Engine cut off while driving; won't restart

I shipped my CJ-5 across country, picked it up, and filled it with gas. Five minutes later I'm on a busy San Diego freeway when I had to pull onto the shoulder (female leading the caravan lost me), and the engine cut off. I tried restarting it several times to no avail. Obviously still plenty of gas and the lines are all connected. Maybe a wire popped loose? Where should I start?

 

what engine?

do you see fuel squirting into the carb? maybe you sucked up something?

after a quick check there, I would check your points. Check to see if you get a spark

 

Spark, Fuel, Air. You need all 3 for it to run. Troubleshoot it eliminating each of the 3 as a possibility

 

Odd fire 225. Fuel squirting into the carb...can you elaborate? It was hard to get a good investigation since it was getting dark and I was on a freeway shoulder, so I'm going to have to check it out tomorrow.

 

Btw after it was towed it started again and ran for about 5 seconds cutting off...

 

Sounds like fuel , maybe check your fuel filter.......loose wire at coil or grounds check all the way to battery...........as others mentioned check the three basic's Fuel Air & spark at the correct time.

 

if you take off air cleaner and push throttle linkage back (towards firewall) you will see fuel squirt down the throat of the carburetor.

let us know if it starts up and runs in the morning after everything has cooled down?

 

Ok thanks. Piffey do you mean with the engine off?

 

yes, sorry I should of mentioned that. Don't want to get anything caught in that fan.

 

"I shipped my CJ-5 across country.." Did you reset your ignition to the new Time Zone?

But seriously, that same thing happened to me right after a fill-up. Was about a half-gallon of water in the fuel.

 

clogged filter? something in the tank closing off the fuel pickup? Crud in the fuel bowl holding the float in the closed position?

 

Egg in the gas tank?


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I did look at the filter last night and it looked fine. I shined my iPhone light in the tank, but it was hard to get a good look at the gas. My tank is under my seat, so I shook it pretty vigorously, and one time that helped it almost start but didn't do much. If it is water...what am I looking at?

 

It’ll look like a bubble at the bottom of the gas tank.
Since you’ve got the under seat tank remove the sending unit in the top of it and you should be able to get a better look into the tank.

 

"remove the sending unit"

I wouldn't mess with that. Just open the tank drain and see what you get drained into a coffee can.

 

you say it ran until you pulled over and then it died? vapor lock? would it start again after it cooled down? how close is the fuel line to the exhaust? did you ship jeep from lower altitude to higher? ...or maybe old gas? you could try draining the tank and refilling. good luck!

 

The fuel sending unit is already disconnected since it isn't working. I'm kind of handicapped bc I just moved and don't have my tools yet; it's parked in a lot on base. Not sure if I should tow it to work or just take it to a mechanic (not ideal).

 

Fuel line is nowhere near the exhaust. It started again today but only ran for a few seconds. Altitude is equivalent to my old station and the gas is 95% from a new fillup, but I did have maybe 2 gallons of old gas in it before I filled up. But it ran fine for 15 minutes, and my wife's car ran fine off that fillup.

 

really sounds like water in the gas. You may have to clean the carb float bowl out since water is probably in there now too, and will not run right until its cleaned out, even if you clean out the tank. I would drain and refill tank, change fuel filters, clean out float bowl in carb, and give it another try.