Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Stalling when hot & poor fuel economy

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    15
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Stalling when hot & poor fuel economy

    I'll start by saying that I wasn't expecting this thing to be a Prius, but I thought it would be a little better than it is.

    I have had my 1993 3.5 V8 Auto D1 on road for about two weeks. In those two weeks I've pretty much done everything with it. Round town (too and from work), highway, and highway towing.

    Around town i'm well over 20L/100km, and that's with me taking it easy with the right pedal. Highway i'd be guessing about 20L/100km. Towing 1000-1200kg, well lets just say that the fuel light just come on after driving way less than 300km.

    I swapped to 98 octane and it may be a little better.

    It's now started stalling when hot. When pulling up to a round about or traffic lights, basically at idle. I have read that this may be to do with the stepper motor hanging off the back of the inlet manifold and that I should clean that? What do I clean it with (carby cleaner??)??

    The car has only done 140,000km. I haven't done much more than an oil change & oil filter at this stage as priorities were to get a RWC done for it. I'll do spark plugs, fuel and air filters in the next few weeks. What else should I look for to check/change that could improve economy and performance? Any advice will be much appreciated!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Crafers West South Australia
    Posts
    11,732
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Undo the vacuum hose at the fuel pressure regulator (rear of the motor) and look for signs of fuel leaking into the engine via the vacuum hose. Stuffed regulators are not uncommon.

    Check the ignition timing with a timing light, make sure both vacuum and centrifugal advance are working. Set the timing at 8-10 degrees BTDC at idle.

    Stepper motors can be cleaner with carby or throttle body cleaner. You can also raise the base idle speed with a 3/16" allen key inserted in the small pocket on to of the throttle body.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Caboolture
    Posts
    72
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Absolutely...start by cleaning the stepper, I followed bee utey's advice before, I cleaned my stepper on the side of the road in angst with nothing more than wd40 and a baby wipe! Instant success now my fuel economy is looking better too. My idle is much lower (550 rpm) but there's no hunting surge or stalling and I'm feeling better about owning my disco. It is easy to clean providing that it is dirty and not buggered and can offer step by step detail if you want.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    15
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Kind of dove in and pulled the stepper out. However, I pulled the whole body off the manifold (three screws with allen key heads). Cleaned inside that with carby/tb cleaner. Not sure if that is thorough enough, or should I pull the actual stepper itself out? I drove around for 5 minutes and no stall, but the problem isn't always there. If it comes back I guess I'll take the stepper itself out.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Pialba, Qld (near Hervey Bay)
    Posts
    288
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Talking

    What about cleaning the MAF?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    14,152
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Not sure if that is thorough enough, or should I pull the actual stepper itself
    out? I drove around for 5 minutes and no stall, but the problem isn't always
    there. If it comes back I guess I'll take the stepper itself out.
    Yes undo the big nut on the stepper itself and clean the "cone" and use a cotton bud on the seat also.
    DO NOT try to unscrew, pull or otherwise move the stepper cone on the stepper itself as here lies heartbreak.
    Regards Philip A
    jeez I am getting old. I forgot to say that you should also take the rubber hose off the throttle body and clean the butterfly and all around it. Also seeing you now have bits off its a good time if teh engine is warm to block off the stub and hose to the stepper and set the base idle at about 550 -600 RPM by turning teh allen screw on top, out is faster .
    Last edited by PhilipA; 23rd October 2013 at 09:43 AM. Reason: more info

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Dubai
    Posts
    97
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Check the resistance on the thermocouple (engine water temp) that feeds the ecu, it's located near the thermostat.

    If this is sensing a colder water temp, it will think it's running cold and continually over inject (run a different fuel map) make it run richer.

    Spray all the air supply hoses with wd40 that fed the plenum, you might have an air leak, if there's a leak the revs pick up. also pull the flame trap of the rocker cover, place in a jam jar with white spirt and give it a good flush too.

    Check that the hose from the rocker cover to the clean side of the air filter is all good too.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    nsw
    Posts
    73
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Check the plug connection on the MAF.It still gives me grief on the odd occasion.Just by unplugging it and plugging it back in the idle will go from "Top fueler" to smooth again.
    I chased idle problems for ages till I found this problem.
    One day I will get around to fixing it properly.........

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Avoca Beach
    Posts
    14,152
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Just veeery carefully twist the prongs on the male plug a tiny bit say 2-5 degrees and this will give a better contact.
    Regards Philip A

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
Search All the Web!