ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Mac on February 05, 2004, 01:55:08 PM
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Hey folks looking for some, ideas My kick is an 89 with 120,000 km on it. Some background, I have replaced the plugs,wires, cap and rotor less than 15,000 km ago. Over the last couple of weeks, I will be driving along and the motor runs really smooth, occasionally I will get a chug, and out of the blue it quits, the last time the battery did not have enough juice to keep trying to restart it, so replaced it, I have replaced the fuel filter. after letting it sit for a brief amount of time it will restart, but have to crank it over quite a bit. I am going to replace the coil tommorow, as it seems like it might be electrical as it just quits as opposed to chugging before it dies. ??? TPS, Temp sensor, o2 sensor, fuel pump, or fuel pump relay. I use this truck as my daily driver , and it is starting to happen more often and I need the vehicle. If it just quit and would not start again it would be a hell of alot easier to figure it out.
Thanks
Mac
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I do not think it is the computer as once it starts again it could be a couple of hours of solid driving and not a problem.
Mac
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Just a thought but have you checked the fuel tank breather?
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Next time it stalls and wont start have some one check to see if you have spark. If you do then you could eliminate coil/dist. prob.
later, Kevin ;)
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I am not familiar yet with the Sidekick engines but your symptoms sound very much like a Crankshaft Position Sensor problem. Does your engine have a CPS? If not, it must have another sensor for determining the same thing. It could be as simple as an intermittent conection or a bad wire.
I hope that helps.
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That is my problem Kevin, I am driving alone when it happens, and it is intermitent enough to start again, and then continue to run, I hate swapping parts in get expensive.
Mac
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Hey rhinoman, checked that as well, It does not appear to be getting vapour lock.
Mac
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ECM they are really known for this prob, after awhile they get hot and bam, let it sit for a while and it will start and run for a while. Man I been through it too many times.
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The only problem I see with it being the computer, is it will run for hours, and then stop, and restart in a minute or so, and then continue to run for hundreds of km's I would think it should be quiting more frequently as the computer would not get a chance to cool down? What do you think?
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Hey MAC, I would suggest checking all of the wiring connections in the harness plugs to the ECM. My first sammi, the computer loosened up from the mounting (screws actually fell out) and it was sort of dangling around by the harness. It took the thing just dying like you're experiencing before I got it fastened back. No more dying.
Alot of times just the act of unplugging and reconnecting things clears problems like this.
If it's not the harness connections at the ECM, it's a connection somewhere else. My $.02.
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I used to be a pro auto tech. When I got intermittant problems like this I would instal a fuel pressure gauge then just leave it under the hood (tied out of harms way) and I would clip in a spark teste rinline on the coil wire (the kind with a spark plug top on one end and a spring loaded clip on the other clear plastic viewing window)
It is a good idea to carry a fire extinguisher too just incase the spark and fuel mix ;)
now when it dies youre ready to sort out what is missing spark or fuel.
I used to leave them idling in the driveway while I worked on something else but some times they gotta be driven under a load.
Hope this will help you out
MOO
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See this thread http://www.zukiworld.com/cgi/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=suzuki_talk;action=display;num=1075778375 ,particularly Speedystangs response. My Tracker does similiar to what you explain. When it did it last I held the pedal to the floor and it started right up.
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It is not an issue of starting, the truck just quits while driving. I picked up a coil today and see if that fixes the problem.
Mac
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Thanks Ronzuki, I will go through the connectors, I am sure it is electrical, the way it quits.
Mac
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Well, it was not the coil or, the connectors on the harness, checked and cleaned all of them, computer, and engine side..
Mac
High ho, it is off to buy more parts I go.
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Damn! I hate stuff like that!!! I'm an industrial elec. engineer and get into some funky problems. My temper gets the better of me at times and the ole' BFH gets whipped out >:( and yes, sometimes it does work. Seriously, bad solder joints can also make for some relly PITA troubleshooting. Had a bad wiper motor in the suburban a few years back and it was recalled for "improper soldering" ( there was a PC board in it for the intermit. wiper circuitry) . I'm still leaning on the computer side of things. Cold or broken solder joints in there can cause stuff like this to happen. Good luck.
Ron
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I hear ya, I took electronics while I was in the Millitary, as well as digital logic, and this is pissing me off, I had the same thought a cold solder joint, I am going to pull the brain and check the board for damage, and if nothing I will reheat all the joints and try that, I really wish I had a scope still. I just am afraid this thing will leave me high and dry in the worst spot.
Mac
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Yep, fixed lots of control equipment by simply re-flowing the joints on suspect boards and such. Hope it works out for ya.
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I hear some of the Caps used in the ECUs
were of suspect quality (mitsubishi builds
these ECUs for Suzuki) and that they fail
and leak acid onto the boards, after a while
the acid eats thru and computer no work no
more. ÂÂ
Your mission, should you choose to accept it,
is to infilterate the ECU, find the offending Caps
and take e'm out, then replace them with good
ones, clean the board and make sure it's in good
order, you might even consider re-sealing the
board with that electronics board spray to protect it.
I've had to wash and dry computer mainboards
so I think you can wash the ECU, then dry it in the
oven at 200* for an hour or two, I washed mine with
an old tooth brush, or new if you want  ;)  and dish
detergent, rinse with distilled water for a spot free
shine, and dry in the oven.
;D
Good luck
Darrin
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Well that process should earn you the "Good Zuke Keeping" seal of approval! ;D ;D
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Well, I think I have narrowed it down to a temp sensor,either the air intake, or coolant temp sensor, as soon as the truck warms up it starts to dump a ton of fuel, and burns super rich.
Mac
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Well it turned out to be a flaky intake air temp sensor, and a flaky coolant temp sensor. Runs like a charm now.
Mac
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Sweet, good to hear it worked out for ya.
Did Biker come to your house today, shortly after I left?
I saw him on the highway heading towards your pad.
I was hoping he didnt mistake my truck for yours and end up not going over because he thought I was you.
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No I think he was heading out to pick up his kids, I am so glad the truck is fixed it was really starting to *** me off.
Mac
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Oh ok.
Ya it sounded like quite the run around inorder to get it running smooth again.
We should celebrate by going to Dumont next weekend. :P
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Well it turned out to be a flaky intake air temp sensor, and a flaky coolant temp sensor. Runs like a charm now.
Mac
What was involved in replacing these sensors? How much did they cost? Thanks.
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They were easy to replace, they just are threaded into the intake, the air temp was just screwed out, the coolant one I had to drain some of the antifreeze out first.
Downside $90.00 each cdn
The ### off the computer still did not show an error code.
Mac
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What type of store did you buy them from? Would a chain store like a Auto Zone have them or do I need to go to NAPA? Did you need to replace both of them?
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A Suzuki part only.
Mac