Chino California help

[oldktmdude]

 Mark, did you try to push start it? If you did and it wouldn't start, that eliminates the starter as the problem. Sounds similar to the problem I had with my '85 which turned out to be a starter motor problem. Only happened when the motor was hot.  Hope you get it sorted.  Pete.

[Pat Conlon]

Did it crank and cough, crank and not cough, or not crank?

Crank and not cough....

Open the float bowl drains and see how much (or little) gas you have in them.

[FJmonkey]

Open the float bowl drains and see how much (or little) gas you have in them.

They had enough to allow the engine to start and run after I got home. I am gonna take a short ride today, not too far from home. Some stop and go, freeway speeds, get it up to running temp and try starting while hot again. I need to duplicate the problem, otherwise I won't know what the cause is or if I fixed it. The fuel starvation might be fixed, the flappers are gone from the cap, no more singing after a ride for my FJ....

[FJmonkey]

I am still out for my test run after checking the vacuum function on the petcock, new vacuum line, washed an re-oiled the intake filter and ripped out the flapper valve. I got on the freeway like yesterday only chose a route closer to home and friends if things go wrong again. I got a good 16 miles of sustained 70/75 mph before traffic reduced the speed. Pull into Cycle Gear and shop, shoot the shit and drool over some Sidci gloves marked way down. Had a little trouble starting, on whim I chose to not crack the throttle open, it coughed, one more time with no throttle and it fired right up and stalled. Once more with throttle to keep the RPMs up and I am off. Surface streets for a few miles and I notice the idle seems rough at stop lights, I keep the RPM around 2K and it still seems rough. Once in motion the engine feels normal. Another mile or so and pulling into my next stop the engine is bogging down, no power, like its fuel starved. In the parking lot it seemed ready to stall. Once parked, hand off the throttle it stalls. Time for a beer and wings. At least my FJ got me to the beer stop, and I know that she still loves me and is really having issues, not being tempramental. I will see if she fires up after a rest and cool down period. I will post again when and if I get home.

[racerrad8]

It might be the battery/charging system. If the battery is shorting internally it might be causing the ignition do some weird stuff.

It the battery dies and the alternator does not have enough output to keep the system operating, then it is going to start dropping spark quality.

So thing else you might look at.

When it started dropping cylinder this time did you check the float bowl volume?

Randy -RPM

[56 CHEVY]

FJmonkey, 7 or 8 years ago, my 86 did exactly what you are describing numerous times. I checked everything, tank flapper, fuel line routing, tried using reserve, replaced the reserve relay, ect. It would sit for an hour or so then start right up and I could ride for the rest of the day with no problem. One day it happened about 200 miles from home, out in the middle of nowhere. On the side of the road I pulled the tank, disassembled the petcock and removed the o-ring that shuts the fuel off when the engine is off. After reassembling everything it fired right up and I rode the rest of the summer with no problems. I ended up replacing the petcock assembly that winter. I never figured out what was wrong with the old petcock but it has never acted up since. Might be something to check on yours.

[FJmonkey]

It might be the battery/charging system. If the battery is shorting internally it might be causing the ignition do some weird stuff.

When it started dropping cylinder this time did you check the float bowl volume?

Randy -RPM

No float bowl check, but Pat may have this thing sussed. I did two things when it started gong to hell at the stop light. Popped open the fill cap (flappers already removed) and switched over to Reserve. It ran like stink all the way home. Even after I switched back off of reserve. Still not solid on the cause but fuel supply is my top suspect now....

[yamaha fj rider]

Glad to hear you got home ok, with out a little help from your friend with the truck. Do you have that old style fuel petcock? If so I think that is your problem and always take Randy's advise, check the voltages. Hope this helps and keep us posted. FJmonkey soon to ride again. 

Kurt

[fj11.5]

hope you get her sorted soon mate, , I'd give you a hand but too far to swim 

[FJmonkey]

Thank you all for the advise and suggestions. I have a voltage meeter with LED display I can connect directly to the battery and monitor the voltages while cranking at start up and while running. Some cable ties and two sided foam tape and I will check again this weekend.   

[yamaha fj rider]

Good to hear that you made it home safe and sound. That is a good FJ, when it makes it to the beer and wing place before it quits. I just remembered no fuel pump until 89. Good news, no truck ride. Let us know when you get this figured out.

Kurt

[yamaha fj rider]

FJmonkey did you figure out the problem.

Kurt

[FJmonkey]

FJmonkey did you figure out the problem.

Kurt

Last time out for a ride when I was returning home it stalled at a light, would not restart. I did two things, opened the gas cap (flappers already removed), and switched to reserve. It fired right up and ran like stink all the way home. I even switched off the reserve with no problems. One more ride or two this weekend should help eliminate what is not causing the problem.

[yamaha fj rider]

Sounds good. Get it ready for NAPA rally?

Kurt

[FJmonkey]

Sounds good. Get it ready for NAPA rally?

Kurt

That is the plan.