I'm stumped! My 90' F-150 just developed a problem that has me scratchin'. I started it and she ran for about 30 seconds, then died. Tried to restart but nothing doing. I went back the next day and she fired right up. But again after less than a minute she stalls. The truck has been idle for about six months and I have been running it every few weeks. I've tried wire drier, and starting fluid without success. Any ideas?

 

if it was sitting that long, you could have gotten water in the fuel through condensation in your tank. sounds like something is wrong with the gas. id check all your lines and check your fuel filter, and maybe even drain your gas and put some new stuff in. something might also be shorting out on you, maybe a loose wire with your ignition. i had a similar problem of stalling out about 10 seconds after starting on my 91 f150, but i sold that before the problem got fixed so i donno what the trouble there was. good luck!

chris

 

is it an automatic? i have heard of torque converters locking up way too soon and stalling an engine at idle in gear. if this is the case, start it up and put in reverse immedately (no lock up). if it continues to idle with no problem then look into your converter.

 

I don't suspect the fuel because she starts up and runs strong as ever for the first thirty or so seconds. When it does quit, she drops out like a stone, no sputtering, coughing or nothing. I'm leaning towards something electrical but don't know where to start.

 

No, it's a 5-speed.

 

When it doesn't start, are you getting spark to the plugs?? If not it could be the ignition module.

Mike

 

>I'm stumped! My 90' F-150 just developed a problem that has
>me scratchin'. I started it and she ran for about 30
>seconds, then died. Tried to restart but nothing doing. I
>went back the next day and she fired right up. But again
>after less than a minute she stalls. The truck has been
>idle for about six months and I have been running it every
>few weeks. I've tried wire drier, and starting fluid
>without success. Any ideas?

It could be your air bypass valve.It's located on the side of your throttle body.Take the 2 bolts off that hold the valve on and spray the valve and the throttle body out with some throttle body cleaner.It could have just got alittle gummed up.

 

I'd check that TFI module, if they get too hot...off they go. They go without warning.

My F-150 I was just putting down the street and it died. My ol' TownCar's died when I turned it off and fried the coil.

Gas also may be the problem, check electronics first. Easiest to do.

 

When my fuel pump in the rear tank went out in my 89 it acted like it was vapor locking. It would run for a while and then die. Try turning on the key on and off letting the fuel pump below the cab run. You might also try the fuel pump relay that is located by the air box on the drivers finder. It is the green or brown one i am not sure witch.

 

Well, let me throwing what I just went through. I replaced both pumps in my 91 F150 4.9EFI E4OD. After that the pumps would prim and the truck would start then die, just like you are having. Almost like a vac. leak. I did not touch anything under the hood, exc. the battery cables. I was getting code 22 (MAP sensor), changed it, now it would start and idle. Then going down the road it would die if you gave it to much throttle. It was not getting enough gas to match the added air. I then found it would run fine if my scan tool was connected. As soon as you unplugged it, it would dire or run rough. It turned out that I was losing amps to mu fuel pumps. On your EECV test connector there is a lead for the fuel pump. The main 12v wire to the fuel pumps goes to this lead. I jumpered this lead with a 12v source on the connector and tthe truck runs fine. I now have to trace back to see where my wireing problem is. I was stumped be cause all I did was change the fuel pumps. The below link has a picture of the connector.

[http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3eeccodes.html]