Stalling TX

[wristpin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wristpin]

Last couple of days our 2001 3 litre turbo diesel has been pulling a wobbly. It's stalling. Re starts easily, but will take a few moments to get itsel together and pull away. it's like fuel starvation. have swapped tanks several times, makes no difference. Checked the water drain on the filter, it's dry. I'll swap the fuel filter out asap, but it's only a a couple of thousand K's old.

Typically stalls on take off as engine goes from idle & builds up a few revs requiring a bit of pulling power. 1st to 2nd gear. Had it in the bush this morning and will stall at low revs pulling up steep incline.

Note: this does not happen regularly, but intemitant. vehicle will run reliably for some distance with plenty of stop / starts, hill climbs between stalling.

We have owned the vehicle for 1 & 1/2 years, has 220K on clock has been a very reliable runner till now.

Any clues as to the problem?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Stalling TX

Is there any air in the fuel lines? Have you tried bleeding any air out using the thumb pump?

I know in the 120 there is a second fuel filter mounted under the vehcile between the two tanks. From memory the 90 has a sub tank button but may still have a second filter. Worth having a look at as I don't know if this ever gets checked when serviced.

[dhula Member Find all posts View Profile Close dhula]

Re: Stalling TX

Don't think there is a second filter on the 90s. Could be wrong, but I've never noticed it while under the car cleaning it.

Has the small strainer at the fuel return line on the FIP been checked. If not, this could need cleaning or replacing but don't think it will be the problem.

Simple things I would suggest is
*Air filter and inlet tract - check them for blockages
*Sensors - check to ensure all connections at any sensors the ECU is reading from are connected properly and snuggly
*Water in fuel - drain a small amount of fuel out of each tank and check for water contamination. the water should come out first as it sits at the bottom.
*Air in lines - bleed the system and if problem continues check for poor sealing at hose/pipe connections
*Blocked fuel filter - replace the filter as you've already mentioned

Some more things I have seen when this occurs
I*nside of hose to FIP is coming apart and blocking fuel flow. Like a little flap on the inside of the hose is restricting flow. Once the engine stops/stalls the flap relaxes and allows perfect running till it does it again
*Algae build up in lines/tank (cladosporium resinae). Here is some info (No I don't work for Nulon, first google result that came up)
*FIP is starting to pack it in. Not many options for this one but replacement/rebuild
*Throttle pedal position sensor. This may be giving a false reading to the ECU. It could be as simple as being dirty so a spray with an appropriate cleaner may solve it.

[wristpin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wristpin]

Re: Stalling TX

I installed a new fuel filter today, plus wiggled all the sensor connectors I could find. Drove about fifteen klms without a problem. Drove slowly with lots of slow, low speed starts trying to replicate the symptoms and tempt the engine into repeating it's stalling performance. just as I was gaining confidence in it and starting to think the change of filter did the trick it happened again. This time starting from a Tee intersection heading up a slight hill. Engine died. I was ready and depressed the clutch, dropping back to idle and not completely stalling the engine. gave it a few touches with the accelerator pedal and kept it running. Pulled to the side of the road to let traffic past and tried to recover and get going, but it just didn't want to play. Engine kept dying till stalled completely. Same deal, would start immediately, but would not pull away and died and stalled again. I had the CD player going and noticed when the engine died, so did the electrics. Dash tell tales would also go out, then electrics would come back on almost instantly, hit the key, engine starts, but low power and took some time to settle & get over it and finally off we went. As soon as the motor builds up revs and speed there is not a problem. It runs just fine. Only low down off the mark with a bit of a load,eg an incline.

I have just replaced the battery. All looks ok with the terminals etc. being a deisel there is no ignition to fail, but can there be an electrical cut out thats playing up???

I noticed near the power steering reservoir there is an electrical plug socket with a clip on cap. Is this a diagnostic plug in point?

Do these models have a code system that can be read by a diagnostic computer?

Would taking it to a Toyota dealer be practical.......meaning were there plug in diagnostic computers for these models?????

Bob

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Stalling TX

I noticed near the power steering reservoir there is an electrical plug socket with a clip on cap. Is this a diagnostic plug in point?

Do these models have a code system that can be read by a diagnostic computer?

Would taking it to a Toyota dealer be practical.......meaning were there plug in diagnostic computers for these models?????

Yes (they have a fault code logging).

You can check this DIY, no need to take it to Toyota.

Have a search as I think there are several threads which cover this. If you have any specfic questions post back here or PM me if you need me to run you through the process.


Mick

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: Stalling TX

Definitely sounds electrical - either a dodgy battery (perhaps a plate is loose inside) or a bad earth - check the earth from the battery to the car body.

I ran my Diesel for 140km with a failed alternator (mud). Below is a list in order of the symptoms of a low battery...

UHF Stopped working completely
Radio/CD player & associated dash lights stopped working (did I mention this was at night? - I was following a mate & turning my lights on when I had approaching cars)
Brake application would dim dash lights
Tacho stopped working
Auto gearbox stuck in first - this was after a complete stop - not sure what it would have done @ 100km/h....eventually it changed up to second
Odd injector noise when applying the brakes - brake lights draw a lot of power...
The engine never stalled but I don't think it was far from it....

Yours seems to be a complete electrical failure although very brief. It may be a bad connection of a fuse or relay...

It also seems to be better if the engine is relying more on the alternator (high revs) as opposed to the battery (at idle).

I hope its an easy fix.

Cheers

[wristpin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wristpin]

Re: Stalling TX

Thanks Richard,
I've gone off the bad fuel supply idea and am now following up on the electrical side. I've recently installed a new battery and had cleaned up the battery lead terminals before connecting the new battery I double checked those yesterday. Also checked and cleaned the body earth. I'll work may way through fuses & relays..........any tips on which ones and where to start.

Bob

[wristpin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wristpin]

Re: Stalling TX

Thanks to Mick, I've been able to check out the DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)
I get the little motor warning light flashing in two lots of 9 times. 99 which means it's, the engine imobiliser.
I have no idea where this thing lives. Being an intermitent fault I'm guessing it must be a loose wire. I fiddled and fiddled (like nero....get to that later)

In desperation I thought I'd go a make it or break it, so headed for the hills. before heading out I pulled the fuse out of the ECD to wipe the DTC memory.

So far the thing only seems to fault when the vehicle is pulling up hill, in a lower gear, 1st or second and usually from a stand still.

Once up in the bush I tried a few stop starts, all went well, then it did it again a couple of times. I'd noticed if the CD player was on, it would shut off at the same time as the engine stalled out, so I had the CD going as an audible warning. This time I was going to get tuff with the thing and thrash it right out.

Sure enough on a steep section, going slow, the CD player went out, motor started to die so I put the foot down and tried to raise the revs and drive through it. The engine faultered but kept going. I guess because it didn't die all the dash lights didn't come on, but the ABS light did, and it stayed on until the CD player came back on and finally the ABS light went out and the motor continued to run and pull the car along. It happened a couple of times like this, I was actually able to drive through the fault.....then again, other times the engine would stall & die. Every time the CD player would go off, the ABS light would come on. The ABS light and the CD player function seems to have a direct link to whatever the fault is. I gave the vehicle a good hard run up and over a lot of rough country. One section of very steep very rough 1st gear low range stuff the motor kept stalling and stalling, took quite a few restarts to finally make it up and over the hill. Down hill and along the flats the CD player didn't switch off and there was no ABS light.

Back on the tar, cruising home I was thinking it over. Only seems to do it in either 1st or 2nd pulling away from a stand still, usually going up a gradient. Doesn't do it free reving along at speed or in any of the higher gears. I was wondering if I could reproduce conditions at a higher speed on the open road. I was thinking it didn't seem to have the higher speed pulling power it normally does, but all week I've been driving the company Ford Courier 4L V6 petrol auto, so I may not have the feel. The Prado is the wife's daily drive.

I tried to labour it a bit up hill in fourth back down around 80kph, sure enough off went the CD player, ABS light came on and the motor faultered, I dropped it back to third and off we went. Drove through the fault and CD player came back on, ABS light went off.

Up the driveway at home and keen to check the newest DTC. Flipped the bonnet and something was sizzling (did I mention Nero.......) Green stuff all over the battery and green stuff sizzling on the hot engine bits. I've just had the radiator out to be checked before our Birdsville trek next month, so I'm looking for a blown hose, but wait, the radiator coolant is red!!!!!!!!! Look some more, has the new battery blown it's guts and the contents of these sealed batteries is green. Didn't seem like sulfuric acid to me. On closer inspection jaw hits ground, how much can a Koala Bear.......????

The $%^&* battery has moved sideways in the piss poor battery brackets and the +ve terminal has made contact with the aluminium air con pipe comming off the air con compressor and blown a hole in it, leaking the contents of the air con circuit all over the battery and surrounds. I walk away......

[adrian5800 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian5800]

Re: Stalling TX

The $%^&* battery has moved sideways in the piss poor battery brackets and the +ve terminal has made contact with the aluminium air con pipe comming off the air con compressor and blown a hole in it, leaking the contents of the air con circuit all over the battery and surrounds. I walk away......

Yeah but think of it this way - you've found your intermittant problem and your prado didn't go up in flames..

[wristpin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close wristpin]

Re: Stalling TX

It was stalling before the battery moved across onto the air con pipe. It was only after I took it up into the bush and knocked it around that the battery moved across and shorted on the air con pipe.
It seems the CD / radio, the ABS light and the stalling all were related. We decided to keep the radio turned off in a vain hope it would make a difference. Car has not stalled since. Took it back up the bush over the weekend and gave it some rock n roll. Back up same steep rough tracks where it stalled out multiple times previous and this time no problem. Last section of the track we turned the radio back on, still no problem. Driven past few days, no problem. Since it started to play up, I've been jiggling every plastic electrical connector I find. Maybe there was a loose connection that has now come good. Can only hope. heading to Birdsville & Camerons Corner in three weeks.

Yeah, glad it didn't go up in smoke.............

Bob

[Tooi Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tooi]

Re: Stalling TX

Thanks to Mick, I've been able to check out the DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)
I get the little motor warning light flashing in two lots of 9 times. 99 which means it's, the engine imobiliser.
I have no idea where this thing lives. Being an intermitent fault I'm guessing it must be a loose wire. I fiddled and fiddled (like nero....get to that later)

In desperation I thought I'd go a make it or break it, so headed for the hills. before heading out I pulled the fuse out of the ECD to wipe the DTC memory.

So far the thing only seems to fault when the vehicle is pulling up hill, in a lower gear, 1st or second and usually from a stand still.

Once up in the bush I tried a few stop starts, all went well, then it did it again a couple of times. I'd noticed if the CD player was on, it would shut off at the same time as the engine stalled out, so I had the CD going as an audible warning. This time I was going to get tuff with the thing and thrash it right out.

Sure enough on a steep section, going slow, the CD player went out, motor started to die so I put the foot down and tried to raise the revs and drive through it. The engine faultered but kept going. I guess because it didn't die all the dash lights didn't come on, but the ABS light did, and it stayed on until the CD player came back on and finally the ABS light went out and the motor continued to run and pull the car along. It happened a couple of times like this, I was actually able to drive through the fault.....then again, other times the engine would stall & die. Every time the CD player would go off, the ABS light would come on. The ABS light and the CD player function seems to have a direct link to whatever the fault is. I gave the vehicle a good hard run up and over a lot of rough country. One section of very steep very rough 1st gear low range stuff the motor kept stalling and stalling, took quite a few restarts to finally make it up and over the hill. Down hill and along the flats the CD player didn't switch off and there was no ABS light.

Back on the tar, cruising home I was thinking it over. Only seems to do it in either 1st or 2nd pulling away from a stand still, usually going up a gradient. Doesn't do it free reving along at speed or in any of the higher gears. I was wondering if I could reproduce conditions at a higher speed on the open road. I was thinking it didn't seem to have the higher speed pulling power it normally does, but all week I've been driving the company Ford Courier 4L V6 petrol auto, so I may not have the feel. The Prado is the wife's daily drive.

I tried to labour it a bit up hill in fourth back down around 80kph, sure enough off went the CD player, ABS light came on and the motor faultered, I dropped it back to third and off we went. Drove through the fault and CD player came back on, ABS light went off.

Up the driveway at home and keen to check the newest DTC. Flipped the bonnet and something was sizzling (did I mention Nero.......) Green stuff all over the battery and green stuff sizzling on the hot engine bits. I've just had the radiator out to be checked before our Birdsville trek next month, so I'm looking for a blown hose, but wait, the radiator coolant is red!!!!!!!!! Look some more, has the new battery blown it's guts and the contents of these sealed batteries is green. Didn't seem like sulfuric acid to me. On closer inspection jaw hits ground, how much can a Koala Bear.......????

The $%^&* battery has moved sideways in the piss poor battery brackets and the +ve terminal has made contact with the aluminium air con pipe comming off the air con compressor and blown a hole in it, leaking the contents of the air con circuit all over the battery and surrounds. I walk away......

I am struggling with the same proplem, thanks, you have just mine as well

[Tooi Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tooi]

I am struggling with the same proplem, thanks, you have just mine as well

You solved mine. Thanks