Ranger Mods

Okay, this is an oddity.

Two days ago I aproached a "T" intersection and the lights went amber when I was around 20 metres off the line, I was doing around 70 kph in an 80 kph zone. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a car approaching, at speed, from my right so I braked hard pulling up about a metre over the line, the other car never stopped and drove through, had I not stopped we could have well been involved in a "T" bone accident with him striking the drivers side on my Wildtrak.

So, when the the lights turned green we took off and the Wildtrak was suddenly sluggish with almost zero acceleration. Some 2 kilometres down the road I was able to pull over and I noticed the following:_

1.) The windscreen washer alarm light had come on indicating low water in the washer tank.
2.) The coolant header bottle was full to the cap.
3.) The ATF temperature, normally around 50 *C with the new (trial) air radiator cooler installed was up to close to 80*C as read on the Ultragauge.

As I had just done a full oil and filter change I assumed that the cause of the poor take-off and acceleration was fuel starvation as the only filter that I hadn't changed was the Fuelmaster 30 micron pre-filter as this is supposed to be good for close to 100,000 kms given the fuel consumption of a 3.2 litre engine with a fuel economy of around 15l/100k.
As it was close to 80,000 since it was last changed I payed out the $80.00 for a new filter canister and replaced it and the following day the woes have gone and the Wildtrak is back to its normal performance.

I have noticed since then however that the windscreen washer bottle must have a leak as the water simply flows/pours out of above the inner guard. It seems to be a real bitch to get to as the drivers wheel and plastic inner guard has to be removed just to get to the bottle and the pump.

On reflection the braking must have caused this leak.

Okay so here is the crunch. Could the action of hard severe braking and surging engine fluids have been the real cause of the loss of acceleration and that the fuel filter was okay and my initial diagnosis of fuel starvation has been obviously wrong ??

Incidentally there were no fault codes or engine warning lights.

No hard braking will not cause that problem. If the brake light circuit is playing up and the lights staying on it will cut power.

If you mean fuel manager filter rather than fuel master, it is not uncommon for the hoses to not seal well on the barb fittings. Imo Some hose is a tad to large for the fittings and supplied clamps to large. I have fitted two efi clamps on each one rather than the single supplied.

But I would be concerned about the high coolant level. Did you check for faults with forscan or ultragauge.

Bala1 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 05, 2023 9:15 am No hard braking will not cause that problem. If the brake light circuit is playing up and the lights staying on it will cut power.

If you mean fuel manager filter rather than fuel master, it is not uncommon for the hoses to not seal well on the barb fittings. Imo Some hose is a tad to large for the fittings and supplied clamps to large. I have fitted two efi clamps on each one rather than the single supplied.

But I would be concerned about the high coolant level. Did you check for faults with forscan or ultragauge.

Yes, it's a Fuel Master and the barb fittings are fine, no are no fuel leaks at it or at the OE fuel filter.

Okay, the issues seem to have resolved themselves.
The following things happened when I braked, or became obvious moments after.

1.) The windscreen bottle low level alarm light illuminated.
2.) The ATF temperature went quickly from 50 to 80*C
3.) The engine coolant level went up to the bottle pressure cap.

I replaced the Fuel Master Pre-fuel filter in case the reason for poor acceleration was fuel starvation. I've since cut open the filter canister and it looks hardly used. There is next to no debris in it, no discolouration of the paper core and it clearly wasnt blocked or causing fuel starvation.

I used Forscan and my Ultragauge and there were no fault codes.

1.) The hose off the windscreen wiper pump had come off and with it the hose clamp and the water had drained out.
2.) The ATF is again at its pre "event' temperature, 50 C.
3.) The Coolant level self righted itself by the following morning and is now back to its correct level.

All of this points to a forward surge in all the fluids sending some of the numerous sensors haywire.

The Wildtrak is now back to its previous performance. Any thoughts ??

I think that I've finally found the needle in the proverbial haystack and the reason for occassional poor pick-up and acceleration.
When I piped up the after-market transmission cooler I was sent as a trial gift I "assumed" that the flow to the cooler would be the top connection on the gearbox and the return would be the bottom connection --- WRONG -- it's the other way around !
The supply to the cooler is the bottom connection, and the return is at the top. I'll switch them over in the morning !