Poor starting (sputting and cutting out)...need help. (1 Viewer)

[yarborg]

I don't know how serious this is but for about the last month, the LC has been having a hard time starting. I crank it and it sputters a little....it will even cut off if I leave it alone. If I start moving it will do OK until I need to give it some gas and then it really doesn't like it. If I give it more gas than usual, it will finally get its act together and start moving.

This morning when I did this I swear I heard a knocking sound. The other morning it was sputting so bad I tried to turn it off but it stayed on. Could this be a fuel filter or bad gas issue?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lka1988]

Sounds like a torn intake tube. Causes a massive vacuum leak and the symptoms you are describing.

Duct tape is your friend...

 

[yarborg]

I finally got out there and checked this out. It was about as obvious as it could be but if I didn't know where to look I would have missed it. I had the engine running, and sputtering, and put my hand over the hole and it purred like a kitten.

Here is a pic. Right now I have it patched up with duct tape and may try to fashion a real patch for it out of fiberglass cloth...but we will see about that when it gets warmer.

I hate to think what that tear did to my gas mileage this last month. Oh well. Thanks for all the help and hopefully this pic will help some other newb out there.

 

[LockedLX]

Looks like a call to CDan is in order. May as well pick up a valve cover gasket and the related bits while you're at it. In the mean time you could check the torque on the valve cover bolts and maybe get rid of that oil-burning smell. They're 10mm and should be just barely hand tight. (Stop just after the first sign of resistance.. they're easy to snap off).

 

[MoJ]

Intake Tube - Free + the ride

I haven't found any takers. I keep forgetting to toss it.

 

[LockedLX]

MoJ, I wish I'd seen that sooner. It would make a great trail spare.

yarborg obviously needs it but if for some reason he doesn't take it, consider it sold.

 

[yarborg]

In the mean time you could check the torque on the valve cover bolts ...

Awesome, I was wondering about that. Merry Christmas to me!

Thanks for pointing that out, it is one of the things I have noticed but didn't think to ask about. This forum rocks.

 

[yarborg]

Intake Tube - Free + the ride

I haven't found any takers. I keep forgetting to toss it.

I pm'ed MoJ for the part. Too generous. Thanks!