LUVTruck.com

hey guys, well, i got my LUV and the sumbitch wont run!!! my wife went and picked it up with a friend while i was in the field. the motor sounds like its only running on three cylinders. the carb is SCREWED. the problem is that it will crank and run good...for about 15 seconds. then it cuts out like its out of fuel. and no, its NOT out of fuel . it had a charging problem but a new voltage regulator, fuse, and fixing (?) a rigged resistor (some jackass had put an EXTRA resistor on it (anyone know the point for this one?) well, anyway, to make a long story a little bit shorter, the guy had it where anytime you had juice (jumper cables) all the lights would come on and when you started it it wouldn't shut off. well, i rerouted the wire he had going to the battery + cable and hooked it to the coil. then the truck cranked and stayed running. it was also warm from cranking it and it stalling all day too, so maybe this had something to do with it running. i thought it could be the fuel pump, but i took off the lines while removing the carb and cranked it over, and fuel shot out, albeit not a whole heckuva lot. i got back in it to go this morning and when it cranked the GEN light was back on, i figured the battery was weak again from insufficient charge time the night before. so basically, the gen light stays on now and the truck wont stay running. my friend swears up and down the engine is just out of compression but i refuse to believe this as it ran too good (not that good, but not that bad either) to be out of compression, and it pulled the truck ok. anyone have any ideas as to what could be my problem? please help as my truck is stuck on base and i need to get it off base by the end of the weekend!!!


thanks (sorry so long!)
Josh

maybe a faulty spark plug or wire. don't quote me on that. thats just one thing i'd check. i'm sure someone knows how to fix this. i swear i've seen this problem before on the site. try you search button

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1980 luv sport 4x4 Just a memory now
Frame rusted from the inside. Truck stripped and now looking for a new donor in southern ohio

well, you were right! i did find the SAME problem w/ the search button. should have looked there first. but i would STILL like any kind of update i could get or perhaps more insight.

thanks!
Josh

you might give the coil a try i`ve had one act like that before.when i could get it started it would only run for about a minute. then it would act like it was running out of gas. come to find out after putting it on a scope in school the coil was only sending 5,000 volts to the plugs.and would drop the longer it ran. later

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

hey guys, here's a thought. feel free to "shoot it down" but i was looking at the wiring diagram and remember what i was talking about about a Jerry Rigged external resistor? well, according to the wiring diagram, that provides power for the fuel pump relay which provides power to the fuel pump...so tomorrow i will look closely at it and maybe (with the aid of a manual-anyone else wanna help? we'll go play in the Ft. Lewis mud afterwards!!) rewire the circuit and see if it helps...


oh well
Josh

Engines require a few things to run.If it cranks and runs even for a 10 seconds you have got compression. I have seen a head gasket blow and kill 2 cly's. but if it is not missing like crazy during the short time it is running you need to look elsewhere. You need to figure out if it is fuel or fire that you need. If you have Fuel,Fire,Compression,and getting them at the correct time it will run.
At the time it quits running hit it with a shot of starting fluid if it fires back up, start checking the fuel pump and make sure you are getting a good ground as well as a hot.
If it still does not fire up pull a plug wire off and stick a old spark plug in it and lay the metal part of the plug agains the block and have someone spin it over with the key on and you should see fire jumping the plug gap.

These are 2 steps that will narrow down the area needing repair and will work on all engine's.If you are getting fuel and fire you will need to look at timing or compression but engine's needing repair in these areas normaly do not crank and run at all and if they do they will miss like crazy.

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stripped and just a memory!

Hey Luvsick if you need to get it off post let me know..... I would be happy to help you get it home even if I have to tow it with my LUV!!! my jump outta my ass date to be deployed got moved back a day. I'll PM you and give you my number if you wanna give me a holler and do it.

well, i met Husker today. he is a first class person and i really like him. i have already worked out a deal with him on the carb he has (Weber) because i KNOW my truck needs one (rebuilding didn't go so well! ) i put a new coil on and about the time Husker came i tried to fire her up. she sputtered but wouldn't stay running and i firmly believe the carb is the root of my prob as the fuel pump seemed to pump out plenty. i tried to put his Weber on just to see if mine would run but my old carb had flooded my engine so bad i will have to either let it evaporate or remove the plugs and let it drain off like that. about this time it was dark and i packed it in and went home. i think this carb will help a lot as my carb's float was all outta whack. i do feel like im narrowing it down. if anyone else in the area wants to help i wont argue though!!! well, guess ill try again tomorrow...


Josh

hey guys, i had a question, just for my knowledge. if the fuel pump relay is bad, will the fuel pump still pump when the engine is turned over? if so, then my relay might still be bad, if not, then my relay is good...just trying to think of EVERY single possibility so i can get my baby on the road!!!


Josh

Hey LUVsick,
I had a similar problem with my '80 2wd LUV and it was the carb. My float would drop to the bottom of the bowl as soon as the engine started sucking fuel. Took me a while to find that one. The Weber might be your fix? Funny coincidence, I used to live in Lacey. Anywho, good luck with the fix

cool, thanks Roadshow, that builds hope. i DONT want to give up on this truck. i like it and it truly saddens me (yep, i love cars that much) to think about giving up on it and it being used as a parts vehicle or worse yet being sent to a junkyard. i just NEED her to run!!!

Definately keep us updated. Id like to know how this turns out. Husker- when you outa here? will there be time for a spring meet. Ill probably be over there for the swap meet in monroe. mid april i think.

g

LUVsick.... you need a v8.

Seriously though, I rewired my fuel pump straight to the ignition switch on mine. No relays here. It runs like a champ. (When it runs)

LUVsick,
just keep at it. There isn't too many things that can cause this.

well, i went to work on it today. i got Husker's carb (which i will be owning in a few days!) and put it on, pulled all 4 plugs and wires and replaced them. plugs were blackened and smelled like fuel. i know why they smelled like fuel because the factory carb was flooding the engine like crazy. the blackness didn't shock me either since i DID see blue smoke when the engine was running but it wasn't a whole heck of a lot. well, when i went to replace the cap and rotor i noticed that the points connecting wire was MELTED!!! it was intact but melted so im sure that had something to do with it. so tomorrow i will go and get a new set of points and see what that does. oh well, that was about the progress for today...


Josh

NICE, sounds like your there!

well, im kinda late posting because i was busy DRIVING MY LUV!!!!!! yep, i got her running this afternoon and boy does she run good! the points and a lil carb tinkering finally did the trick. thanks to everyone for their help, i dont think i coulda done it w/o you guys! i had a little adventure in her as well, but for that you will have to read my other post. i felt it needed a headline!!

Josh

I had this problem once on my 76 LUV. It turned out the new voltage regulator was only applying power to the fuel pump relay when the battery was charging. Once my battery was charged fully, the fuel would be cut off.
Chevy designed the fuel system to only provide fuel when the alternator was providing power or the ignition was in the START position.

-DKAY