Re:Tonka's poorly

Roger, I quote from my reply above: "I suggest monitoring voltages if you have electrical anomalies.
There are anecdotal reports of the motor shutting down at 11.5V!"

By monitoring the voltage I can see when the anomalies are likely to occur and the increased probability of the motor shutting down.

The voltage is easy to read as it's the top number on the screen in the Service Menu.

Also I suggest watching the video in the topic below on intermittent fault diagnosis.
I am not suggesting the large cables he found but maybe one of the smaller connections in the voltage control circuits.
www.bigjimny.com/index.php/forum/7-jimny...ps-gradually?start=0

Roger Fairclough wrote: Went out for the day last Friday and reached Worcester (15 Miles) when motor cut out. Backed off throttle and motor resumed. Struggled through one lane system on roadworks when she resumed after dipping clutch and pumping throttle. Continued on but motor obviously struggling so turned back.Reached Redditch with serious loss of power. could be coaxed up to 50 mph but only slowly. Drop to 40 and full throttle and she died; back off and she picked up. Booked into dealer next wednesday.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Roger

ps. Tonka is a gen.4 with 1800 miles.

I suspect the dealer may know whats happening here. But for future motoring, perhaps consider a battery monitor.

I have just fitted an AEG monitor. It simply fits on your battery via adehsisve backing one wire to the pos other to neg. Then use woth an app on your mobile phone.

It monitors the idleing voltage in real time via bluetooth, shows what voltage your accessories are taking from the battery, shows a graph of your historic journeys, tells you if the alternator is doing its job correctly etc. Its been brilliant.

Here are my screenshots of the battery status in real time of my oen stock suzuki battery.




If it is something electrical this may help you diagnose it.

Hope this helps.

Update.
Took Tonka in for the free service asked them to check headlamp aim and cutting out. Previous thoughts on cutting out concluded that the only evidence that may have tied them together was that the fuel tank had been filled to the brim. No fault code came up and a call to Suzuki drew a blank. Since the second occasion (first was a minor stutter that cleared within a couple of seconds), the car has run perfectly. On Monday I ran the motor for 10 miles at high speed and then stopped and checked filler cap. No vacuum in tank so cap is venting ok.

I will monitor the situation and see how Tonka behaves and if all goes well I will brim the tank again and see what happens.

Roger

Hi Roger, nice to see Tonka is doing better now!

I am curious, did you monitor the Voltage on the drive? I am still waiting for Suzuki to get back to me with a dealer that has the Scan Tool so we can check for Codes and do the service.

(PM sent)

Not yet George. Coming down to basics it's either fuel or electrics and the fact that overfilling the tank on both occasions is the only common denominator I will wait a week or so and if Tonka is running normally I will overfill again and see what happens. I don't like not knowing the cause! It happened and there has to be a reason.

Roger

All good Roger. I just booked mine in for it's 18 Month Service next Tuesday with a Dealer who has Two Suzuki Technicians and a Suzuki Scan Tool!

Drove out to Chasewater reservoir this morning. Whilst negotiating an island at slow speed some 5 miles from site engine died. Backed off throttle and engine started. Did that 3 times and then ran normally. Puled over and unscrewed filler cap but couldn't hear any hissing due to traffic noise. screwed cap back on but not tight. Completed run to site no problem. At Chasewater screwed cap normally and came home after 2 hours visit.No problem. Journey back mostly M6 and M5 at speeds 50-60 mph. No problems.
I will email customer services at Suzuki with copy to dealer and see what happens. Battery voltage 5 mins. after getting home 12.7.

Roger

Hi Roger, Last first: 12.7V just after shut-down is a bit low, depending on what is switched on and how its measured. I'll PM my procedure.
I think you have covered the possibility of Fuel.
When mine cut out, it was going below 12V on the Service Menu after driving about 8km at 12.2V.
Could you drive with the menu displayed?
Are there any (other) minor electrical anomalies?

Checked the fuel cap and believed the valve to let air into the tank may have been blocked. Checked it again this morning and all was well so maybe when I fiddled with it yesterday I cleared it.

Anyway I have just got back from a drive of 80 minutes or so without any problems.

So just maybe!

Roger

Looks like you have nailed it, Roger. I am going down the 0W-20 'Oil trail' on Tuesday, after Martin's Tutorial on the Gen4 Alternator last Saturday.

Whenever it's fill up time, I get a quite a large inrush of air when I release the filler cap. Is that not normal? Can't say it's caused any issues