Rustler bakkie won't start

[HateTelkom]

Hi all

Anyone of you have an idea of what the problem could be with this bakkie?

It's a Rustler 1.6i. The other day my wife drove all day with the bakkie. Stopped at garage. Went into the shop. When she came back the vehicle won't start. It will "swing" and sound as if it want to start but won't start. 3 hours later mechanic got to the vehicle and it started right away.

this morning same thing happened. Dropped the kids off at school.When she wanted to leave the vehicle won't start. Towed it to mechanic. After a while when they tried to start the vehicle it started immediately.

Anyone have an idea what the issue could be?

 

[fish_man]

Thats why you take it to a mechanic......... he should be able to tell you

 

[HateTelkom]

Thats obvious yes hence the reason for me posting ie. to get another opinion of someone that might be technical

The vehicle is at the mechanic at the moment. Maybe someone in here happen to know what it could be and i can then use it as confirmation should the mechanic come back to me with what he think might be wrong

 

[syrrano]

The ignition module could be failing. I have often seen that a failing module will die when it's been running hot and will come back to life when it cools down a bit

This is the animal. It fits inside the distributor

http://sparxx.co.za/ignition-module-mazda-drifterford-bantam-p-27195.html

 

[ponder]

Might not be your problem but have seen this before. Have a look at the vent hole on your petrol cap and shove a pin in there to clean it out. Sometimes a vacuum develops in the tank after a drive and then it won't start again unless you wait a while.

 

[HateTelkom]

The ignition module could be failing. I have often seen that a failing module will die when it's been running hot and will come back to life when it cools down a bit

This is the animal. It fits inside the distributor

http://sparxx.co.za/ignition-module-mazda-drifterford-bantam-p-27195.html

thanks, who in Cape tOwn or surrondings would be a good place to take the vehicle to to have this checked out. Mechanic told me where i left the vehicle yesterday that he could'nt find anything wrong and when it happens again i must contact him which sucks ....because it can be 1am in the morning or 9pm at night when no-one is available

 

[HateTelkom]

Might not be your problem but have seen this before. Have a look at the vent hole on your petrol cap and shove a pin in there to clean it out. Sometimes a vacuum develops in the tank after a drive and then it won't start again unless you wait a while.

You mean just clean out the hole in the petrol cap???For what its worth, I will do it today thanks.

 

[spiderz]

Sounds like you are either not getting spark, or not getting fuel.
There is still power to "swing" the engine.

 

[D3x!]

test battery
test coil
check spark plugs
check fuel pump

 

[HateTelkom]

What i did find guys is that one of my plug leads is loose. I could pull the one lead out from the rubber capping that fits over the actual plug. Obviously i pushed it back in. Can that cause that issue or will the vehicle still start with only 3 plaug leads making properly contact

 

[D3x!]

i am no expert but it will still start imo just will misfire and make a "weird" noise

 

[HateTelkom]

It will miss yes. That is my understanding also

 

[Paul_S]

One loose high tension lead is unlikely to be the problem. It would just make starting a little harder and make driving rather unpleasant (serious vibrations). If you had a lose ignition lead that was causing problems you'd definitely notice it when driving.

As mentioned above it sounds like ignition or fuel problems based on temperature.

I'm not familiar with the Rustler engine layout. Is the fuel pump under the bonnet or in the fuel tank?
If it's under the bonnet and the fuel lines run too close to the exhaust manifold or there is a heat shield that fell off you may have a "vapour lock" problem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor_lock

Vapour lock occurs when the engine is hot and you stop. Radiated heat from the engine/exhaust then heats up the supply line before the pump causing the fuel to boil turning it into a gas. The fuel pump is then unable to pump and you cannot start the engine.
If you wait a while the fuel will cool down, liquify again and you'll be able to start the engine.
While driving the movement of air through the engine compartment combined with the movement of cooler fuel from the fuel tank prevents vapour lock occurring so the problem usually only happens when you stop.
If the fuel pump is located in the fuel tank like most modern fuel injected vehicles then you won't have a vapour lock situation and you can ignore the above.

 

[riscbroker]

You mean just clean out the hole in the petrol cap???For what its worth, I will do it today thanks.

I had a Ford 3l bakkie with this trouble - it would stop running as if starved of fuel, you could open the petrol cap and hear the vacuum being relieved.

 

[Gielie Geelmielie]

Sounds like there are no sparks. Use matches.

 

[D3x!]

Sounds like there are no sparks. Use matches.

:\

 

[HateTelkom]

One loose high tension lead is unlikely to be the problem. It would just make starting a little harder and make driving rather unpleasant (serious vibrations). If you had a lose ignition lead that was causing problems you'd definitely notice it when driving.

As mentioned above it sounds like ignition or fuel problems based on temperature.

I'm not familiar with the Rustler engine layout. Is the fuel pump under the bonnet or in the fuel tank?
If it's under the bonnet and the fuel lines run too close to the exhaust manifold or there is a heat shield that fell off you may have a "vapour lock" problem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor_lock

Vapour lock occurs when the engine is hot and you stop. Radiated heat from the engine/exhaust then heats up the supply line before the pump causing the fuel to boil turning it into a gas. The fuel pump is then unable to pump and you cannot start the engine.
If you wait a while the fuel will cool down, liquify again and you'll be able to start the engine.
While driving the movement of air through the engine compartment combined with the movement of cooler fuel from the fuel tank prevents vapour lock occurring so the problem usually only happens when you stop.
If the fuel pump is located in the fuel tank like most modern fuel injected vehicles then you won't have a vapour lock situation and you can ignore the above.

Thank you for the info.
I believe from the opinion of a mechanic that the fuel pump is apparently in the tank. How accurate he knows his stuff i do not know but it is a 2002 Rustler 1.6i drifter

 

[HateTelkom]

I had a Ford 3l bakkie with this trouble - it would stop running as if starved of fuel, you could open the petrol cap and hear the vacuum being relieved.

I would try this next time it happens. Open the tank and close it again

 

[ponder]

You mean just clean out the hole in the petrol cap???For what its worth, I will do it today thanks.

Yes. There's usually a small vent hole that can get clogged with crap causing a vacuum in the tank which in turn causes fuel starvation.

 

[Fazee]

Same issue!

Hi all

Anyone of you have an idea of what the problem could be with this bakkie?

It's a Rustler 1.6i. The other day my wife drove all day with the bakkie. Stopped at garage. Went into the shop. When she came back the vehicle won't start. It will "swing" and sound as if it want to start but won't start. 3 hours later mechanic got to the vehicle and it started right away.

this morning same thing happened. Dropped the kids off at school.When she wanted to leave the vehicle won't start. Towed it to mechanic. After a while when they tried to start the vehicle it started immediately.

Anyone have an idea what the issue could be?

I have a mazda rustler 160i B6 motor and I have the same problem, already replaced the ignition, checked and replaced all earth wires, replaced the distributor with 2nd hand one (cos agents ask R9000!) and still have the same problem. Same story, when I take it to auto electrician he says he can fix a problem if he cant find it as murphys law when I take it to him then it starts, help please!!!!

Will replacing the ignition module work, help guys please