Forum:
Ive got a N-reg Fourtrax that occasionaly cuts out when driving or at tick over (doesnt have to be in gear and its not the tick over set to low).
You drive along and you loose the engine electrics, radio and head lights stay on, turn the ignition on and off and no ignition lights, sit there for 30 seconds with ignition on, you hear a click (i think from under the bonnet)and the ignition lights come on and engine starts.
It can be wet, dry, cold or warm, it can happen twenty times in one hour or once in a week.
Any ideas? all garages ive spoken to said they need it to be broken for inspection and to find the fault.
Complete nightmare! It
Complete nightmare!
It sounds like either a loose electrical connection (especially check all earth connections) or a dry solder joint somewhere.
You may be able to pin point the circuit at issue - you said the radio and lights stay on, so it sounds like the problem is limited to a specific fused circuit (ignition circuit). Have you checked the fuse and fuse holder, especially for corrosion.
You don't say if it's a diesel or petrol version - if it's petrol, it may have an engine management system, which may have dry solder joints (can be affected by heat / cold / vibration).
1985 Veg oil burning Fourtrak "Rocky".
1985 Veg oil burning Fourtrak "Rocky".
electrics
many years ago i had a carlton that used to do the same, but on right hand bends, eventually i traced it down to a wire that was partially broken going to the distributor, on a right turn the engine leans on its mountings to the left, wire pulled apart engine stopped, as i straightened up the wire touched - engine restarted as it was still in gear, ok you dont say if yours is petrol or diesel, however it could still be a wire with a cracked casing and pulling apart,other than that pull all the electrics plugs apart, spray with wd40 or similar and joint back, that will hopefully shift any corrosion thats a problem, i know in the back of my track the lighting loom thats behind the drivers side rear cover by the rear door has corrosion problems in the plug and the joints that join the back door harness to the rear wash/wipe are blue corrosion and missing inside the plug
Shutdown or Meltdown
Fourtrak: diesel engine; simple, the fuel shut off valve is defective, these are basically a solonoid which pulls a needle up to allow fuel to flow, worn ones have weak solenoids which will not hold the needle valve open.
First, check the supply to the unit, if the wiring is defective it will close as it requires power to hold it open, if this is ok, it is the fuel shut off valve itself, cost for a new one, about £15 from a diesel specialist.
Switched On
Read your post more thoroughly today, although not a common problem with Fourtrak's, it sounds like dirty contacts in the ignition switch, this is located on the rear of the ignition lock assy. Locate this by removing the steering column plastics, follow the ignition barrel to its end, here will be a plastic assembly with several wires going into it, some clip on, some have small screws to hold them on, remove this, unplug the wiring at the multiplug, and replace.
Fourtrax cuts out when driving
Thanks to you lot who responded, Cheers!
To update you all, its a diesel by the way, Didn't say be4 but the trax did this problem occasionaly, I discovered the problem had got worse when i started the trax durring the week and ready for this weekend i didnt take it anywhere it was only to check it started and lights worked ect, i left it ticking over for 10mins but in that time it shut down loads and had to restart it. It had been off the road for two months over xmas for repairs, Saturday it was back on the road, yipee! my journey was 7 miles and in that time it cut out 6 times, first time was within 2 mins of starting off.
It was left for 8 hours while at work and on the return journey i decided to go the long way round which was about 12 mile and guess what? it didn't cut out, this morning! no problems. Bit strange, seems like the problem was bad due to standing for a long time, im wondering if there is corrosion somewere may be with water in electrics, with running it on a jouney shook the water out! (am i talking crap?) dont really know but will have a look at the items you guys have said and will let you know what i find! any other suggestions welcome.
Cheers Digger