Newbie to Cruisers: 1985 stopped idling & a/c died at same time

[Qwaarjet]

Hello guys, i've been lurking here for the past 2 weeks every since i bought my first ever SUV, a beautiful 1985 Land Cruiser. Many of yours threads have been very very useful. Anyway, I purchased the LC for $2,800, she has some major steering issues, but i figured for a rust free, dent free and an almost perfect interior that it was worth the cost despite the upcoming steering repairs.

anyway, last weekend i drove her for about 20 minutes to give her first major break in ride (kept her under 40mph the entire time) on the way home the a/c started turing off and on rather quickly before dying competely, once the a/c died the truck would not idle anymore, at every stop she would die unless i fed her some gas. Once she's going, she runs fine until i left off the gas. The strange thing is, every once and a while the a/c woudl kick back in for a couple seconds and the truck would once again idle, but it would only last a few seconds.

I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out the relation, but i've drawn blanks. I would greatly appreciate any help you all can provide. I would rather fix the little things before i take it in to get the steering fixed, so that i can save a few bucks. Thank you for your help!

 

[Trapper50cal]

By no means

I'm no expert in AC but it sounds compressor/belt related like the compressor is seizing and then the extra resistence from the belt is stalling it out. Loosen your belts and rotate the comprssor by hand to see if the resistence is strong

anyone else chime in?

 

[humper99]

There may not be a realationship, but just a coincidence. The siezing AC compressor would be easy to check by simply turning off the AC and see if it will idle. My guess would be a bad ground from the engine to frame. AC clutch is electric and fuel shutoff solenoid is electric both requiring a good ground. Try hooking a jumper cable from a bare metal point on the engine to the negative side of the battery.

 

[Trapper50cal]

???

There may not be a realationship, but just a coincidence. The siezing AC compressor would be easy to check by simply turning off the AC and see if it will idle. My guess would be a bad ground from the engine to frame. AC clutch is electric and fuel shutoff solenoid is electric both requiring a good ground. Try hooking a jumper cable from a bare metal point on the engine to the negative side of the battery.

The belt still turns the compressor when its off doesn't it?

 

[NocalFJ60]

The belt still turns the compressor when its off doesn't it?

No. It just turns the pulley since the clutch is not engaged with it off. When you turn on the AC the clutch engages the pulley to the compressor which causes the added load.

 

[NocalFJ60]

Check your engine fuse or the green connector on the carb. The fuel cutoff solenoid is closing causing it not to idle and when your AC is off but when it is on the AC idle up is keeping it from dying. The AC is kicking off because the rpm's are not high enough since it is not higher than normal idle since the fuel cutoff solenoid is not staying open. That is my guess.

Welcome to Mud. You want to fix those major steering issue right away. What is wrong with the steering? The steering and brakes are most important for your safety. You don't want to lose a tie rod going 40mph.

 

[Trapper50cal]

ahhh

ahhh, guess I swallowed a bug...

 

[Qwaarjet]

Thanks Trapper, Humper, and Nocal for the help. I don't have internet access at home (live on a farm ) but i was able to read your replies thru my phone and it helped me find the problem.

When i opened it up, turned it on, put a weight on the gas to keep it from stalling out, i took a look at the compressor as Trapper suggested, and it def looked like it was stuck/stalling out. Was spinning rather slowly, herky jerky style. Grounded the engine, but problem remained.

I went Humper's take on it being an eletrical issue and at the same time it being a coincidence that they both went out on it's first shake down ride. Apparently a couple hoses came loose that i missed on my first inspection of the engine bay (this weekend was my first time i was able to take a look in the sunlight). After reconnecting everything, she started to idle beautifully but the a/c didn't work.

i was curious at what looked like a quick release coming from the battery, i took off the quick release (extension?) and inspected the wiring, and it felt as if it was crumbling as i moved it. I opened it up and noticed one of the wires was in terrible condition. I tossed the exension, was still able to connect the cables and now the a/c works! Also, i hadn't noticed until i plugged it in that the open door chime wasn't working before either.

You guys were right before in that it would only idle when the a/c was on before, now she idle's smoothly even with the a/c is off. Apparently most of those hoses are pretty loose, and the quick spin around the farm got several loose.

I'm planning on replacing them all with new ones, as some look like they're ready to decompose :\ Any hints as to where to pick up some that'll fit?

Nocal, the steering wheel has a lot of play in it, not affecting the wheel movement at all between 10 and 2 o'clock, just loose steering between there. I have to hold the wheel at about 10 o'clock to keep it going straight and the truck has no power steering.

took it to firestone thinking they would give me a good price bc the company i work at has our fleet serviced there, but they told me 700 to fix. after i told them no thanks, they called the guy in charge of our fleet and told him they could repair the steering for 400..... i guess they were trying to rip me off? anyways, they said it was the PS pump and one of the lines (didn't say if it was the high pressure line or low, just said "the one on the bottom")

it is very messy down there, i can take a picture today after work. I'm thinking of a PS pump rebuild, alignment and knuckle rebuild? behind the front driver tire is a greasy mess.

Again, thanks for the suggestions guys, i'm so happy to have those 2 problems fixed finally! i was starting to get worried that this FJ60 was going to fall apart on me a week after purchase!

 

[lehiguy]

steering

The greasy mess on the knuckle is fairly normal I'm afraid to say. I also have and '85, it had a cooked PS pump when I got it. I tried rebuilding it with new seals but it didn't help, it still squeeled and lacked the the poop to turn the wheels at a stand still or even when moving slowly. New ones are spendy but easy to replace. There are some on this forum who have converted their expensive Toyota PS pump to the easy to find and dirt cheap Saginaw pump. The hose is easy, any place that can make hydraulic hoses should be able to make that. Check your drag link ends. They are adjustable and require lots of grease to keep them happy. A knuckle rebuild isn't too difficult and will help. Marlin Crawler, www.marlincrawler,com makes a vastly superior inner axle seal that will eliminate most of the leaky, weepy knuckle mess. I used them and the gear lube now stays where it's supposed to; out of the knuckle. Anyway, you have a fine machine, a marvel of durability. I have 350K on mine and it's a daily driver.

 

[NocalFJ60]

i was curious at what looked like a quick release coming from the battery, i took off the quick release (extension?) and inspected the wiring, and it felt as if it was crumbling as i moved it. I opened it up and noticed one of the wires was in terrible condition. I tossed the exension, was still able to connect the cables and now the a/c works! Also, i hadn't noticed until i plugged it in that the open door chime wasn't working before either.

You guys were right before in that it would only idle when the a/c was on before, now she idle's smoothly even with the a/c is off. Apparently most of those hoses are pretty loose, and the quick spin around the farm got several loose.

I'm planning on replacing them all with new ones, as some look like they're ready to decompose :\ Any hints as to where to pick up some that'll fit?

Nocal, the steering wheel has a lot of play in it, not affecting the wheel movement at all between 10 and 2 o'clock, just loose steering between there. I have to hold the wheel at about 10 o'clock to keep it going straight and the truck has no power steering.

took it to firestone thinking they would give me a good price bc the company i work at has our fleet serviced there, but they told me 700 to fix. after i told them no thanks, they called the guy in charge of our fleet and told him they could repair the steering for 400..... i guess they were trying to rip me off? anyways, they said it was the PS pump and one of the lines (didn't say if it was the high pressure line or low, just said "the one on the bottom")

it is very messy down there, i can take a picture today after work. I'm thinking of a PS pump rebuild, alignment and knuckle rebuild? behind the front driver tire is a greasy mess.

Again, thanks for the suggestions guys, i'm so happy to have those 2 problems fixed finally! i was starting to get worried that this FJ60 was going to fall apart on me a week after purchase!

It sounds like you might of removed the fusible link. Check out this threads. You want to get a new one if this is what you are talking about. It basically a fuse for the electrical.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/221118-fusible-link-question.html

You can get new vacuum hoses from Toyota or I ordered 40 ft of line from McMaster Carr. The part number is here in the 60 forum if you search just this forum up at top right.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/98319-vacuum-tubing.html

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/98319-vacuum-tubing.html

You can get a new power steering pump and high pressure line if you need it from an auto part store. You can adjust the drag link to align the steering wheel. You might need a steering box rebuild. Where are you located?

I would recommend West Texas Offroad for rebuilding the gear box that is what take the last slop out of my steering. You can get a knuckle rebuild kit with all new bearings and seals. Look in to Marlin Crawlers for his axle seals.

Enjoy the cruiser.

 

[AfricanToy]

Dont mean to high jack this thread: but I have a problem with my idle when I turn on the air-conditionar- the idle start to jump up and then down....it just keeps going up and down while the A/c is turn on. Once I turn the a/c off it idles fine. Any ideas?

email: tiehnporesources@hotmail.com

 

[NocalFJ60]

Dont mean to high jack this thread: but I have a problem with my idle when I turn on the air-conditionar- the idle start to jump up and then down....it just keeps going up and down while the A/c is turn on. Once I turn the a/c off it idles fine. Any ideas?

email: tiehnporesources@hotmail.com

Read this one. Check out 2mbb posting of the FSM. Sounds like you need to adjust the screw on the front of the carb to set the AC idle speed.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/226425-c-works-but-now-rough-idle.html