very soggy bighorn having problems

[damo667]

Well we planned a nice wintery trip into the Godley & Macaulay rivers at the head of Lake Tekapo, lots of ice,snow,low rivers etc..
It was shaping up to be the perfect winter trip but weather being weather intervened..
The week leading up to the trip the rain came down melting the snow and filling the rivers.
We went anyway and decided to play it by ear.. it was certainly eventful.. steering arms snapping and wheels falling off patrol's, snapped axle on a cruiser
The bighorn was one of only 2 vehicles to get out without incident!! The only other being a 1979 Rangerover..

Now back in Queenstown my partner has been driving the 'Rhino' to work and has had a strange noise each day, the first was from a cracked exhaust - (semi fixed)..
The next sounded from the description like a starter motor problem as apparently it let out a shriek as she tried to start it but it started fine second go..
Today she has come back reporting that for the first minute or so after starting from cold its very underpowered, and chugs along before firing into life and returning to normal.
The problem is it seems fine whenever I start it as its already warmish.

It did get very wet over the weekend and had water over the bonnet on a few occasions causing lights to come on the dash and display but then go out in due course
I'm presuming it an electrical problem, maybe a bit of water in the alternator or something??
Also I had a quick look before and couldn't locate the water separator to drain that just incase.

I'm just wondering if anyones got any suggestions or advice or have experienced a similar problem.

Thanks for all your help.

Damien.

[geeves]

What temperatures have you been having down there? If when starting cold its knocking something silly but then comes right in 30 seconds to a minute it sounds like the cold start device is coming on.
Check the switch on the dash that looks like an engine isnt turned on. This operates a restriction in the exhaust which will do exactly what you describe

[damo667]

Cheers Alan
The cold start switch isn't turned on and its got pretty mild down here for last couple of weeks,
I just started it up then to take it for a spin before Louise took it to work and it started sweet but as I turned to go up the hill it wouldn't move, felt very underpowered but after a bit of revving returned to normal, similar to if it was really cold, thinking maybe it is fuel related? maybe water in the filter?
What do you think? If their pretty cheap might replace the filter tonight and drain the water separator wherever it is? are they connected do you know?

Thanks again

Damien

[geeves]

water separator is part of the filter.

[damo667]

well I just fitted the new filter as it was only $30 to replace so worth the gamble I thought.. I primed the diesel through and she started sweet but after idling fine for a few minutes, I went to move her.. same problem.. except much worse and more erratic revving! I primed her again and a bit better, then once more and she came back to life!
I've taken her round the block and she seems sweet.. fingers crossed for tomorrow morning..

I was wondering after you said about the exhaust hindering cold start device, wether the exhaust paste that i tried to temporarily fix the pipe with might have built up inside the cracked pipe and expanded in the heat causing my problem? it did start after my dodgy repair job.. what do you think?

Cheers

Damien

[turnturn]

Maybe your injector pump is failing?

[mudslinger]

i was talking to kerry the other day regarding the cruiser that snapped the welds on the axle housing, it will def be a interesting recovery as a standard diff housing wont fit.

with ya fuel issue mine runs rough for a bit on start up give her some revs few back fires later she runs mint. my issue is the injector pump yours might be on way out too,

[damo667]

Well fingers crossed as its running sweet again now.. starts first time and runs perfect, hoping just a bit of stray water will keep an eye on injector pump..

@mudslinger, we're heading back up with his spare 'standard' housing tomorrow and going to try and fit it on the riverbed..
I think Luke is going to try and drive it back down, dont know what the cops will think.. 5" lift on the back and standard on the front, going to be quite a sight!
Those steep decents on the Lindis will be fun

[damo667]

we rescued the cruiser ok.. it did look a bit strange driving back though..