Hello everyone,
Looks like my New Year's resolution is going to be to finally sort out all of my LJ70's big issues. I'm using it as my first responder truck now that the farm has taken our Ford pickups full-time and I need a bit more dependability than I've experienced the last few years. What I think I need to fix the hot start issue is some guidance on the tools I should have on hand and the procedures I should follow so that I can get to the bottom of this the next time it happens. To date I have replaced the starter relay/solenoid on the inside fender/engine compartment, replaced the battery, and I've had the starter professionally rebuilt. The flywheel ring gear was examined when the clutch was replaced at the same time and it is in good shape. I've also replaced all of my ground cables and cleaned all of the ground contacts for the big cables on the engine and in the engine compartment. The issue I'm having is the classic truck starts fine when cold, starter spins fast, etc. When the motor is hot and its been sitting a few minutes, all I get is a loud click when I turn the key to start. It used to be that with repeated attempts it would sometimes start working but now I really just need to let it sit for a while and then it starts right up. Something is getting too hot and too resistant it seems. I've tried the rocking the truck in gear procedure and it doesn't help and I've also hit the starter with a hammer (without having the key turned at the same time however) but it makes no difference. I have a multimeter and lots of wire for bypassing various components. If someone could tell me how I should systematically go through the system the next time it happens to single out the faulty part, I'd really appreciate it. Best, Rich
Looks like my New Year's resolution is going to be to finally sort out all of my LJ70's big issues. I'm using it as my first responder truck now that the farm has taken our Ford pickups full-time and I need a bit more dependability than I've experienced the last few years. What I think I need to fix the hot start issue is some guidance on the tools I should have on hand and the procedures I should follow so that I can get to the bottom of this the next time it happens. To date I have replaced the starter relay/solenoid on the inside fender/engine compartment, replaced the battery, and I've had the starter professionally rebuilt. The flywheel ring gear was examined when the clutch was replaced at the same time and it is in good shape. I've also replaced all of my ground cables and cleaned all of the ground contacts for the big cables on the engine and in the engine compartment. The issue I'm having is the classic truck starts fine when cold, starter spins fast, etc. When the motor is hot and its been sitting a few minutes, all I get is a loud click when I turn the key to start. It used to be that with repeated attempts it would sometimes start working but now I really just need to let it sit for a while and then it starts right up. Something is getting too hot and too resistant it seems. I've tried the rocking the truck in gear procedure and it doesn't help and I've also hit the starter with a hammer (without having the key turned at the same time however) but it makes no difference. I have a multimeter and lots of wire for bypassing various components. If someone could tell me how I should systematically go through the system the next time it happens to single out the faulty part, I'd really appreciate it. Best, Rich