I got my mini truck about 3 months ago....but recently was able to get plates and have been driving it on regular roads for a few days now.... At first i took it slow and stayed on side streets (25-30 MPH)....but for the past few days I've been driving on regular roads (40-45 MPH which seems to be the top speed on my truck) It seemed to run fine until today. Anytime I would get past 3rd gear in the 35-40 MPH range it would just start to slow down on its own. The faster i tried to go...the slower i went. I was able to get home but top speed was like 15 MPH (in 2nd gear) After i finally got home i left the truck alone for a while. A few hours later i tried to start the truck and it seemed to give me a bit of a hard time.....but it started after a few cranks. I took it out for a spin again and it seemed to be ok at lower speeds but anytime I would get moving faster it would loose power. It always Idle's fine and never dies. Any ideas? Could I have a problem with a fuel pump? Im love driving this truck but am really not much of a mechanic. I'm located near chicago....so if anyone can reccomend a repair shop to look at this truck i would appreciate it. Will any old mechanic be able to work on it? Where can i get parts? Its an 1989 Carry 4WD 550CC (DB71T) Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Sounds like fuel filter rather than pump. They are real easy to work on so any older mechanic would probably love to work on one of these.
thanks...ill check it out. If I can find the fuel filter will it be pretty obvious if it is dirty? can it be washed and cleaned up or does it need to be replaced...
Well on mine it has 3 fuel filters, and you have to replace them. Just fallow the fuel line. Mine is a 1992 it has one in the tank with fuel pump, one along the frame and one just prior to carburator. These 2 last ones look alike. The one in the tank rarely clogs up before the others because the filter has a coarser net. The symtomes you mention is consistent with fuel filter clog or Cat clog
First thing I changed when I purchased my truck were plugs,wires,cap,rotor,air filter and fuel filters. Mine runs really nice ever since except for a vacuum line once and a coolant line an other time.
So I traced my fuel line from the gas tank all the way to the what I believe to be the carb. I think I found 2 filters along the way (pictures attached) maybe someone can help Identify? Tracing back from the gas tank to the carb.....the first filter along the way is picture #2.......its a bit dirty....but the red hose goes from picture #2 to picture #1. Then the black hose from picture #2 goes to the carb. If those are indeed the filters and need to be replaced where can i find those parts? could there be a filter somewhere else i missed? Also I should mention .....the muffler has seen better days. The pipe should extend almost to the rear of the truck....but it must have rusted off at some point....because the pipe is very short the comes off the muffler and you can tell there is a mount where the tailpipe should extend to...not sure if the plays any part in all this....i'm going to get this fixed as soon as i have some time....since it probably should run somewhat quieter with that in place.
I agree with Littlefoot ,it sounds fuel related..if the filters don't solve it then your main jet or float bowl are clogged....Seafoam is your best friend in this instance (aside from a carb teardown and thorough cleaning) your exhaust unless plugged up wont cause much power loss (in certain circumstances a rotted exhaust can cause a rough running engine but not rob it of the power you are experiencing)...
sounds like my 80's chev. i havent figured it out either. thinking its plugs. there is fuel, it was sputtering on starting fluid etc. just cant get it to go. might be the fuel to?
do you have the 305 with 4bbl carb ? if so check your egr valve on top of the pass side exhaust manifold...see if it's opening and closing properly..the control arm that operates it corrodes and sticks open...also pump the throttle while looking down the carb throat..you should see the accelerator pump pumping fuel into the carb..if not you have a fuel problem (theres a filter in the fuel line inside the carb.) also check that your choke is coming on.when cold step on the gas once to the floor and slowly release..the choke should stay closed..the mechanical fuel pumps also wear out(the actuator rod gets short) or the rubber splits inside the pump.put a timing light on each plug wire one at a time and crank to see if each wire is getting spark..all the plugs would have to be severely gone to keep an old V8 from starting...I've rebuilt a few old chevs so I've seen most of their problems
Picture#2 is your fuel filter, it looks like it needs changing anyway, my truck has 2 of these. Don't know if my truck was modified. Picture #1 is fuel regulator. Fuel regulators rarely go bad. If you are from canada miniBrute has them. Ask for Jeremy. He's a sponsor at the top.
Could I bypass the fuel filter and hook things up directly to test? or would i risk damaging anything?
If U have a spigit to bypass the lines go for it, it will tell you if that's your problem just don't drive a thousand miles. If you already are in the US then your all set for US distributors.
as a test - yes - I used to get this all the time in my mazda b2000 had 3 of them and they all suffered from the same issue BUT You run the risk of --- if debris are in the line - you could then get them further up the line - like the carb, float bowl this would be bad In an emergency, I once used a bic pen I got lucky and made it home with no probs But after that I ALWAYS carried 2 or 3 filters in the truck They only lasted about 6 months BE SAFE and take off your filter, take it with you, go grab a filter at the store Just for a test filter you SHOULD be able to run any kind that is very similar in size, direction Most of these trucks are not fuels injected, so the system is not pressurized So you should be able to use any kind of similar fuel filter you can grab at your local auto parts stores It seems the beauty ( and the curse ) of these little buggers is that you can ( and often have to ) macguyver your fixes a fuel filter should be no big deal to use an off the shelf one If I am wrong - someone here will correct me
i was thinking to just unhook the fuel filter...and hook the hoses up directly to eachother....would that work? What US distributor has parts for my truck?
i would get a similar size and config yours looks like it is inlet on bottom outlet on top both are on the same side so yea if you can find something pretty close it should work i know you can just futz it with another piece of tubing ... but really for the $4 for a cheapo filter...... and that will allow you to do it NOW allow you to drive it around and determine if thats your problem if it IS the prob then feel free to order a factory fit from someone as for who stocks those parts for the EXACT for your truck check the site sponsors they all seem really good search this site search google search ebay make sure and post all of your results and testing and even pics and part numbers if you find a good off the shelf replacement
going to the store now to see what i can find..... got a bunch of gasoline in my face, mouth and eyes getting this thing off....
mmmm yummy ! I remember doing that on my 92 ford e-350 filter was about the size of large can of alphagetti ! And it was pressurized ( i didn't know that beforehand ) I BATHED in it !! Probably 8 - 10 ounces worth and I was laying below it its attached to the frame rail I know your pain! Good luck I look forward to seeing how it goes
so I found a fuel filter which fit....purolater.....(i can post pics and provide part numbers if anyone is interested) but my problem still remains..... as soon as i pass 30MPH it starts to slow down...... It drives totally normal otherwise and idles fine..... as long as i do not go over 30MPH seems like right after i switch it into 4th gear and step on the gas it does not want to move any more.... any other ideas.... I have a freind who is a "mechanic" coming over later to take a stab at it....
Is your truck originally a domestic sold or japanese sold vehicle ? you may be having issues with the factory speed limiter if it was originally sold in the USA..you mention you were topping 45 mph before and now can't hit 30..the speed limiters were for 25mph if I'm not mistaken.... not sure why it would suddenly only do 25 if it was fine before...My only other suggestion is the main jet or float bowl being clogged (main jet more likely but to get to it you need to open the float bowl anyway..is there an electric fuel cutoff solenoid on your carb ??
I don't have alot of history on the truck. its a right hand drive so i'm assuming japan. It came with mud tires so I dont think this thing was driven on regular roads at high speeds ever....or at least not for the past 3 years. I doubt its the limiter because for 2 days i was driving at 40 MPH plus. All of a sudden yesterday i was crusing along at 45MPH and it started to slow down until it could not even keep 25MPH. Its really stange because it Idle's fine and drives normally at lower speed. Could it be something with the clutch? Where can i find the main jet or float bowl to check that?
Awww that sux we always hope for the easiest fix On the upside You have a fresh fuel filter You have eliminated one possibility You didn't break anything NEXT My buddy mentioned ( although unlikely ) possible plugged CAT but shouldn't be an all of a sudden thing Fuel pump could still be a possibility not failed yet but on its way out But unlikely since it gets up to 25 Should have picked up some seafoam while you were at the store Never tried it myself but it seems that lots of people like it My bro uses it regularly in all his diesels again, it can't hurt to clean it out it won't be expensive Keep us posted on what your buddy finds out
Cat clog occurs suddendly because it is usually caused by a collapse or the honeycomb breaks inside cat. But I don't think that's your problem. Does it start to smoke black at the point where it slows down. It's not clutch either. It has to be fuel starvation somehow. The last time this happened to me it was a seized caliper.
Well the fuel filter needed to be changed anyways......but i still have the problem. I need to leave this alone until the weekend....to many other things in the way. I'll keep everyone posted incase someone is curious to find out what the fix is....and if anyone has any suggestions please share. Any advise on exhaust / Cat troubleshooting?....please let me know.... Thanks for all the reply's....
Just to point it out there is another thread going seems to be the same problem different person, different truck, but the problem seems the same http://www.minitrucktalk.com/showthread.php?t=8076
sounds like we have the same problem...and now that he mentioned it....i get really poor gas milage also....