Tracker not running right?

geo tracker 37145 · 11-01-2008, 04:24 PM

Ok... I am going to describe it the best way I can, My 91 geo tracker will get very weak at times just driving down the road and have to drop from 5th gear to about 2nd gear and sometimes 1st just to keep it going, It don't do this but maybe every 3-4 days, This is not an everyday thing. Also sometimes it will do this taking off when you start getting the RPMs up and hit 2nd & 3rd gear it will loose all power and the engine will start missing and cutting In and Out. This all started one day when I was hooking a trailer up one day in a real hard rain storm and I jumped out and shut the door real fast not looking back and in a few minutes later when I go to get back in I notice I shut the door in a small tree limb that was hanging down and it gaped open my weather striping causing rain to run in the cab... There was probably one-half inch in the floor board on the drivers side... Now, Does this mean moisture got in my computer???? What should I do?? ps. I have replace the fuel filter about 2,000 miles ago. Thanks,

ranger88den · 11-01-2008, 08:37 PM

Do you have any DTC's? Recent tune up? Sounds like an intermittant problem, but you have to determine if it's fuel or ignition related. Don't know how you would remotely monitor spark ,but you could tape a fuel pressure gauge to the windshield to eliminate any fuel problems. Whoops, didn't read close enough about the rain. I suppose it could short out ECM/elect.

jtgh · 11-01-2008, 09:32 PM

where is that leak, in door gasket.
is it . 1pm 2pm.... see?

is inside windows always fogged up.
does it lose power only hot.
full power cold?

remote monitor spark with a timing light,

tune up , inside 50k, cap rotor ,wires, and plugs.?

intermittant is very hard.

geo tracker 37145 · 11-02-2008, 01:47 PM

Ok, I did replace the plugs but it was about 1,000 miles before all this started so the plugs should be fine Right?? Also I replace the fuel filter the next day after this started and was fine for a few days then started again but that don't mean anything cause even now it might go 2-3 days and not do anything and then again it might do it everytime i try going somewhere, also it looks like the previous owner has changed the plug wires don't look like factory plug wires... My problem all started the day I got water in my floor board so it seems, that is where my problem is leading to... Also my windows has always been foged up every morning sence I have owned it but my windsheild is cracked if that has anything to do with it???

jtgh · 11-02-2008, 03:11 PM

on old cars,cauation is problematic. 91' (as are floods of water)

the truth will spring forth with good troubleshooting.

discover if you have lost spark ( forget plugs? what about the cap and rotor?)
after market wires, that are 1k old, are fine. forget them for now.

are you losing spark.?
are you losing fuel.?
is engine compresson over 150psi on all 4.

by the way the ECU is not covered, it is free air flowing. not sealed.

of you get condensing water vapor in the electronic chips and there is dust
it will conduct and cause it to fail. (dispite comfromal coatings)
Suzuki's this era ,require a mostly dry cab.

you could ,remove it , and then bake it dry at 100def F, no higher !!!
just create summer temps.
the ECU , that is.

pull its lid and blow it out with dry air.
then bake it .

there is a product in a spray can that is called electronic cleaner (no residue)
that you use to spray the heck out of inside ECU.
I use this on my house heat pump every year, (electronics controls) works wonders.

after a clean and dry action, then run car see if it runs perfect for 1 day.

Cap and rotor, they dont go much beyond 50k (quality) and china knock offs are crap.
(k miles usa not KMeters.)

spark or fuels loss (dirty fuel filter)
flooded ECU.

geo tracker 37145 · 01-02-2009, 11:58 PM

Ok, Sorry it has took me so long to reply back but, I have finally got around to taking the computer out and cleaning with electronic cleaner and baked it at 100 degrees, Still no change, seem to still have some type off problem like I described in earlier post. "where should I go from here??? Im sure it is something simple..Thank you guys for all your help, this is a wonderful site..

jtgh · 01-03-2009, 01:28 AM

back to beginning. good ECU is dry, hat to see it get hurt, they can corrode .
loss of power.

91 8v no less.

it might be losing fuel pressure?

or
could be bad cap.'s in the ECU, id change any 91 caps if i suspected they were origional
black color , say Rubycon on side, they are junk, C111 in corner is tops bad.

well to be fair, they lasted the 15yrs they were designed to last.

top fuel issues:

1: ground behind LR tail light. G402 it is called and runs pump. clean it, bright.

2: clogged up fuel filter ( just front of tank)

the 8v engine loves to make power ,so long as you have fuel pressure
and a good ECU that is not crashing due to old bad capacitors.
sorry , i didnt flag caps at first , was really worried about water damage.
My ECU is bad, now what?

if ecu is ok and ground.
the connector to the fuel pump likes to corrode.

checking fuel pressure is pretty easy if you want to do that.

cheers.

geo tracker 37145 · 01-03-2009, 10:27 AM

Thanks for all your help "jtgh"... I will try to check the groung behind the tail light today and see what that does. Also, Sorry I forgot to put this in the last post but the guy I bought the tracker from had a New computer put in right before I bought it and when I took it apart to clean, still like NEW! No dust or anything, "Very clean and new looking". Thanks again for all your help, Greatly appreciated!

jtgh · 01-03-2009, 04:36 PM

Glad ECU is fresh ,as all early ones are suspect for bad caps. easy fix , 1 hr labor.

if car can be made to fail in drive way.?
then a fuel pressure test is in order.
other wise it can be a hard fix. (unless you can visual a connection fail)

but the G402 lug is at 2pm in the cavity of the tail light housing.

i am not totally sure but removing back bumper, not sure how easy that is,but might be
way easier then tanks and safer, you will find the 2 tank connectors at rear round lateral pipe behind tank and the bumper.
one is level sender , other is fuel pump, and they corrode like crazy I hear.

if you need good connectors
try these.
Waterproof Cable to Cable Electrical Connectors

and cheap too.

automotive and waterproof and like on newer cars.