'86 F150 Need Help!
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Martins Creek, PA
'86 F150 Need Help!
1986 F150 6 cylinder - I need help as I must get this back running ASAP as it is my work transportation. I had the truck out today - one of the mildest days in quite a while here in northeast Pennsylvania - and I thought it was running great. Traveled about 20 miles. Filled up the tank.
I got home and I unloaded a piece of plywood and then tried to start it up to move but it would not start. Battery was fine but I wore it down and I'm now recharging. It has a carb, no AC, automatic, 124,000 miles. All electrical items work OK.
I can be reached at bobf@entermail.net
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks, Bob
I got home and I unloaded a piece of plywood and then tried to start it up to move but it would not start. Battery was fine but I wore it down and I'm now recharging. It has a carb, no AC, automatic, 124,000 miles. All electrical items work OK.
I can be reached at bobf@entermail.net
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks, Bob
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
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From: S. Mississippi
'86 F150 Need Help!
Do you know if the coil is firing? pull a sparkplug wire and stick a screwdriver in it, touching it to the block while an assistant cranks the engine over. If you've got spark, what color is it? a dim orange or red is very weak, and that might be a suspect coil.
If its white or blueish white, then the spark is fine.
If you get no spark at all, its either in the TFI unit on the distributor, or your coil.
Make sure you are getting fuel into the engine also.
Try these things and post back.
If its white or blueish white, then the spark is fine.
If you get no spark at all, its either in the TFI unit on the distributor, or your coil.
Make sure you are getting fuel into the engine also.
Try these things and post back.
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From: Martins Creek, PA
'86 F150 Need Help!
Thanks for the reply. I was just out trying again with a fully charged battery and no luck. I can smell fuel. What is the TFI unit on the distributor? I have an '83 Volvo I'm more accustomed to working on.
I see a wire going from the center distributor to an electronic unit that looks nothing like a coil. Is this the coil? There is also some type of unit under the distributor cap that I'm not sure if it is one integral unit or another piece of electronics that can go bad. All of the fuses look good unless there's a hidden one somewhere in line that I missed.
I'll have to try the screwdriver thing. Not sure about tonight though as I have electric there to see and there's a lot of puddles and ice around. I don't want to light up.
I see a wire going from the center distributor to an electronic unit that looks nothing like a coil. Is this the coil? There is also some type of unit under the distributor cap that I'm not sure if it is one integral unit or another piece of electronics that can go bad. All of the fuses look good unless there's a hidden one somewhere in line that I missed.
I'll have to try the screwdriver thing. Not sure about tonight though as I have electric there to see and there's a lot of puddles and ice around. I don't want to light up.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
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From: S. Mississippi
'86 F150 Need Help!
The TFI module is a little grey rectangular peice that should stick out from the side of the distributor, about like a vaccum advance port would on an older model.
The coil will look a little different too, it won't be the familiar round shape that takes a horsehoe type connector, instead it will be kind of square-ish with a long center terminal sticking out from it, with the coil wire connected to it.
You've eliminated the Fuel as part of the problem, now the only two other things it could be is Compression and spark.
300 sixes are not known for jumping time, since the timing is all gear to gear. It could have happend, but i seriously doubt it.
See if any of this helps you and post back.
-Tim-
The coil will look a little different too, it won't be the familiar round shape that takes a horsehoe type connector, instead it will be kind of square-ish with a long center terminal sticking out from it, with the coil wire connected to it.
You've eliminated the Fuel as part of the problem, now the only two other things it could be is Compression and spark.
300 sixes are not known for jumping time, since the timing is all gear to gear. It could have happend, but i seriously doubt it.
See if any of this helps you and post back.
-Tim-
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From: Martins Creek, PA
'86 F150 Need Help!
There is no spark so I'm suspecting the ignition module. I bought the module removal tool and now have other problems. The one bolt doesn't look like it is there at all and the other is so corroded that the tool doesn't work. I was using a mirror to try to see in there but it was still difficult I was thinking of drilling them out and retapping but it is close quarters for doing that.
How do I take the whole distributor out? I've never done anything like that. Or is it possible to attack it some other way.
Any suggestions? You'd think that removing two little bolts and replacing that module would take about 10 minutes. I'm refraining from using the language I used while outside in 20 degree weather as I don't want to risk expulsion from the group.
Any idea as to size of those two bolts in case I can drill them out tomorrow?
How do I take the whole distributor out? I've never done anything like that. Or is it possible to attack it some other way.
Any suggestions? You'd think that removing two little bolts and replacing that module would take about 10 minutes. I'm refraining from using the language I used while outside in 20 degree weather as I don't want to risk expulsion from the group.
Any idea as to size of those two bolts in case I can drill them out tomorrow?
