After efforts on Saturday to get it running, my little L38 Daihatsu 360/MAX wasn’t playing ball. Something just wasn’t right, I figured I would likely have to remove and rebuild the carb as it appeared to be a fueling issue though I wasn’t sure where exactly. In an effort to figure out whether the fuel pump was working or not, I moronically broke the fixed line between the pump and the carburettor, not good. Not quite being able to put my finger on it and the wind and sunshine not working well together, I decided to call it quits for the day.
On Sunday, things went altogether differently. A little bit of fuel hose stolen from my C110′s fuel rail was clamped in place onto each broken end of the fixed line. The pump did appear to be working but not at a very impressive level. Diagnosis continued. I hoped of course that the fuel pump didn’t have to be replaced, it would be yet another part that would be difficult to find and then buy, many tries of filling the fuel bowl on the carb up only worked until the bowl was empty and then it would putter to a stop. My brother hung his head under the car to find that there was a small puddle left under the fuel tank. Curses. A leak. I investigated further to find that they were only pinhole types holes and certainly wouldn’t be enough to stop fuel delivery. Whilst cramming my hands into the small space between the engine and the firewall where the fuel pump resides, I noticed a glint from a drip. The drip was forming on the lower hose clamp of the fuel filter. After pulling the filter off, all was revealed. There was a rust hole in the bottom of said filter and this was not only letting fuel out but drawing air through making fuel delivery to the carburettor sparse at best. My brother shot off to SuperChump to attain a plastic inline filter to replace it and once that was on, we were in business! the car fired up and ran on it’s own after we’d adjusted the idle. Brilliant. She’s a runner for the first time in 6 years.
Now there’s just the rest of the problems to sort. Holes in steel remedied, Fix whatever it is in the carb that’s sticking or blocked, get the brakes working, take it for a WoF and then get some registration and BANG. Should be good! Though I guarantee there’ll be other issues, they shall all be tackled as they make themselves known.
-Michael
Bet there was MAXimum smoke on startup!
Hi Michael,
I know this is an old post but I couldnt find a newer one on this car. I am loving your little beast, its looking more like a 2 stroke in that vid though, lol. Are you from NZ? Where ever you are from do you know if the Max was sold in your county new or was it a one off import. I ask because I live in Australia and I havent seen them here. I have just found and purchased a 1984 2 cylinder AB55, the turbo version of your AB20 and Im looking for a car to put it in. I think Ill drop it in a Handivan as they were sold here are parts and cars are still available. They are really light too but I think your Max has better rear suspension. Whatever I choose it must have steel bumpers, no plastic! Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Ben
Hey Ben, jump onto JNC (japanesenostalgiccar.com) go to the forums and in the manufacturer’s link there’s a a “Daihatsu” area. Within that area is a chap, in Australia, with an earlier Daihatsu Max. I reckon if you can find one, that would be the go! He may even be able to assist you in finding one. Whatever the case, I look forward to hearing the results! ..and yeah, I am in NZ, we did get the MAX new but it’s quite rare nowadays, though in the last several months there’s been a few pop up on trademe. I have since sold mine and it now lives in Wellington, had I not have I would have offered it to you! A shame but thems the breaks.