ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: jwinn on March 03, 2007, 02:16:22 PM

Title: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 03, 2007, 02:16:22 PM
Ok, i am newly in to suzuki's and dont know much about them yet.  i recently purchased an 88 samurai and now its acting up.  When you first start it, it runs fine.  Once you drive it for a while and it warms up, it dies and wont start untill it sits for a while.  I am baffled!  I changed the coil because somebody said that could possibly be it but it acts the same.  Im sure its something silly and hopefully someone else has experienced this problem and can tell me the remedy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: Rhinoman on March 03, 2007, 02:50:20 PM
Try changing the fuel filter
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: daddyizzle on March 03, 2007, 02:53:29 PM
May be the fuel pump. I had a nissan that the fuel pump would get hot and constrict causing it to seize until it cooled off. Maybe the push rod on the mechanical fuel pump is sticking. Next time it dies, check for fuel while your cranking it over. My 2 cents.

-Adam 
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: Mike71 on March 03, 2007, 07:25:08 PM
does it sputter at all before it dies? and when it wont start does it just crank or does it sputter?

i had a problem kinda like yours and it was the cat had gotten plugged so it would only start cold..not sure if itl help
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: ROSS on March 03, 2007, 07:29:14 PM
had a friend with the same problem drove us crazy.   his problem was a bad comp.  had that repaired.  been running great for 4 years now
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 03, 2007, 10:12:08 PM
Try changing the fuel filter
I changed the pump and the filter and now it wont run at all.  Its not getting any fuel to the carb at all now.  Before it was working fine untill it got good and warm, then the fuel supply would slowly get cut off.  Now, nothing at all.  Is there a way to prime the system?  Seems like since i opened the lines i made it worse.  Should i go with an elec. pump?   Thanks!
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: Armour on March 03, 2007, 11:04:11 PM
Try putting some fuel in a small squeeze bottle or container. Pour some down the carb and keep it running like that until it wil run on it's own. Sometimes the pump can't prime itself because the engine isn't turning fast enough.
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: Rhinoman on March 04, 2007, 07:45:53 AM
I changed the pump and the filter and now it wont run at all.  Its not getting any fuel to the carb at all now.  Before it was working fine untill it got good and warm, then the fuel supply would slowly get cut off.  Now, nothing at all. 

Is the filter the right way round? IIRC there is an arrow on the body that shows the way the fuel should flow through it
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: daddyizzle on March 04, 2007, 08:07:34 AM
Did you make sure the new fuel pump had movement too it. I had a new one that was stuck away from the push rod. I had to pull it off, and move it a couple of times to free it up. Also, if that rod sticks pushed away from the cam, it would not allow the pump to operate. I don't know if those rods go bad or not. You might pull it out and wipe it off, then throw a little lube on it in case it's just a little sticky. In my case, I had added some Lucas at a prior oil change and wonder if it could halve caused the rod to stick. Not sure though. Along with the priming suggestion above, this should solve it. I just kept spraying starter fluid until it was primed enough to run. Hope this helps.

-Adam
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 04, 2007, 09:01:11 AM
I changed the pump and the filter and now it wont run at all.  Its not getting any fuel to the carb at all now.  Before it was working fine untill it got good and warm, then the fuel supply would slowly get cut off.  Now, nothing at all. 

Is the filter the right way round? IIRC there is an arrow on the body that shows the way the fuel should flow through it
Yeah i double checked that thinking i put it on backwards but its right.  I took the new pump off to put the old one back on thinking maybe the new one was malfunctioning and now i cant get the rod to go in far enough to get either pump on!  This is getting aggervating!  Is an electric pump a bad idea?
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: john1974 on March 04, 2007, 09:48:38 AM
ok well when this happened on my samurai there was a pin hole leak in the fuel line right above the gas tank, it was sucking in to much air and not getting gas... look around to see if you can see some wet gas spots..

Another thing is the float is stuck closed, unhook gas line at carb have someone turn it over for a sec see if gas pumps out... if it does, then its the carb... if not its probally the sending unit in the tank...
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 04, 2007, 02:51:35 PM
ok well when this happened on my samurai there was a pin hole leak in the fuel line right above the gas tank, it was sucking in to much air and not getting gas... look around to see if you can see some wet gas spots..

Another thing is the float is stuck closed, unhook gas line at carb have someone turn it over for a sec see if gas pumps out... if it does, then its the carb... if not its probally the sending unit in the tank...
I went ahead and installed an elec. pump. i thought all my problems were solved then i drove it for a half hour and it did it again.  i pulled the outlet hose off the pump and it is pumping fine.  but when it warms up it is still starving for fuel in the carb. the carb is a weber. has any one ever had this problem before? i guess im gonna try to take the carb apart and clean it. im lost again!
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 05, 2007, 08:18:38 AM
I took the carb off and took it apart and everything seemed ok.  It wasn't gummed up or clogged.  The float seemed to work fine.  Someone suggested that it was vapor locking, to take off the gas cap next time it started dieing but it made no differance.  I even pulled the inlet hose off the carb and turned on the pump and it pumped a gallon into a gas can in no time.  Could this be anything electrical?  Last week  my battery hit the hood and caused my clutch cable to melt in half where it enters the firewall.  Since then the thing has done this it's been acting this way.  I didn't think it was related because the carb is what controls the fuel which runs the engine, not an ecu.... or does it??  I guess if i cant figure this out, its to the shop it goes.  I hate to do it but i want this thing running!  Its killing me just sitting there.  I've owned it for a week and haven't got to go wheelin yet!  Thanks for all of your help!
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 05, 2007, 08:42:16 AM
had a friend with the same problem drove us crazy.   his problem was a bad comp.  had that repaired.  been running great for 4 years now
How was the comp. causing it to do that?  I didn't think that carb. engines rely on an engine management.  where is the comp located?  I saw a couple different boxes under the dash.
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: takai on March 05, 2007, 08:51:13 AM
I even pulled the inlet hose off the carb and turned on the pump and it pumped a gallon into a gas can in no time.  Could this be anything electrical? 

What pressure is your pressure regulator set at? A weber only needs 3-5 pounds of pressure.
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 05, 2007, 08:55:10 AM
I even pulled the inlet hose off the carb and turned on the pump and it pumped a gallon into a gas can in no time.  Could this be anything electrical? 

What pressure is your pressure regulator set at? A weber only needs 3-5 pounds of pressure.
I dont have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator.  The pump i have only runs 2.5 to 4.5 psi.
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: daddyizzle on March 05, 2007, 02:43:36 PM
I guess we should have asked what carb you have. I'm  guessing you don't even have a regulator for it. That would explain alot. Get yourself one of those pressure testing guages and a regulator. If you call weber north america, they will tell you exactly which pressure regulator to get, or maybe someone here knows the best one as far as reliability and price. I think I had mine set just below 3 psi. per Jose at weber. Hopefully you won't have any other adjustments. Weber could help you with that too. The electric choke sometimes needs to be rotated one way or another. Again, consult with weber so you don't mess things up too bad. This is assuming all your fuel pump and electrical issues if any are corrected.

I ran a weber without a regulator, and it would run until warm, and then flood out to where I had to ride the gas at lights to keep it running. It sure sounds like you have a similar problem.

-I sure hope this helps.

-Adam
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: ROSS on March 05, 2007, 04:18:02 PM
NAPA sells an adjustable regulator for around 15 bucks. ran one for 3 years on my weber till I went to EFI
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 15, 2007, 11:39:23 AM
I put the thing in the shop and even they cant figure it out.  He said he thinks its a fuel issue also but cant figure out what is causing it.  This is the craziest thing ive ever encountered.  The problem seems so simple but nobody can figure it out.  Does a samurai have an electric sending unit in the tank?? Thats about the only other thing that hasnt been replaced. 
Title: Re: Engine problems!
Post by: jwinn on March 20, 2007, 10:20:11 AM
Narrowed it down the the carb.  Found that the needle seat had fallen out and was clogged.  That seeemed to be the fix, hopefully!  Thanks for all your help guys!