Toyota Coaster - Motor Home

[kamodo]

We have a 1981 Toyota Coaster motor home with a 4 cylinder Diesel engine, and we are in NSW in Australia.

When driving on trips, we have been driving at 85 to 90 Kilometres p/h when suddenly with no warning the engine completely shuts down (sounds like someone has just turned the key to the off position). We lose all power, and must pull over to the side of the road. The first time this happened we pulled over, panicked, calmed down, discussed what it could be, and then restarted the engine a drove off without an issue after sitting on the side of the road for 5-10 minutes.

We then drove for another 3 hours without any issues.

When safely in  a caravan park I checked everything I could see from all angles including underneath and found a small thin wire that looked like it was barely hanging on by about 2 strands of wire. I added in some new wire and thought that may have been the issue. My theory was that when hot the thin wire was failing. Which made sense at the time.

We then stayed at our location for 2 weeks with no further issues, and drove home (12 hour drive over a couple of days) without any issues.

3 months later we go on another trip and my wife was driving the bus, 2 to 3 hours up the road and the bus just cuts out and stops. After sitting on the side of the road for 5 minutes, she restarts and drives on. We stay for 4 days at our location, I drive the bus home (4 hours) and there are no issues.

I have a mechanical background with cars and motorcycles, but zero experience with diesel engines.

I spoke to a local Truckie and he thinks it may be caused by crap in the fuel tank being sucked up into the fuel intake/pickup filter/pipe in the fuel tank which causes the engine to shut down due to a lack of diesel, when pulled over the crap falls to the bottom of the fuel tank, and we are able to drive away with no issue.

Apologies for the long story, but this is doing my head in and I really need to fix the issue so we can feel secure that we are not going to break down every time we go on a trip.

Hoping someone can provide some thoughts

Cheers

Steve

 

 

[flash22]

new fuel filter, stick some diesel treatment/cleaner in the tank due to it sitting a lot of the time you may have algae or water build-up - supercheap auto should have something on the shelf

the forum is UK-based, but we try to help where we can

[kamodo]

Thanks Flash22, I will give that a try 🙂