gauge and MMO to do a dry/wet compression test would be better.
Good luck, if initial repair seems daunting one might buy an electric pump some hose and a couple filters and try and bypass the system to get you home. You won't regret having an extra electric fuel pump around. (Ive had mine for like 20 years and have used it for testing and transfering fuel numerous times)
This is my electric fuel transfer system. Was like $50 years ago to build from Amoron and Ebay. Switched, fused, and filtered. Can plug into cig lighter or clamp on battery, 12' power cord. Will do diesel. The hoses are reversible 5' draft and 20' delivery, or switch them for harvesting fuel from tanks, barrels.
I have used it to get home when the fuel pump quit. Much nicer that the IV bottle of gas on the antenna. Also nice as all the new fuel cans suck at getting fuel into the tank without spilling. Plus 5 gallon cans are way heavier at 70 then they were at 20.
I have used it to get home when the fuel pump quit. Much nicer that the IV bottle of gas on the antenna. Also nice as all the new fuel cans suck at getting fuel into the tank without spilling. Plus 5 gallon cans are way heavier at 70 then they were at 20.
- Thread starter
- #7
1982 FJ45 troopy. 2F engine. I’ve attached a photo of the carb has a 1L27 stamped on the upper and “Aciom” on the main body I believe. Just getting moving after the long and late day.
Might try replacing fuel filter.
- Thread starter
- #9
Had 120 compression before we left SoCal
You said you were blowing sparks out the exhaust. Was it overheating? Could be a burned valve or running really lean. Doesn't sound like a fuel delivery issue to me. Is there fuel in the site glass on the carb?
Getting confused on your wording about things here … so answer these questions
When turning the key does it crank over (spin engine)
If yes … then
Pull a spark plug and crank over to see if you have spark
If yes … then
Pull off air cleaner … see if gas is going in when using throttle
If no gas pour a tad in carb and see if it tries to start
If it tries to start then you have a fuel problem
Points?
Electronic ignition?
Imho it sound like you lost spark… either totally or intermittent … the raw gas going through the exhaust ignited and you saw a flash
When turning the key does it crank over (spin engine)
If yes … then
Pull a spark plug and crank over to see if you have spark
If yes … then
Pull off air cleaner … see if gas is going in when using throttle
If no gas pour a tad in carb and see if it tries to start
If it tries to start then you have a fuel problem
Points?
Electronic ignition?
Imho it sound like you lost spark… either totally or intermittent … the raw gas going through the exhaust ignited and you saw a flash
- Thread starter
- #13
Had 120 compression before we left SoCal
Yea, well "had" could be the operative word. Sparks flying from the exhaust sounds like a burnt valve - and I vote jug #5 ran lean from a bad brake booster.
There are a few things you can look at with few tools on the side of the road. I don't drive out of the yard without a tool box. Compression gauge, timing light, sockets, wrenches, feelers gauge, VOM and test light, spare fluids, fuses, points, wire, nuts and bolts, electrical connectors - book and a 2x3' blown up laminated wiring diagram.
There are a few things you can look at with few tools on the side of the road. I don't drive out of the yard without a tool box. Compression gauge, timing light, sockets, wrenches, feelers gauge, VOM and test light, spare fluids, fuses, points, wire, nuts and bolts, electrical connectors - book and a 2x3' blown up laminated wiring diagram.
- Thread starter
- #15
When working to test fuel (spray some from a second source) we lost the starter, I pulled it and tested on the battery, it is dead. Took out the trusty Toyota hammer and gave it a few knocks and tried again. Nothing.
Napa in Cedar City has one in stock so we’re headed there. I do think I may have a bigger issue.
When turning the key does it crank over (spin engine)
Yes we did have crank until the starter failed.
(Could the starter have gone bad because the engine was locked up and in trying last night and this morning it was too much load on the starter?)
If yes … then
Pull a spark plug and crank over to see if you have spark
Will do once the new starter is installed
If yes … then
Pull off air cleaner … see if gas is going in when using throttle
I believe I did have fuel pressure because there was fuel leaking out of the base of the carb where one of the (not the correct term but valve rods extends out of the carb with a spring lever on it).
If no gas pour a tad in carb and see if it tries to start
Was doing this when the starter seased
If it tries to start then you have a fuel problem
It was not even trying to start it was like an empty can of break clean was being sprayed a “shh shhh” noise
Points?
Electronic ignition?
Was checking the ignition by moving some wires but the starter not working became priority.
Imho it sound like you lost spark… either totally or intermittent … the raw gas going through the exhaust ignited and you saw a flash
I agree I think something happened in the spark system. And seeing that spark could mean I lost spark completely. Timing was just adjusted but I need to pull the distributor cap. A timing gun would be useful. Any tip on the best way to check where spark may be lost? After I pull a plug and check for spark by cranking it over. Not sure if I could have done that with no starter.
We’re on the road to Cedar City using a borrowed vehicle (with Heat!) appreciate the following along as we sort this out.
Check the distributor hold clamp. If timing was recently adjusted it might be loose and causing bad timing. Also check starter terminals and battery terminals if you haven’t already.
Check for 12 v at the carb cutoff solenoid.
Check for 12 v at the carb cutoff solenoid.
- Thread starter
- #17
Love the wiring diagram tip. I need to find a good clean file and make one of those to add to the other stuff I do have. (Need the timing light but left it at home this trip, and a good copy of the repair manual.
If you have the old style starter especially sometimes when cranking fit long periods the starter solenoid can ‘freeze up’
If you take a hammer or long pipe and tap the top of the starter it can free it up
Do you have points? Or electronic ignition?
If points … you may have the point contacts pitted … they can be cleaned with sandpaper and the gap checked … if no feeler gauge you can use a matchbook (however there are not common to find these days lol)
When checking for spark make sure when plug is out to have it against the block for it to ground
If you take a hammer or long pipe and tap the top of the starter it can free it up
Do you have points? Or electronic ignition?
If points … you may have the point contacts pitted … they can be cleaned with sandpaper and the gap checked … if no feeler gauge you can use a matchbook (however there are not common to find these days lol)
When checking for spark make sure when plug is out to have it against the block for it to ground
I was going to post exactly this @JohnnyC. Years ago on the Tanamai my wife and I were in the LX when the motor did almost exactly this scenario. I cleaned the points with my Leatherman (illegal to carry now in Australia, but I carried it then) gaped it with a business card and kept going.
Hopefully that's it.
Hopefully that's it.
Crap man. You’re telling me you can’t carry a multi-tool with a small knife on it in Australia? What The Heck