I posted a problem with a 1988 petrol/manual cruiser yesterday and it doesn't seem to have appeared.
Basically my alternator was not working when I bought the cruiser and the electrician had a look and all he did was to remove the connector and meter the pins.
His verdict was it was duff.
When I tried to start the engine after it would only fire up and then die immediately, it would rev and holding at 2000 rpm for a few minutes and then releasing the throttle the same thing happened. No tick over.
Then tried to set the throttle stop screw but any release of the accelerator cause the vacuum solenoid to retract the plate the screw presses against again causing the engine to stop.
Only way to get the engine to run is to remove the vacuum pipe to the diaphragm and seal it off, then the plate is stable to screw in the throttle stop, but I now have a minimum tickover of 1500rpm.
The engine used to fire up okay and run even without the alternator activating the autochoke.
I have fitted a new set of plugs but there still seems to be a gentle popping in the exhaust on tick over.
The plugs I removed showed a good mixture and were beige/white and clean with no deposits
Any ideas please....
Richard
- (#475) Rik vonTrense, 1 Apr 05 12:11
You did post it is under new Spacecruiser owner thread.
Get the alternator fixed and back on and then get it tuned. It will pay for itself in a very short while.
- (#475) Clive (Bristol), 1 Apr 05 13:08
i realise your looking electrically but have you recently removed any of the coloured one way valves within the pipe system ...?? i did and put it back the wrong way round ...would start but no idle.
other than that perhaps there is a fuel cut-off solenoid that is being starved of voltage .
let me know how you get on
dave price
- (#475) dave price, 1 Apr 05 13:10
I can only go by what the electrician said.
I was there at the time but could not get in his way or watch his fingers all the time.
I bought it with knowledge that the battery needed to be replaced. So I replaced it with a almost new big battery which is my Supra spare.
He said that the alternator was up the creek after testing it without the engine running. He pointed out that the battery light did not come on with the brake and door warning lights on the dash. He also said that as soon as the ignition was switched on the alternator gave a live line to the auto choke which activated it on cold start up.
When I found that the engine would not tick over after he had left, I phoned him to ask if he could be responsible.
He said he did not disconnect anything except the plug on the back of the alternator to test it. Not being an engine expert he could offer no advice.
I have been dealing with engines for over 55 years and I could find nothing that had been altered or disturbed or disconnected either electrically or mechanically.
When I find the fuse box I will check all the fuses as it could well be electrical if he was probing and accidentally earthed something that should not be earthed.
The engine had not been started in between him having his probe and leaving.
Mind you reflecting on a couple of things he said, I am now doubting his expertise, unless he was just trying to impress me with his technical knowledge thinking that I was a bit green. But I have sixty years of Amature radio behind me and hold a G4 licence
so electronics are in my blood.
He was suggested as being well up on Jap engines. At least he knew where the engine was and I didn't, plus the fact that I am disabled.
Anyway I am sure some one will hit the right button, I am going to fit another alternator but don't expect miracles from that.
Regards
Rik
- (#475) Rik vonTrense, 1 Apr 05 13:46
if it helps the fuse box is under the radio passanger side
agree with clivr about tune up I hhave mine done just be fore every mot
- (#475) jon, 1 Apr 05 14:28
The phrase put the alternator back and get it tuned up ?
Are we talking about the engine here ? If so who does it and how much does it cost ?
Cheers
- (#475) Rik vonTrense, 1 Apr 05 15:15
Get the alternator checked over and repaired and replaced before you do any more engine diagnostics and repairs.
The last tune I had was £38.00 by Home-tune needed some parts but cant remember if that was included in the price. Got around 5 more miles to the gallon so soon paid for itself.
- (#475) Clive (Bristol), 1 Apr 05 16:44
mine is intatune
cost £25 without parts
- (#475) jon, 2 Apr 05 02:21
Nothing to do with this thread -
Jon are you going to Brean?
- (#475) Clive (Bristol), 2 Apr 05 02:55
hopefully arrive friday leave late saterday am working on sunday
definate for woodvale
- (#475) jon, 2 Apr 05 03:12
The problem is solved......
for future reference, once I found the fuses, there is one fuse marked "ENGINE" that had blown it was a 7.5 amp....I renewed this and put the vacuum pipes back and the throttle stop screw as it was just not touching the cam plate and bingo.....on start up I had 800 rpm as a tickover.
I knew the flaming electrician was responsible somehow. He must have blown the fuse when testing the alternator.
The cruiser is going in for an alternator repair on Monday morning.
Thanks for all the help lads it is much appreciated.
- (#475) Rik vonTrense, 2 Apr 05 07:06
Further update.
Except for the alternator which only seems to affect the autochoke on cold start, everything is working fine as far as the engine goes.
I did about 25 miles this afternoon and there were no problems, good acceleration and no popping in the exhaust, and no over run of shutting off the engine.
That fuse is well worth remembering.....so why couldn't the Toyota workshop people identify the problem....surely it would be a classic symptom, no tickover and unburnt fuel in the exhaust system it all points to a 7.5 amp fuse marked ENGINE.
Rik
- (#475) Rik vonTrense, 2 Apr 05 14:02
Well this is the ongoing saga of the tickover....
The Cruiser went in for an alternator repair which cost £60 for a complete rebuild and I posted this somewhere but can't find it.
However with the new altrernator I lost my tickover and I was advised by the forum to get meself a tune up.
I asked the people who repaired my alternator ( who were responsible for my loss of tickover anyway) if they could recommend anyone local.
Anyway they said bring it back and we will tune it up for you.
Now before this happened I found the adjustment screw and did the necessary but had a wierd effect where every so often the revs would drop and then pick up again almost making the engine stall.
Bad point of all this was it started from cold okay and after running for five mins or so the engine would stop if the clutch was dipped or I changed gear at low speed making me loose my PAS which ain't funny when you are on a turn.
Now they say that I have a faulty Carb gasket and they have tightened down as much as possible but advise that I fit a new gasket on the inlet manifold.
Thinking back when I was trying to find out what the eratic running was, I tried the old trick of revving and blanking off the air from the carb and so sucking neat petrol through to wash out the jets etc.....did this a few times and now wonder in retrospect if this could have caused the leak at the gasket.
Anyway it seems to have cured the stalling so I will get a gasket for the carb when I find out where to do so.
I will have a listen round for the hiss of intake air with my little plastic tube in my ear.
Rik
- (#475) Rik vonTrense, 28 May 05 17:20