The Nightmare FJ60

[Ayard]

So I got a FJ60 from my father in law. The engine is a new crate engine and it has the 5 speed transmission. It them almost 4 months to get the parts? Now the engine has 600 miles on it and won't idle. The mechanic (if that's what you want to call him) put the old cap, rotor button, and wires on the truck. The carb has not been rebuilt and has 193K on it. They even put the old fan clutch on the truck. Now here's the problem. The mechanic was the original owner of the truck, the suspension is gone, front seals are gone, brakes are gone, and now with 600 miles on a new engine they get it to run. Due to the fact that my father in law my wife the truck so I have no say so.
It has taken this worthless mechanic 8 days so far for the idle issue. First it was a fusible link? Then the fan clutch? Now the hose from the smog pump to the breather is gone so that's the problem.
What is the real problem? No one knows here. I am getting ready to set it on fire. I have never seen so many problems on a 1 owner vehicle. Maybe you can help..

 

[Front Range 4x4]

Ayard, frustrating for sure! A couple suggestions;
1. Find a new mechanic
or
2. Buy yourself a FSM and fix it yourself
or
3. Find a club in your area and meet people familiar with the 60
or
4. Give it to me instead of setting it on fire.

 

[jreed32152]

Do you live in Idaho???? (Boise area???)

 

[Heartworm]

Sounds like you are in a bad place in this deal. Between the wife and her daddy and a long time family mechanic, I don't envy you. Some of the previous things the mechanic proposed should not have anything to do with idle, at least in my unlearned opinion. From reading this board, it appears that the most common problem with failure to idle is a vacuum leak somewhere. If the rig has recently had a new motor installed to which the original manifolds were attached, it could be a manifold leak. One test for this is to take some carburetor cleaner (aerosol can) and squirt some around the intake manifold junctions with the engine head while the engine is idling. If it is leaking air into the intake manifold, the carb cleaner will be sucked in and become fuel. Thus, the engine will increase in RPMs. THere are about a hundred other places that vacuum could be leaking from those 40 feet of little black hoses though. And, the carb could need a rebuild.
I would not harp on them putting the original parts back on. Although it would have been a good time to replace a lot of stuff when it was easy to get to, most of those parts are probably functional and not the cause of your troubles.
It is going to be hard for you to become a Cruiserhead unless you can become the "Head" for your cruiser.
Give you location and there may be a board member who can help nearby.

 

[philos1]

X2 on redcruiser's #2- if that makes sense.

get it and jump in, we'll be your support crew.



check fuel and air filters, search the forum for carb adjustment, look at the FAQ.

keep us posted.

 

[REKCUT]

I will give you a few hundred for it instead of setting it on fire. Even if it has some odd ball 5 speed thingy.

 

[D'Animal]

I will give you a few hundred for it instead of setting it on fire. Even if it has some odd ball 5 speed thingy.

Yeah those are totally undesirable. What you really want in there is a collumn shift 3-speed out of a late 60's 40.

Post your location. There are people who can help you all across the country and around the world.

You do not need a TOYOTA FSM. Although they are nice, go buy a Haynes or Chilton at any Napa, Kraygen, O'Rielly's etc. They will get up by with 90% of what some one would do to a rig.

Use the enter key once in awhile. The entire story in one paragraph is hard to read.


my $0.02

 

[John McVicker]

Can you give us more info on 'it won't idle' Just what does it do or not do ? Won't idle @ 750 rpms, idle goes up & down 1k - 2k, or maybe remains constant at 1200 rpms when you give it gas, etc. etc. that sort of info. And will it idle properly if uou pull the choke out a bit ? Your problem can most likely be fixed easily...but give us a bit more info.

John

 

[patride71]

i'll pay the shipping if you want to get rid of the engine and 5 speed tranny...

 

[Ayard]

I thank you for the interest in the FJ60 however I like to much to actually burn it. This is just very frustrating since I have a lift kit in my garage for and new 31" Pro Comp Muds and series 97 rock crawlers.

The truck just started acting this way last Wednesday. I would come to a light and it would die. Then it progressed to not wanting to start and idle. The ac also wouldn't work until the idle smoothed out. This led me to an electrical problem. I figured with all the hoses on the truck that electrical could cause this.

They have since said it was the fan clutch.. Nope not buying it since I never had an overheating problem. The truck ran perfect for 2 weeks prior. I can hear an exhaust leak up front. Most likely the header. I am confused...

Does the hose from the smog pump to the breather affect anything?

Why would it run fine for 2 weeks then this?

 

[Fourrunner]

How long ago was the engine replaced? Maybe you mentioned that, but I am to tired to go back a reread it. Did the exhaust noise start around the same time as the idle issue? I agree with heartworm on this one. I think you have a loose connection on the manifold(s) to head. If they are saying it is your fan clutch, get your truck out of that shop and never use them again...sounds like they have no clue what they are doing. That would not affect idle. You may want to invest in a new cap, rotor and wires. May want to replace the plugs as well. Did they do the vacuum hoses to? A factory FSM is nice, but I started with a haynes manual. Mine idled like crap, but small fix after small fix and I have it running 100X better than when I bought it. Do yourself a favor and have the carb rebuilt.

 

[Ayard]

truck used to idle like new around 700rpm. then one day just would not stay running. Very rough running and alittle black smoke when it was reved up. Just would die if I let off the gas.

 

[RAWHEAD REX]

Ayard, I've been through some similar problems.I'm a newbe. What I did was go out and buy a haynes manual and read and read and got real farmiliar with my 60.You have to do that.What if you're on the trail and something happens.You need to be able to get back to civilization.You will learn alot from this website alone.If you haven't visited the FAQ section of this website I would suggest it.Good luck.Dave

 

[TheJackRabbit]

Ayard, you might want to focus on something else for a time. Your FJ60 is at least twenty years old so it will have some issues. You are not familiar with this vehicle (yet). So, these problems seem daunting.

If you are going to "enjoy" your crusier, it will take time and effort to make it the way you want it. There are no out-of-the box, off-the- shelf, you-can-drive-it-away four wheel drive off road vehicles any more. Well maybe the new FJ Cruiser.

Patience, diligence, study, trial and error- these are the motorhead's creed. I have owned my Fj60 for twenty years and I am just now getting to understand it.

It is kind of like owning a mule. You get back exactly what you put into the relationship.

Good luck. This forum is filled with knowledge and helpfull people. So, you are at the right address.

 

[jb welda]

with fifty some feet of vacuum hose, i would suspect a vacuum leak. i would buy some vacuum hose and start replacing. and hope those mechanics didnt just start swapping the hose around without knowing what they are doing. if its still in its stock configuration you will probably find some rotted hose there and its not a bad idea to just replace the lot of it one hose at a time.

it cant be all that bad if it was running fine and then it stopped running fine without catastrophic noises or anything. probably just a small thing; i suspect vacuum leak.

if you dont want to deal with it yourself, find a good mechanic. that dude youre talking to now is taking you for a ride.

good luck and dont lose faith.

one love
jah bill

 

[trucruiser]

Spray some carb cleaner around all the vacuum hoses, once it smooths out you found your vacuum leak, If thats whats wrong.

 

[Ayard]

can someone give me the size hoses I will need and how much. I have the manuals on order.

 

[Fourrunner]

Here is another link to someone looking for vacuum hose. I think it is like 3mm and 5mm? I think. i got mine from Cdan and it was really cheap. That link has another source it looks like. As far as how much? I really don't know. Here are some useful links.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=35619&highlight=vacuum+hose+size