Broken down on my birthday

rrefx

rrefx

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
434
0
45
Pleasant Grove, Utah
www.utah4x4club.com
I was comming home from work down Provo Canyon last night at about 6:30 in the '96 disco. Things were good, and had over a half a tank of gas, when suddenly the engine lost power and died. I managed to get it off the road and to a stop. I tried starting it a couple of times when I noticed the gas gauge was on empty, which was odd. I got out and looked to see if I had torn a gas line, but hadn't.

I sat there for about ten minutes trying to figute out what to do. I turned the key back on and it said I had over half a tank, which I new I had, I had filled up earlier that day. It started right up and off I went. I got halfway down the canyon with it running just fine, when the engine started sputtering.

I looked down and literally saw the gas gauge drop down to empty. Then engine died, and I managed to bring it to a stop. I sat there a while with the key on, watching, and the gauge would start moving up, and if I started it it would just turn over, and then die again as the gauge sunk back down. I checked the fuel pump fuse, and the connector to the fuel pump. Both seemed in good order, no runst on the connector. I just had a new fuel pump put in with the fuel tank recall.

I couldn't get ahold of anyone, appearently they were prepping for my birthday party, and didn't have a phone on them. Finally I hitched a ride home, grabbed the truck and trailer and went back for it. Tried adding gas, but still wouldn't register or start. Loaded it, went a couple of miles and had a blow out on the trailer. Didn't have a lug wrench to fit the trailer, even though I had a spare and a jack. It was about two in the morning by this point. Had to drop the trailer at a maceys parking lot and run all the way home for a lug wrench.

I finally got it home, but now I have no idea where to start. Has anyone had simular problems? I have to drive this to St. George tuesday, and want to make sure it's in good running order before I go, so any advice would be great.

Thanks,

Ryan
 
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M

marc olivares

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,535
0
sorry i didn't get back to you ryan, i was down in the Swell playing. just got backl today!
call me later i'll give ya a hand.
 
R

Rocky

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
2,180
7
Red Sox Nation
Suspect a short in the wiring. Pull the cover off the top of the tank and check the connections for shorts/corrosion etc
Check the battery and alternator condition while you are at it.
 
rrefx

rrefx

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
434
0
45
Pleasant Grove, Utah
www.utah4x4club.com
It's weird, we tried for a few days to trace out what we thought to be a short to the fuel pump, and couldn't find anything. I towed it up to an independant mechanic I know, and he couldn't find anything, and at this point we couldn't get it to start at all.

Then the other night, my mom was taking out the trash and got bitten by a snake. Kinda odd, seems too cold for snakes, but we didn't have any other cars here, I had borrowed hers to go to work, and the rover started right up and drove in fine for her. I drove it yesterday, and not a single problem. Whether we inadvertantly fixed the problem in our searching for it, or it was just a gremlin, I don't know. I still don't dare venture far from home in it though, and still trying to figure out what it was.

Good Luck,
Ryan
 
A

apg

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2004
3,019
0
East Virginia
How's the battery? I found out that there is a very definite cut-off point, voltage wise. At 9.3 volts, most things still work...at 9.2 volts, nothing electronic (save for the lights) still do. Could be a simple as a dying battery. In each case you stated, the battery had time to scrape together a few spare electrons.
 
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