Hello folks

Im having a serious issue with a 1997 F350 with a 5.8 and an automatic in it. It does the classic shut off when driving down the road bit. Here's all that's been tested or replaced to fix it with no luck:

Plugs/wires/cap
Fuel filter
Check fuel pressure and for water
Map sensor
Throttle position sensor
Full computer swap out

Anyone have any ideas outside of stuff like this?

Thank you-

 

Well Ford never made a 5.7, do you mean 5.8 or 7.5?

Does it start right back up after dying or does it need to sit a while? A bad coil can heat up and stop making sufficient spark and cause a vehicle to die.

 

Correct, 5.8 or 351W. My bad. And to my knowledge the coil was checked when the wires and plugs were changed.

:Edited above also.

It needs to sit a bit, but not a really long time before it restarts.

 

There's not really a good way to check the coil in a situation like this. You would need to catch it while the engine was in a won't start situation, to even possibly check the coil.

The most likely culprit here is the stator inside the distributor, and same deal about testing the stator, you would have to catch it when the engine was in a won't start situation. You almost have to go trial and error throwing parts at it in this situation.

That being said, I would try the coil first as it is easier to replace. To replace the stator, you have to remove and disassemble the distributor, or find a suitable replacement distributor. Most of the rebuilt distributors are junk. There are some aftermarket NEW distributors.

 

Sure sounds like the classic stator/PIP failure in the distributor.

Have you checked or pull codes? Guess it would be a loss since you changed the computer, but if it's still doing it, it may help to try.

As was stated, when it dies, that's when you got to check for spark or fuel. Could even be the TFI module, but the black ones rarely fail. It appears your problem comes as the engine reaches operating temp. Heat is the problem and what is failing. One trick I have used is the wife's hair dryer. Saves gas, time, and towing. Heat up different components. Try the TFI module. See if the no start condition persists. Then continue to the TFI module, then for the stator, just pop the distributor cap off and heat it up inside.

Just a few ideas.

 

If it was the PIP sensor in the distributor you should get a stored code in CM.
So you need to check the stored codes after it dose it and you have not changed the PCM or disconnected the battery.