I know I posted this in the Hi jet forum, but since the cars are somewhat similar I figured people here could help me more. I have a 1998 Daihatsu Midget II Cargo, the car hasn't been ran in over a year, and hasn't had new fuel in it for about 2 years. I attempted to start it today, recharged the battery, got some starting fluid, and attempted to fire it up. Not to my surprise, it didn't start. I'm wondering how you think I should go about this, and I think I should drain all that old fuel out and re-fuel it. If you think that's the way to go, can anyone tell me how to go about draining all the fuel? Or do you think just adding new fuel in on top of it, and running some carburetor cleaner through it will work? Thanks for taking your time.
drain the old fuel through the drain bolt on the bottom of the tank and then refill with clean fuel..trax's technique of unhooking the fuel line and sucking seafoam into the carb and then letting it sit a few hours is a good one...then rehook up the lines and start
I've done what you said, with the exception of the SeaFoam, and I squirted a little starting fluid into the carburetor. All that would happen though is it would try, start, I'd lay on the gas, or go back and forth stepping on the peddle, and it would rev really high, then rev back down quickly, shake alot, then die. It seemed it was just running off the starting fluid, and I don't know if gas is even getting to the engine. I'm not very knowledgeable with engines, so it may be something obvious I'm just missing. Thanks for the time.
the fuel filter is most likely clogged as well..swapping it out is pretty simple...to check for fuel flow unhook the fuel line where it goes into the carb while cranking ,fuel should spurt out..also check that the 2 solenoids on the carb (maybe only 1 on yours) are clicking when you turn the key on..if they don't click they could be sticking shut and not allowing fuel into the carb. ..
Well, I'm gonna start this thread with just a picture of the engine itself: Alright, I found the line labled "fuel" closest to the carburater I could. It seemed it led to the fuel-pump. So, I undid it, and immediately gas starting shooting out (was not trying to start car), and wouldn't stop. Then, I followed the line a little further, toward this, which is what I thought was the fuel pump I'm assuming that's where the problem is. Also, I randomly picked a filter, to see if it was clogged, not sure which one it is exactly, but I was unable to blow through it when i removed it, so it must be clogged, whatever it is. Picture of it below: So how do you suggest I go from here? And again, don't know anything much about engines, as you can tell, so thanks for all the patience and assistance.
that piece you removed is a vacuum line regulator ...make sure you put it back with the coloured ends facing the same way they were when you removed them..it does look like a fuel filter but it isn't..it seems you are getting fuel from the line after the filter so the problem is likely in the carb. the solenoid valve you want to feel clicking when you turn the ignition on is the one plugged into the green plug just above your hand in the photo with the removed fuel line...I think your float needle is stuck closed or the fuel solenoid is not opening...the fuel line you have off in the photo is from the gas tank to the fuel pump..from the pump you will see the other line that goes into the carb..unhook that one..try blowing into it towards the carb. I doubt you will be able to but try it anyway...lightly tap the sides of the carb while blowing into the hose,as it may allow the float needle valve to open up..if that fails spray some carb cleaner into that hose..fill it with carb cleaner and then block the hose with a golf tee or something to keep the cleaner in the line...leave it overnight and hopefully it will unstick the needle valve...
put some gas in a spray bottle (like an old windex bottle ) remove the big intake hose from the air filter to the carb (1 big hose clamp holds it on) . inside you will see the round choke plate that blocks off the air from coming in when the choke is on...push on the gas pedal all the way to the floor and make sure the choke flap opens and closes with the pedal being pushed ..when the pedal is all the way to the floor you should see the choke plate open up ..spray some fuel with the bottle into the carb where the choke plate is as someone tries to start the truck..once it starts do n't worry about how high it revs just give it a little spray every few seconds to keep it running...try to keep it running in this way hopefully the fuel pump will be able to push some fuel into the float bowl..don't spray a ton of fuel just little drips to keep it running..fingers crossed it will eventually keep going on its own
Alright, I'll try that and let you know how it goes. Also, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me with all of this. Without your help I'd still be at square one.
I took off the hose and exposed the choke plate inside the carb like you said. When I pressed the pedal it lifted very slowly and only about 1/4 of an inch of a gap. I got some carb cleaner and squired it out, getting rid of all the gunk on the walls of it. It made it move smoother, and close quicker, but it still only opens up about 1/4 of an inch. I tried squirting the gas in while starting it, and it just wouldn't keep going. I guess I'll have to get a mechanic to look at it.
When I blow into the fuel line going into the carb, It has no give. What if I used an air compressor and shot air into it? Could this potentially damage anything, and do you think its worth the risk?
I wouldn't completely blast it but you could give it a little shot of air... if you are willing to tackle disassembly you can take off the float bowl cover and check for sediment and a sticky needle
Try to keep it running w/ the spray bottle for a minute or two. It may take a while to get the dead gas out of the line. Try tapping the bottom of the carb to unstick the needle on the float. Just some ideas... .
I've already opened up the section where the fuel line enters the carb. Couldn't get to it that well, its just awkward trying to work on the thing. This weekend I'll unhook everything again and go deeper into it this time. I think I'm capable. If not, I got you guys.
alright I can probably help you caus I went through this too with my midget. Your fuel filter is probably to the outside of your air filter box screwed down to the frame. Start there.:frustration:
Everythings fine until you get to the carb. It's clogged pretty bad, all the old fuel turned to varnish. What ended up being the problem with your midget, and howd you fix it? I'd like to get around having to disassemble the carb, but it looks like I'll have to.
You have to. Take it off and take pictures and follow all the paths so you know what does what, it will help a lot in the future. Clean everything, the little steel ball in the accelerator pump has to be loose and the real small 0 ring on the end of the jet in the bottom of the float bowl has to be there and in good shape or it will run real rich and bad.
Alright, so that section where fuel enters the carb, when I blew into that hose, all I could get was resistance, so I figured it was clogged somehow. I took off the section where fuel enters the carb, and this is what I saw. Now, I really don't know what to do from here and what's what, due to my lack of knowledge with engines. Help would be greatly appreciated.
take the carb off and follow the gas path to know how it works. wont take long and it will help you in the future. that top gasket has to be good, make a new one with gasket material.mark all the hoses first.
Alright, thanks. There's one more thing I'm gonna try tomorrow before I go for rebuild, hopefully it'll work. I think it will.
The old carbs get dirty but they dont really wear out. Clean it good and it should work fine without replacing anything but 0 rings and gaskets. Pay close attention to the gasket on the float bowl, one hole has to be covered and gasket has to be good or it wont idle because the gasket covers a drill hole that the gas gets siphoned up from float bowl and back down into carb, if gasket isnt good it wont idle. Look real close and you can follow the gas routs for the different high and low speed jets. The jets dont wear out. Idle gas goes from bottom of bowl and up to top hole under gasket and back down into carb, if the gasket isnt good gas wont siphon up and over and wont idle, high speed jet is in the bottom of the bowl and has small 0 ring on its end that has to be good or it will run way too rich at speed. When you learn gas paths and what does what you will know about any future problems and how to fix them easily. There is one more part and that is the accelerator pump. When you give it gas the air starts moving before the gas does, and there is a gas lag so there is a squirt gun of gas that shoots into carb for a second, thats the accelerator pump. It has a lever on top of carb and a small diaphragm and check ball assembly, make sure the diaphragm is good and the check ball, real small, is moving freely. Hope this helps some. tom
It's been sitting for weeks until yesterday. I figured what the hell, I'll try to start it. Fired right up and is running great.
