well, it's me....again. ****. Littlefoot died on me again last week, and so she has sat still since. I went out to see if she'd fire and I got this: It cranks, it fires for a second, takes a few choking glugs and then sputters out. Pushing the gas pedal has 0 response. Also, it just sounds like something in the engine compartment sounds like it's spinning but not catching anything.

any idea?

I'm not well versed in cars enough to be able to diagnose it, and considering two mechanics (one good, one kind of a ree-ree) haven't been able to fix it...well, i'm at wit's end with it.

 

Sounds like fuel. Can you start it with starter fluid?

 

By chance, does the Bronco's use a separate power for start and run key positions to feed power to the coil? The older Mustangs did this and they would start, run for a second, and as soon as the key is released, they would die. This was on the feed to the distributor....and since I don't know this Bronco....I just throw this out there.

 

Does it crank for a while or fire right up? Any codes?

 

AzPete might be on to something if you have the Push Start system and the resistor in the harness is bad.

Would you like to tell us what year Bronco?

If EFI, pull codes, KOEO and Continuous Memory (CM).

 

how many miles on the motor? when it turns over does it sound super fast? if so the timing chain or gear may have broke

but agree with others that it could be a coil issue and/or fuel.

 

OP we need some stats on your Bronco I see you have 89 listed in your info. If the rear fuel pump is not working it can give you this problem the 89 has 2 pumps one in the tank one on the frame rail I would start by checking to make sure you have spark and that the TFI is working then check both fuel pumps for operation.

 

well, here's what's been fixed on this heap since I got it October 2010, and only after something broke:

Engine rebuilt-under 7k miles
radiator
both fuel pumps are new
fuel filter is new
vacuum pump and all the hoses are new

i'm unsure how to pull codes, and I can't get it to run to have it coded.

the bronco is an 89 with a 351W.

 

it makes that winding noise after every breakdown, then goes away after a few days and a crank or two. The engine has under 7,000 miles on it after the rebuild and was done by a damn good mechanic. It does, however, sound like a fast spinning. What I don't understand is how it ran great from a week, then out of nowhere it couldn't do a 2 mile drive to the store.

 

you would have to walk me through that, that all sounded chinese to me, and I know it shouldn't. I don't really know a whole lot about car repair sadly. It's something I'm working on fixing.

 

You need to look into the wiring schematics for your vehicle. Look at where the power is sourced from for the power to the coil during key positions start and run....older Fords used two different sources and voltages. Not sure on yours.

If different sources/wiring paths, it could be an issue with the run position. Maybe even the ignition switch.

 

take it back to the shop that did the motor build/install. to me it sounds like the timing chain may have broke or the teeth sheered. you can pull codes no matter if the engine is running or not. go to Ford Fuel Injection and read up. also get a haynes manual

 

Remove top distributor cap and see if rotor is turning when trying to start engine, if not pull distributor and look at pressed on gear at bottom of distributor shaft and see if it is stripped (teeth ground away). Seen this happen before ,flat tappet cams and roller cam engines use different gears-wrong gear will work for a while and then BAM no start on a fairly new engine. Just a guess - Good Luck - Blue

 

good call trublefords, this is possible issue

 

I would think there would be no "fires for a second" as originally posted if the dist. was not turning.