1992 Bighorn Problems

[KIWIINGENUITY]

well i got it all together but there is other little problems. these are some

wont go in top gear or overdrive for about an hour of driving and then it will start going in but only for about half a minute and then for the rest of the day it will go through the top 3 gears (at 100km) like a musical instrament , the gears are like 3,4,5,4,3,4,5,4,3,4,5,4,3 . if that makes any sence. its very irataiting. I only drove it for a weeknd and it seemed to go in top gear for longer at the end of the w.e. is it because its been parked for 8 months ? or is the gearbox wrecked. ? i put new g-box oil in it .

another problem is that it does 270km on a tank . im at a loss how thats even possible . it left me speachless

its gutless, i think its the timming

other little things like central locking etc but im expecting that to be fuses . havnt checked

oh yeah just remebered the rev counter doesnt work.

thats the most of it. The wierd thing is that it didnt have any of the problems when it was parked 8 months ago . it had all its gears, it done the best part of 600km on a tank , it had a rev counter , central locking , elec mirror etc. How could it f**k it self so much when no one has touched the g-box or the alt(rev counter) or the fuses. and it still has the same fuel pump . i dont no . thanks for everyones help .

[Blondini]

First check engine oil to make sure there is no diesel in it.
Is it blowing a lot of smoke and what color.
If none of above look at the pump timing.

Hope this helps

[KIWIINGENUITY]

diesel in the engine oil . what would this mean ? how do i tell if its water or diesel ?

[Blondini]

diesel in the engine oil means cracked head or cracked piston or blowen gasket.
oil will smell of diesel and if its water it will turn grey.

[geeves]

That cant happen on that engine luckily.
My money is on something electrical. Probably corrosion in a connector. Unfortunately my only advise as to which connector is to list them in order of likeliness with most likely at the top. Then work up from the bottom of the list

[KIWIINGENUITY]

thank god about the diesel in oil thing. and for a cracked head it better not be, I havnt even done a 1000km on that head ! best case senario is electricals. i can cut nd twist wires very well. thats a cheap fix. I hope thats all it is . thanks for your help. Im guesn both of you guys are talking about the fuel and power problem ae ? i bet your thinking what im thinking about the other problems, I think that the g-box is bugered, the rev counter is nothing more than a loose wire , and the fuel and power problems are linked and are electrical and since it could be corrosion thats why the gismo electrics are skrewd ? that makes sence sort of .

[geeves]

three possibilities with the gearbox.
1 low fluid. Im guessing youve checked this
2 electronics Corrosion in the connectors is a common cause but it can be the computer
3 slipping clutches Refer your assesment

[turnturn]

The gearbox problem is also very similar to a post this week that suggested the problem lay with the TPS (throttle position sensor). The post had a link to an English Isuzu site.
Could a faulty TPS also contibute to poor fuel economy/power etc?

[geeves]

bad auto because of it could

[KIWIINGENUITY]

autos is a lot better, drove it again this w.e and it stayed in gear the whole way there but on the way back it was a little jumpy. Still uses to much diesel, i done 140kms and its between 3/4 and half. left it idling for 20 min and when i reversed back i could see a small puddle of diesel under were the fuel pump is. must have a leak there sumwer. Ill have a check when i go home next w.e but i think its more than that. i think the timing needs done as it uses diesel, sounds a little funky and seems real hard to start , like it wont start without 24 volt ( jump start) batterys fine, tried it in other cars. conections good. I checked all the battery and starter problems, its not that. It has to be timming it turns and then strugles to turn then turns again then strugles.. just turns fast enough with another batery. Is it timming or something alse ? started using a little water again ....... that skares me. it would be a nightmear to have another cracked head. everyone thinks i should put the c223 in it haha . i dont think it would move it though.

[geeves]

seals in the pump is a common enough problem these days. If you are game there is a tutorial around for doing them your self but I wouldnt try it without a lot of prior mechanical knowledge. Some diesel shops can do the outer seals in place which would be 3-400 but most want to take the pump out and do it on the bench for 5 times that.
loseing water could be a hose but coupled with what sounds like uneven compression. Did you torque the head correctly?

[KIWIINGENUITY]

yeah ... i followed the workshop manual to a T. so it should be torqued properly. Iv got a spare fuel pump but it wasnt leaking diesel when it was parked....not a drop . and the water.. well it uses some but theres no puddles. just like it would be with a cracked head. but when it was a cracked head it would come out when it heated up or go in the chambers over night when it was cold. this time there is nothing coming out when its at running temp. and it doesnt over heat.. i duno im gna take it to sum1 and get a second opinion. as far as i was concerned it was either leave it in the paddock not going or have a crack at it and get a 4wd out of it or if it still doesnt go then put it back in the paddock lol . i only spent about over 500 buks , new gasket set, new head and new timming belt, oh but thats not including the radiator. still cheap experience. cheaper than a speeding fine and you dont get much experience out of those lol . i no what i would rather spend my money on.

[geeves]

$500 would only buy a second hand head privately ie no guarantee Did you get it crack tested? I cracked a head on an old escort The only symptom was bubbles in the radiator that would insulate the thermostat. Ever boiled a car when the water in the radiator was still cold

[Blondini]

It mite pay to check the cam timing as 1 tooth can make a big diff

[KIWIINGENUITY]

yip got it crack tested. head was good. i think its the timming

[wbski007]

I,ve been following this thread and don't understand how the timing can go out just because the vechicle sat for 8 months, I can see the auto trans acting up but why the timing, is there something else going on here we're not looking at, I would go with something electrical.

[KIWIINGENUITY]

yeah iv put a new timming belt on and new cylinderhead, startermotor, radiator, gaskets etc etc etc. so the timming could be out coz i coulda stufed it up lol . very possible and probible. il have a play when i have time. and when the mu is back on the farm to take over and give the bighorn a rest.so it can be pulled a part. but right now its just gna have to keep going.