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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:36 am 
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Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:18 pm
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Location: Pflugerville, TX
So i just bought this luv last weekend. Started up over and over. Was running great. Drove it from Dallas, TX to Austin, TX no problems. Haven't driven it since last Sunday. Go to start it up today and it wont stay running. It will fire up and run if i give it some gas. But as soon as i let go of the gas it starts puttering and dies right away. Need some help. Kinda pissed cause this was supposed to be a daily driver for a month or two.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:03 pm 
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Location: WA State
BEFOE you start turning screws on the carburetor etc. check to see if you have a vacuum leak in any of the hoses going to the carb. These are OLD trucks and the rubber is very possibly cracked at some point, PARTICULARLY around either end, and at any low points from sagging for 30 years. An easy way to check for vacuum leaks is to spray WD-40 around the hoses and also the base of the carb. NOT around the top, intake end of the carb. If the idle smooths out while you're spraying, then the wd-40 is getting sucked into the leak or crack and making it run smoothly.

Yes, you could spay carb cleaner instead, but it is pretty flammable, and if you spray in the wrong place, then, boom you could have a fire. WD-40 is just flammable enough to smooth out the idle without being as dangerous. Of course, there is still some risk involved, etc etc. (place typcial disclaimer here hah hah).

I am assuming this is a GAS engine, not diesel???

Anyhow, fix the leaks if there are any by replacing any bad hoses. ALSO: if your truck has points, it is common for an old set of points to suddenly make it run like this, could be the points, a quick fix is to sand 'em a bit with some 240 to 400 grit sandpaper. Fix won't last all that long, but at least you'll know.

Also - water or contaminents in the gas can make it run crappy. Try replacing the fuel filter, on our Luv it is right beside the fuel tank on the passenger side, but some Luvs had tanks on the other side. An new fuel filter can make you think someone just rebuilt the engine, it can make it run that good! Remember, you could (and likely DO) have 30 years of condensation and RUST inside that fuel tank clogging things up. Good luck, and let us know what you tried to solve the problem, and what worked for you!


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:50 pm 
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Location: Pflugerville, TX
Gonna go try the WD-40 and replace the fuel filter. That should be cheap anyways. Now the points im not sure what that is. My mechanic skills are basic. Its a 1980 Gas Luv. Dont know if it has those.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:18 pm 
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Hmm, dunno if your truck has points or not, maybe not. Check your manual to see if it does. The points are in the body of the distributor under the distributor cap (pop the cap and you can see 'em in there), and open and close as the distributor shaft turns. We have an '81, and I don't think it has them, but we HAVE gone through several gas filters with GREAT success in running afterwards. Now I am just finishing up the process of replacing the fuel tank, it had plenty of rust and crud, with another one which I've had "boiled out" chemically, to eliminate the source of the problem.

A number of guys with older Luvs have told me that having to replace the ignition points is a common problem, with excellent results also. All vehicles used to have them. If it dows, then replacing points is a common service item, to be done when you do a tune-up.

Here's a link to "how stuff works" which has a pretty good generic picture of points, so if you have 'em you'll know it (scroll down their page to about midway):

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/ign ... n%26sa%3DG

If link doesn't work, cut and paste the URL into your search engine.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:29 pm 
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The link helped. The breaker points in the distributor correct. I'll check those too if fuel filter and wd-40 dont work. Thanks for the help.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:46 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 22, 2003 8:33 am
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Buy a manual, buy a manual, buy a manual...lol

Seriouly, in the manual for your truck it has a whole section on troubleshooting problems and it has very simple instructions with pictures and diagrams to guide you along. Every aspect of your truck is covered from bumper to bumper and it will show you how to maintain, inspect, replace or repair everythingon it. Haynes is probably the best, next would be a Chilton, and it will probably be the best $15.00 you ever invested in your truck.

Remember: buying a nearly 30 year old truck was a concious choice you made - so your in it now and you might as well give it your best effort to get in there and learn all you can so you can keep it running good.

Good luck!


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:15 pm 
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Ordered the manual at autozone this morning. the 30 y/o purchase for a toy turned into my girlfriend wanting to sell her vehicle to buy a new. So i get to drive this for a month or two until she gets her new car. :? Women. What can you do about em.


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:10 pm 
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Got it running. Sprayed the wd-40 and pumped it for a lil til it stayed running. Went ahead and replaced the fuel filter. Thanks for the help. :D


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:14 pm 
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Anytime...NP. Congrats on getting it fixed!


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