Hi,

I am new to this forum and certainly not a mechanic to see the least. However, I purchased last year for pulling a boat out of water a couple of times a year, a 1979 F250 4WD with 400 engine. It has ran flawlessly until this week. It simply will not start and has always started very easily. It acts as though it is not firing while cranking, but then acts like it fires when letting off the key, just for a split second. Below are the things I replaced. Any additional trouble shooting info to get her going would be appreciated.

Replaced the following:

1. Starter solonoid
2. Ignition switch
3. Silver box on driver side, I call it a igintion modual.
4. Ignition coil

Thanks....

Razorback

 

Do you have spark? Most likely not. I had the same problem. Check all your wires to the ignition. They usually rott out. Use a simple electricity tester and find out where you are most likely losing current. Your timing might also be off. I would check all the wires first before anything. I've read about a dozen posts with the same problem and it usually ends up with a frayed wire. Good luck

 

I had pulled the coil wire off the distributer cap and put a spark plug on it. Then tried cranking and only saw small spark when turning off key, actually remote starter at solinoid switch. Yea, wiring is what I'm especting also, but don't have the time or patience. Thought I would check with everyone for something simple starring me in the face before having it towed in to a mechanic. Thanks for your input...

Razorback...

 

You may try and post this question in the electrical forum.

 

Check the resistor wire from the ignition switch to the coil:

D7AZ-12250-A (Motorcraft DY-263) 49" -length, color coded red with green stripes.

 

Sounds a lot like a ballast resistor.

 

There have been a lot of posts lately on this problem, bad ignition switch, solenoid, or ignition module itself are common problems, especially if they are aftermarket replacements. Confirm that you have 12V on the run wire in the red/white connector to the ignition module with the key in the run position, and 12V on the start wire in the same connector when in start, can't remember which is which but it should be easy to eliminate. Also confirm 7V to the hot side of the coil when ignition switch is in the run position, that would eliminate the resistor wire as the problem. Brian

 

Thanks for all's inputs, problem ended up being the stator in distributor...

 

Yes that happens. Too many things on these trucks that "Just Go" without any warning.
Glad you're up and running again