FJ62 - Hard Start & Gas Smell After Shut Off

[SAR_Squid79]

Posting this from MUD to TTORA to maybe help someone out.

This problem started very suddenly on Thursday...

First off, for a few weeks now, I've had a check engine light.
Codes:
25: - Air Fuel Ratio Lean Malfunction
26: - Air Fuel Ratio Rich Malfunction

I thought it was the o2 sensors, but just haven't got around to replacing them yet, as the Cruiser still ran fine. About 6 weeks ago, my Fuel Pump died, and I replaced it, everything was good to go . . . a couple of weeks later I got the CEL . . . now this.

Thursday morning, my Cruiser started up just fine; 1 turn of the key as usual. At lunch time it started fine, I went out to eat lunch, then after lunch it was a little hard to start (had to crank it over 2 good times). Once it's started, it runs just fine. As smooth as always. After you cut the truck off, you can smell a very strong gas smell. It seems to be coming from the driver's side of the engine bay. Now every start is hard - it has to be cranked over 2 or 3 times to start, and gives off the strong fuel odor after every shut down.

At first, I was thinking that maybe the Fuel Pressure Regulator is where I should start. The FPR seems to be problem child for lots of different problems on the FJ62s. The FSM also mentioned some kind of Check Valve... And on IH8MUD, I read a lot about a fuel pulsation dampener being the problem for a lot of guys. I had never even heard of such a thing before.



Upon further inspection and troubleshooting this morning, I have confirmed that this Fuel Pulsation Dampener is definitely the culprit. It's dribbling gas, and is definitely source of my problem! IH8MUD saves the day again - because I doubt if I would have ever found that little son of a bitch on my own. I think it's wierd that this part could have gone bad and started leaking so suddenly... Maybe it'll make more since once I get it off the truck, and can look at it closer.

Now I just have to figure out where to get a replacement. I can't find any reference to this part in the FSM, so I don't know if "Pulsation Dampener" is the actual nomenclature, or what...

After doing a little searching - maybe Toyota Part Number: 23207-74010?

I snapped a couple of pics of this pesky Pulsation Dampener - maybe it'll help somebody out in the future. This thing is hard to find, hard to see, and is definitely going to be a PITA to get a wrench on.

[SAR_Squid79]

I ordered the parts from www.toyotapartsales.com - Toyota of Dallas was awesome AGAIN! Thanks Jaques!

I ordered:

PN:_______________Name:
23207-46010.......Pulsation Damper
23232‑28010.......Upper Gasket
90430‑12005.......Lower Gasket
23280-61010.......Fuel Pressure Regulator
90430-08014.......Fuel Pipe Gasket (2)





I ordered the Parts on Tuesday, and they were sitting on my porch when I got home on Friday.

Because of where the Pulsation Damper is located, you have to either buy or improvise a 22mm Crowsfoot Wrench. I found my local Snap-On guy and bought the wrench.

I replaced the Fuel Pressure Regulator first. It's pretty straight forward.
The 2 bolts that hold the regulator to the bracket are a little bit of a pain to get to. I just loosened them until I could unscrew them with my fingers. The "Fuel Pipe" (Banjo Bolt) is easy.











--TORQUE to 13 LB-FT--



--ALL DONE--

Next I set about what I thought was going to be a difficult task. The hardest part turned out to be just getting up on top of the engine so that I could get the Crowsfoot Wrench, extension, and ratchet on the Pulsation Damper. Once I got up to where I could see and reach everything, it wasn't very difficult at all.

This is the little bastard that was leaking fuel like a sieve:



The Pulsation Damper is on the back of the engine block, at the end of the fuel rail, near the firewall, below and behind the Intake Maniford. It's a BITCH to get ahold of!





When putting the new Pulsation Damper on, the silver gasket with the teeth goes on the Pulsation Damper itself, and the regular round copper gasket goes underneath the Banjo fitting. That's a bit of a PITA, because there's only about 1/8" of play in that banjo. BE CAREFUL NOT TO CROSS-THREAD!





--ALL DONE--

She started right up, ran nice and smooth, and the fuel smell is GONE!!!

*Note - On top of the pulsation damper, there's a little set screw. That screw is set by Toyota for proper function, and should never be tightened by the end-user. When I removed the old pulsation damper, the screw fell out completely. Just for the hell of it, I tried to screw it back in, and could not. This must have been the source of the problem.

[Scuba]

Nice job Jamie!!

[Mr Tacomi]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

*Note - On top of the pulsation damper, there's a little set screw. That screw is set by Toyota for proper function, and should never be tightened by the end-user. When I removed the old pulsation damper, the screw fell out completely. Just for the hell of it, I tried to screw it back in, and could not. This must have been the source of the problem.

It's always good with these hard to find, pesky problems to KNOW that you've found the cause--lot's of peace of mind follows!


Good write up, will prove useful to folks searching in the future!

[hunter4runner]

what kind of mileage do you get from your 62 ?

[SAR_Squid79]

Average usually hovers around 11.