Thanks, for the info

Lastly, how did u guys clean ur engine, mine is full of dirt after taking road with heavy rain, can I just use water gun or need to clean by hand with piece of old cloth?

Possible causes:
1) Headlight relay weak contact
2) Bad contact at stalk switch at steering column
3) Wiring connection got bad contact somewhere

Not likely to be battery problem if you can start your car, bcos when battery is weak you will have starting problem even when headlights are still bright. Also not likely the headlamp problem.

Try to turn on high beam and see if any difference.

This post has been edited by Albert B: Oct 22 2013, 07:51 AM

Normally I will send for car wash to wash the engine..They use the special liquid for removing the dirt on the engine

is it effect the engine part, the wire thing??

The distributor which have high voltage to the spark plug can be affected by moisture. My Iswara once stalled on the road as the engine heat start to move the moisture around inside (washed engine bay on the previous day, some water must have seeped into the gaps). After a few hours, can start again like nothing happened. Now I cover the distributor with plastic bag for such washings.

This post has been edited by Albert B: Oct 22 2013, 03:46 PM

take some aluminum foil and cover the air intake (if you do not have the full snorkel that plugs in to the fender hole), distributor, spark plug ends (at the engine), and wiring connections (eg the wiper motors etc as they tend to go haywire a while after engine wash, annoying )

then, hose down the engine bay, use some non corrosive degreaser such as meguiar's super degreaser on 1:10 dilution and spray liberally.
hose it off after 30-40 seconds of the product working it's way on the dirt.

and you're done

video a rough guide here:

credit from LYN detailer's thread
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2717191

=edit=
i use karcher's pressure washer, makes the job a TON easier. just don't aim directly at the spark plugs/alternator and you're fine

This post has been edited by Quazacolt: Oct 22 2013, 03:41 PM

Thanks, that is a nice video and advice..

This post has been edited by Azure_01: Oct 22 2013, 03:52 PM

Hi everyone,

Need some advice and help.
My 1998 Iswara which I bought 2nd hand 2 months ago has some problems. Once in a while, the car won't start in the morning. After I bought the car, I did a full service :

1) Engine oil change
2) New oil filter
3) New timing belt
4) New spark plugs
5) New vacuum pump

For the starting problem, first my mechanic serviced the carburetor. Then it was fine for few days. After that, I couldn't start my car. So he changed the distributor. Few weeks had passed then again I cannot start my car. This time the mechanic said the fuel cannot reach the engine when I start the car. What is actually wrong with my car? The battery is ok. When I turn the keys to start the car, I can only hear the cranking sound but the engine won't start.

spark plug cable/starter? battery?

Damage from Sepang: 2 rim caps, driver side drive shaft both rubber boot torn with leaking grease, front wheel off balanced,rear drum dusty

Lousy plastic rim cap melted lol http://twitpic.com/diblpj

This post has been edited by Quazacolt: Oct 22 2013, 08:42 PM

During the time when it was ok, was there any symptoms of engine lacking power, misfiring etc, or it was normal?

The battery and the spark plug cable is in good condition.

Yes, there was symptom of engine lacking power but after the carburetor has been serviced, the car runs well. There is no problem when I drive the car, the only thing is sometimes it won't start.

1.any recommended shop to install power steering for iswara 1.3m area serdang/seri kembangan/dengkil?
2.why my meter minyak always bergetar,meter rosak or other problem?

This post has been edited by wlm6070: Oct 23 2013, 09:51 AM

The needle vibrate slowly or very shaky?

If slowly sometimes stuck at E, and if yours is the Iswara instrument cluster , there is possibility of failed solder joint, like in my case (bought a soldering iron and repaired).

If vibrate fast, like the fuel level sloshing in the tank following every corner or bump , then could be capacitor (function of capacitor to smooth out the fluctuations)

But there are also other causes , e.g. at the sender unit, bad wiring connection ...

This post has been edited by Albert B: Oct 23 2013, 12:34 PM

The problem of "engine can crank, but does not fire" has many causes mainly classified under fuel problem, electrical problem and compression problem, and need to check to eliminate each one.

1) Take out the spark plugs and look at the condition for clues. You can google "spark plug condition" under images and you can see lots of pictures & guides.

2) See if your carburettor auto-choke is at the right position for cold engine.

3) To see you have a 'flooded engine', press fully the petrol pedal & maintain at that position (do not pump) and crank the engine. This will help clear excess fuel in flooded engine.

4) To see if you have 'no fuel supply' problem, open the air filter, push back the carburettor piston and spray some carb cleaner down inside (to be used as fuel), then crank the engine. If it fires for a short while, it's confirmed.

5) Electrical :
To test whether ignition system is the problem, remove one of the cables to the plug, fit in a spare spark plug, place this on the engine body with the plug screw thread touching the engine body (use a tape to hold in place), then ask a helper to crank the engine. Observe whether got spark. Caution: high voltage, do not touch the set-up when cranking - can give you electric shock. Also, if there is petrol leaks nearby, it may ignited by this.

You can google "testing ignition coil on plug" e.g.
http://autorepair.about.com/od/troubleshoo...st-manual_2.htm
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-te...-in-a-vehicle#b
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUOmsGiirTU

This post has been edited by Albert B: Oct 23 2013, 05:20 PM

first congrat to this forum reach v27 already i also gonna get a saga lmst soon, my dad brought it and he said is 2004 ,and i check it out my self and test drive,everything quite new no problem,but still so many experience sifu here,mind ask what are the thing i should look out for this car?

slowly but not stuck at E..its always vibrate no matter the tank is full or half..

The fault could be in the meter or at the sender unit in the tank. You can open up the meter to check for any abnormalities like bad solder joint, or socket bad contact…

Remove the fuel/temperature combo from the instrument cluster, fix this unit only to the wiring at the car, switch ignition key to ON position, jiggle, massage the meter and socket and see if any improvement.

It depends on the previous owner care & maintenance, if done properly, should not be much of problem. First thing, see if timing belt was changed at 100,000km, if not, better do it. Next are the important fluids & lubricants, brakes, tyres ... ...

This post has been edited by Albert B: Oct 23 2013, 05:09 PM