93 bighorn 3.1 turbo diesel questions

[Paulo]

Hi guys,

Just purchased a 93 3.1 bighorn manual and i have got few questions. I have noticed a funny start up patern. The truck starts up but sometimes it seems to strugle to crank up (After the glow plug light has come off the dash) and other times you crank it up and she fires up in no time, this does not matter on what time of day it is or if i have been driving it . The alternator and battery on the car been replaced recently not sure how recent but alternator still looks shiney (Chinese one) i am thinking maybe glowplugs no good.... Another question is i would like to fit an oil catch can on it I am no good at welding so wondering if there is anywhere i could buy it in Christchurch NZ.

Cheers

[geeves]

is it cranking at all or is it cranking and not fireing?
Could be a starter motor issue. Mine acted like this when the starter started to fail. My testing showed the battery to be at fault so new battery went in but 3 weeks later it failed again. Starter was taking enough current to drop a fully charged brand new 750cca battery to 3 volts but nothing else happened. I wont use the descriptive words used by the auto sparky to describe its condition or the fun they had getting it off the rusted bolts.

[muzila]

I know supercheap in colombo St have catch cans for sale. not sure if ther are the same as some of the people on here have used tho. but check the supercheaps and repcos for them.

[Paulo]

Thanks for the quick reply guys. it cranks up but takes a while to fire up sometimes wit cranks up but wont fire up at first go but when i try again it goes.... Might take it in to an auto electrician for a checkup. I will give super cheap a buzz re Catch can.

Cheers.

[wbski007]

Might check the electrical connection on the fuel shut off on the injection pump, it might be loose?

[geeves]

could also be fuel bleeding back to the tank. Try parking facing up or down hill and see if it makes a difference

[Paulo]

Hi there again people . I have got more questions for y'all. I am not sure if this is normal but the other day i was testing the car (hooning around) and it seems not to rev past 4000rpm (only tried it in 2nd and 3rd gear) just going over the 1st red line. I have a new air filter and fuel filter in the car. Another question is I noticed when driving on open road the clutch kind going soft SOMETIMES ( sinking feel) at one stage I could not engage 5th gear until i slowed and pumped the clutch. clutch slave cylinder looks dry and clutch fluid still full. I emptied and refilled clutch fluid still getting the sinking feel. I really appreciate your help.

[Paulo]

forgot to say that the starting issues appeared to be glow plug problems

[geeves]

4000 is redline. On a 3.1 there is no need to go there as max power is back around 3600. The engine wont thank you for running that hard and the 3.1 has very useable power much lower in the rev range.
If you realy want to do this a 3 inch exhaust will help.
Sounds like clutch seals might be on the way out

[Paulo]

Thanks Geeves, I will make sure to take it easy on the engine.

[Paulo]

Hey Guys I am back again with more questions.when the engine is cold the car revs very roughly, initially with a bit of blue smoke (blow by oil maybe...) then black smoke, but it then after about 3min it goes back to smooth revs and no smoke . I just been told by a friend that it might be my injectors on the way out.... Those this sound right to you guys ???

[geeves]

When you start it do you always wait for the glow plug light to go out?
Not doing so could result in the above and make it hard to start. The 3.1 is indirect injection and does not start well without the use of the glow plugs
Also low compression could cause this.
You could try putting a double dose of your favourite injector cleaner in the next tank. It might help but I think your problems are elsewhere

[Paulo]

I always wait for the glow plug light to go out and have used diesel injector cleaner last two tanks....It starts usually fine but when you try to rev it to go,she is not smooth kinda missing a little bit for a couple minutes and blowing smoke.Once you get going everything seems to go fine without blowing too much smoke...

[geeves]

what mileage?

[Paulo]

just done over 200k

[Paulo]

200 thou that is

[Yarno]

Sounds like one bad glow plug.

[geeves]

Put a meter on each of the glow plugs to measure the resistance. The odd one out is faulty

[Benzev]

My '93 3.1 has the identical problem but it's not the glowplugs! I tested them and they are all working 100%, I've replaced the cylinderhead, turbo, injectors and tomorrow I'm going to run pure injector cleaner through and replace the fuel filter and fit a catch can because I'm getting sick of this problem! I think I must have crap in my fuel which is fouling my injectors and causing them to leak this in turn causing the smoke on start up with the inevitable misfiring until the excess fuel in the cylinders has burnt off! As it misfires it puffs blue smoke out and this is coming through the breather! I'm going back to a petrol car when this is solved! I work on cars all day long every day and I don't need this crap after work as well! My old 4JB1T was never this bad! It will be the last Bighorn I ever own! So if anyone is interested in buying it it's for sale for $4500 on trademe! http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =283382150

[98Rodeo]

One bad glow plug doesnt do much, i ahve one that doesnt work(have the new set in the shed, fixing them this weekend i hope) all that happens in the morning is a rough start after glowing and a cloud of white smoke that goes away after about 15 seconds. All normal after that, mine has done 205k also