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Howell FI Hesitation

G

GR8 Salt Lake

Basic User
City
South Jordan
State
UT
I purchased a Scrambler that the PO had installed the fuel injection system.
Sometimes, when its warm, it has a hesitation, where their is no power for a few seconds and then back to normal. This hasn't left me on the roadside yet, but you do feel like you need to pull over.
Any suggestions?
 
Dirty injectors. It happened to mine as well. The idle will drop real low and then recover which is another sign.
 
Thanks for suggesting something so simple that I'm embarrassed I haven't tried. Off to the auto parts store...
 
I hope it is that simple for you. I bought my system used, actually traded a set of old rims and tires for it. I put the system in and told myself that I should replace the injectors and then for some reason never did even though I bought new O2 sensor and relays plus a new fuel pump. I drove the Jeep for a good few months with it idling rough and coughing on me and not once did I replace the injectors, think of the injectors or throw in a bottle of injector cleaner. So I was cleaning up the garage one day I was tossing old junk off my shelf when I found a bottle of STP injector cleaner. I poured it into the gas tank and literally half a tank later she is running like a dream. So basically I did the same thing.
 
Well, after adding injector cleaner, it seemed to run fine until it just died on me, plenty of miles from home. Towed it home. I have a suspicion that it has to do with the fuel pump, don't know why, but it just seems like the culprit. It died on me on some wash-boarded road and may have shook some wiring loose, as it looks as though there is no fuel getting to the throttle body. I'll dump some fuel in the throttle body to confirm if she starts. Even though the PO did an amazing amount of work, it has an amazing amount of loose end wires just hanging about.
 
There's a relay in there somewhere that can fail as well. If the fuel pump doesn't cure it, check the relay.
 
Well...many avenues checked and all failed. Last resort was calling Howell and talking to them, and they walked me through some tests. Ends up being the tach filter(!). Something so minor yet it sent me bananas looking for it. Now it runs again. By the way, that little filter cost fifty bucks. Seems to be a lot for something so little. Now I'll follow through with the injector cleaner.....
 
That's a tough one but it is good that Howell came through for you on the customer service. They do a good job with that from my experience.
 
I've been having the same problem with my setup. It'll start up fine and run for a bit then just cut out and won't restart for the next half hour. Its still spraying fuel when I turn the key but no start. Where abouts is the tach filter?
 
I'm pretty sure its not your tach filter, as it either works or it doesn't, no intermittent starts and stops. The tach filter is located about a foot after the ECU and is usually wrapped up in tape.
 
I have a Howell system on mine. When I switched from MSD ignition to a DUI, I had change the tach filter to get it to run right. So your issues could be related to what ignition system you’re running...just a thought.
 
I have to reset my computer from time to time, then it has to "learn" all over again.

Turn on the key, hold the gas pedal down to the floor for 10-15 seconds, then start the Jeep. As I recall that resets the memory. Sometimes it gets a bug and needs to be reset. Beyond that, mine works flawlessly. Also, as stated above, I immediately switched to a DUI which relieved any hesitation, period!
 
ok, Thanks everyone. Sorry to hijack the thread, just frustrated with not being able to drive my 8 this summer as I troubleshoot everything.
 
Your problem is with the Howell piece of shit. I threw mine away and went back to my Motorcraft 2 bbl. I never could get it to run right.
 
Wyoming said:
Your problem is with the Howell piece of ****. I threw mine away and went back to my Motorcraft 2 bbl. I never could get it to run right.
Click to expand...

No need for swearing here and definitely not outright insulting something another owner has. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than other forums.
 
Wyoming said:
Your problem is with the Howell piece of shit. I threw mine away and went back to my Motorcraft 2 bbl. I never could get it to run right.
Click to expand...

There is no need for that kind of talk here. A lot of us run the Howell kits and they work really well. Sorry that you couldn't figure yours out but it is a good product and has been around for many years.
 
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