Quits running

[depoy5]

I have a ‘90 Tracker, LS, 4WD, with one of those intermittent problems that is getting worse, or more frequent. For the last few months it has quit running at times. It acts like its running out of gas. When the key is turned, it will turn over and acts like it is about to start, then acts like its out of gas. Holding accelerator down makes no difference. It does best with a rapid pumping to try to keep it running. After a few minutes left alone, it will start up and run just fine for several days or even weeks without this happening. It has happened on the road at highway speeds. At those times, any additional acceleration and it stalls. If I slowly give it gas I can get it off to the side of the road. It then goes through the ‘out of gas’ routine for a while. Left alone, it comes back, starts up and goes on. It was particularly bad for a while when working my way through 4-way stop signs with heavy traffic. The rpms would have to climb a little bit and then would drop down as I inched forward and stopped. After a bit, the drop was lower and lower until it started to stall and then go into the ‘out of gas’ routine. If I caught the rpms dropping and tried to keep them higher and steady, sometimes it would help for a little bit, and then it would conk out with the usual running out of gas behavior. Computer code in the beginning was 32, after the MAP sensor was replaced it has always flashed 12. I have even checked the code as soon as it quit running without trying to restart it. Since that time, the fuel filter was replaced, pvc valve checked, vacuum lines replaced, fuel pump replaced, catalytic converter replaced (failed the state smog check), coil line replaced and a whole bunch of parts tested and checked. Weather makes no difference. It can sit still and the garage and idle for hours with no problem in front of the mechanics. One mechanic who helped me push it out of an intersection said the exhaust or something smelled like hot or burning plastic. We couldn’t find anything, or locate a source of the odor. During the smog check, it stalled out and that tech mentioned something about the smell being odd. I can’t be certain, but I believe it appears to be running hotter before the problems start. The interval between the ‘episodes’ of acting up seems to be growing shorter.

Any suggestions, solutions or tips will be much appreciated. Please know that I am not a mechanic, so a detailed explanation might a big help to me. Any questions, I’ll be happy to try to answer.

Thank you.
DePoy

[tracka96]

No ideas yet, but is this a carb or fuel injected engine. Tracka

[depoy5]

It's fuel injected.
Thanks.

[jtgh]

bad ecu.
or bad wiring to and or from same.

when it goes dead , does instant start spray make it start up.

( you must find out if it is fuel , spark or both)

do you have power in pins b1 and b7 of ECU when failing?
if not , you have bad main relay circuit.

the start path is different then then run path.
here is my road map.
free to you.

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/attachm...p-efi-jh-w.jpg

[depoy5]

Thanks, jtgh! I appreciate the info and will work on it. I'll let you know what happens. No one has tried the starter fluid, which is easy enough. Sure hope this is it.

DePoy

[Shconer]

Be careful with starter fluid.

[prior60]

Let us know how you made out as mine is doing the same thing.
Where is the ecu located on the 1.6 sidekick?
Any one know what the cost of one is and is there any cheaks you can do to see if that is the problem?

[jtgh]

yes,
starter fluid rules/
1. work alone , dont be look'n while others crank !
2. just a 1 or 2 second squart , more is not better , only more dangerous.

3. expect backfire from air horn. (rare)
funny how all boat motors warn of this by not cars.
send the kids (curious) back in to the house.
4.) never use gasoline to chean parts or to pour down induction ports of engine. Use store bought "Instant Start". ( todays start juice is much safer too)

5) turn off your cell phone, etc.


it is safe, but you cant be asleep and do this.
done it 1000 times in a life time , never been a problem.

did however , see rule one broken and the result.

2 people ( one cranking other pouring gas down the throat of an old 60 chevy. )
I guess this guy is the guy behind the mask, called
freddy Krugger.
( grave yard humor, but it wasnt pretty)
we put him out with a blanket.

[Shconer]

New cars and even modern electronic fuel injection diesel trucks advise against it. When I worked at a John Deere the combines have a either can holder and is remotely operated from inside the cab.

[depoy5]

Thanks for the reminder. I'll be sure to not overdo it with the spray.
I'll let you know what happens.

DePoy