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UKoffroad
Expedition Guide: Troubleshooting Tips/Tricks - Page
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Expedition Menu Expedition home page |
Alternator,
The regulator in the alternator can fail and cause the ignition light to come on and stop the battery from charging. I have driven a car for several hours in the desert and still had sufficient power to start the engine from the battery by disconnecting the brake lights and not using any electrical accessories. Battery The engines of older cars (without the problems associated with computer systems) can be run using torch batteries. Normally not of much practical value unless e.g. your battery has been stolen. Simply connect the batteries together to give 12v. Disconnect the coil and join the positive to the +ve terminal on the coil. Connect the negative of the coil to earth. You will need to push or tow the vehicle to start it. Blocked air filter Dusty or sandy conditions can partially block the air filter and cause difficult starting, rough running and lack of power. I have had to use a handkerchief over the air filter intake and change it ever 45min in fine Saharan sand. The filter can be removed and the dust knocked out of it or blown through from the INSIDE with an air pump. Don't wash a filter and don't drive without one. Broken brake pipe This can happen when objects get thrown up against it. If you don't have the means to repair the damage, clamp the nearest upline flexible pipe to prevent further loss of fluid, then disconnect the pipe at the nearest junction above the damage. Put a tightly rolled piece of insulation tape, or similar, into the junction hole and re-connect the pipe. You will now have braking on 3 wheels and the vehicle will probabky pull to one side when braked. But you have some brakes. Carburettor: blocked idle jet You can try blowing the blockage back through the jet by swopping over the middle 2 sparks plug leads and trying to start the engine. Or you can try sucking the blockage through the jet by revving the engine and then blocking the air intake until the engine almost stalls. Cold start It's worth remembering that most aerosols are flammable and can be used as a volatile petrol substitute when sprayed into the carburettor of a petrol engine or the air filter of a diesel. Distributor - damp Water crossings can cause engine falirue due to water on the distributor. Dry all leads coming from it, inside the cap and the joints where the plug leads enter to cap. To prevent it happening again, an oil-soaked rag can be wrapped around the distributor cap and a little way along the plug leads. Engine cranking Without a starting handle an engine can be started by turning a driven wheel whilst in gear. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE TRIED WITH SELECTABLE FOURWHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES that can have drive disconnected from the front wheels. Jack up the driver's side rear wheel and chock the other wheels.Select second gear, ignition on and spin the jacked up wheel forwards. The engine will turn and should fire. Select neutral as quickly as possible to reduce the risk of the engine vibration causing the vehicle to fall off the jack. |
