Ignition problem?

kgross · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 08:29 PM

I think I have an ignition problem, but I am not sure. I have an 83 with the 300 6 in it. Was running well. My kids left the keys on until the battery went dead. Now the pickup is missing really bad and has no power. It will not idle, will not rev up very far. To me it acts like an ignition problem. I thought it was a bad coil, so I had the coil tested and according to autozone it is fine, had ignition module tested also. Cap and rotor look good. I'm not sure what else could be bad. Could a coil be bad and still test out OK?

I have thought it could be the distrubutor but I have never seen a hall effect setup that only partily worked.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Kim

Ranger GT2 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 10:47 PM

Have you checked to see if the coil could be going bad?

Franklin2 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 10:52 PM

I would check the voltage of the battery with the truck running. You should have something close to 14v. If it's low, then that could cause your problems.

I am thinking when you jumped it, or whatever you did to get it going, something bad may have happened to the charging system.

kgross · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger GT2

Have you checked to see if the coil could be going bad?

I had the coil tested, and they said it tested OK, It does act like a bad coil to me.

Kim

kgross · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklin2

I would check the voltage of the battery with the truck running. You should have something close to 14v. If it's low, then that could cause your problems.

I am thinking when you jumped it, or whatever you did to get it going, something bad may have happened to the charging system.

I put my charger on it. Charging system seems to be working fine. Voltage runs about 14.2 when it is running.

Kim

ArdWrknTrk · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 06:46 AM

Leaving the key on can overheat the coil and break down the windings insulation internally.
This might only be apparent when the coil is hot, or under load.

kgross · #7 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 01:20 PM

Jim,

That is what I thought but the when I took the coil in to be tested it tested out ok. I think I will borrow the coil off of my Cougar and see if that makes it run better.

Kim

81-F-150-Explorer · #8 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 03:05 PM

If the coil is over seven years old, replace it anyway.

For one, it won't hurt it.

And for two, the oil inside of an older coil can turn black, and not cool the coil as effectively as a new one. And the spark is "fresher" with a newer coil, than an older one.

And three, the test autozone does to the coil, doesn't check for heat related problems very well. It just tests to see if the coil fires.

hope this helps.

kgross · #9 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 05:15 PM

I replaced the coil and no difference.

So now I am thinking something to do with the carb.

I had somebody say it could be the EGR valve sticking open, how would I test for that?

I think I will take the carb off again and try and clean it up. A few months before this last trip I did rebuild the carb.

Kim

Franklin2 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

I had somebody say it could be the EGR valve sticking open, how would I test for that?

Make a solid gasket to put underneath the EGR to temporarily block it off.

topgo · #11 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 03:04 PM

Run a jumper wire from the battery to coil + side bypass the ballast! If your engine runs good replace the ballast wire!