We have a 97 D1 with about 145k miles (odometer was wonky for a couple of years so we're unsure of actual). Running great. Even with a mild lift, bigger tires, and no front air dam, I'm still getting 12~15MPG. ABS long dead, but that's a different story for a different day. 
Out of the blue on Wednesday, it wouldn't start. Drove my son to physical therapy. Inside with him for about an hour and when we came out, it turned over strong, but no ignition. Didn't have tools to pull the plug on site to check for spark. Then, after sitting for about 30 minutes (and a threat to all AAA) it fired up and it drove normally.
At home after it had sat for a while, I discovered the coolant was low. Reservoir not empty, but low. It was a warmish day, but the truck temp gage was in the regular range. Certainly no where near over heating.
Battery strong and it turned over smartly. I could hear the fuel pump whining away.
A check with the gage at the rail gave me the following readings with the truck cold:
Key to accessories (pump on): 35psi
Idle: 31psi
Under load it would jump to about 33psi and settle to about 28psi and back up into the low/mid 30's at RPM.
Engine off and back to accessories: 28psi
I turned the engine off, bled the gage, and tried again.
Exact same results. Initially at 35psi and then the other readings as above.
I think I've ruled out a fuel pump. From my records, for a 4.0, my fuel system seems OK even with everything original.
Any idea on the hard start? CkPS? Sounds like something overheated and had to reset, but it drove fine all day yesterday with similar conditions while I ran errands. This one I can't pinpoint.
Out of the blue on Wednesday, it wouldn't start. Drove my son to physical therapy. Inside with him for about an hour and when we came out, it turned over strong, but no ignition. Didn't have tools to pull the plug on site to check for spark. Then, after sitting for about 30 minutes (and a threat to all AAA) it fired up and it drove normally.
At home after it had sat for a while, I discovered the coolant was low. Reservoir not empty, but low. It was a warmish day, but the truck temp gage was in the regular range. Certainly no where near over heating.
Battery strong and it turned over smartly. I could hear the fuel pump whining away.
A check with the gage at the rail gave me the following readings with the truck cold:
Key to accessories (pump on): 35psi
Idle: 31psi
Under load it would jump to about 33psi and settle to about 28psi and back up into the low/mid 30's at RPM.
Engine off and back to accessories: 28psi
I turned the engine off, bled the gage, and tried again.
Exact same results. Initially at 35psi and then the other readings as above.
I think I've ruled out a fuel pump. From my records, for a 4.0, my fuel system seems OK even with everything original.
Any idea on the hard start? CkPS? Sounds like something overheated and had to reset, but it drove fine all day yesterday with similar conditions while I ran errands. This one I can't pinpoint.
Last edited:
