coil problem?
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tigard, OR
coil problem?
So I was driving home from work today and my truck started acting funny. It would lope in an out real quick when undeer any power but idle. I thought maybe I was low on gas so ipulled into a gas station, completely crippled and barely moving, and put gas in. Started the truck up just fine and as soon as I pulled out it started cutting in and out again. Pulled it over, and when I was doing so it backfired once. I shut her off to take a look under the hood. Nothing noticable, but then she wouldn't turn over. I had to get it towed home, and now that I'm home I'm tryin to get her runnin as its my daily. I think its gettin fuel, there's fuel in the clear filter, but when I pulled the plug off the coil to see if there was spark, there was nothing, tried the plugs, same thing. So I went and bought a new coil. Went to fire her up and my batt was pretty much toast, so I went and got another. It got real cold outside so I'm done for the night, but does anyone have anything pop into there head after reading this?
New User
Joined: May 2010
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I have had similar problems in the past. I never quite got the problem fixed before my truck up and died on me. I do know you should look at the ignition module (usually located on top of the drivers side fender well). You may also need to check the ground wire going from the top rear of the block to the fire wall. It could also be the ignition switch itself. The only thing I didn't get a chance to look at was the voltage regulator which on my truck is on the inside of the passenger side fender well. I had a '78 that would just shut off and it turned out to be the ignition switch. My '79 seemed to be cured with a new ignition module, but it was only a short while before I started having problems again. That was the truck that died. When I was pulling the motor I noticed the ground wire going to the fire wall was in bad shape so that may have been the cause. I have talked to people who have had this problem before and that was the info I received. Hope it helps.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
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From: Austin, TX
What is the actual problem now? You mentioned it's not turning over - do you mean the engine doesn't even crank, or it cranks, but won't fire up?
Just as a side note - blindly replacing items (like the coil) is not an effective means of troubleshooting. In all honestly, the coil is fine 90% of the time - it's why the coil isn't firing that must be diagnosed. Coils are simple and seldom fail; but they're so cheap and easy to access that people are tempted to "replace it anyway." If your truck is cranking, but not firing, please clarify; then there are several steps to track down why it's not firing. But if it wouldn't even crank at the gas station, there is a separate diagnosis path.
Just as a side note - blindly replacing items (like the coil) is not an effective means of troubleshooting. In all honestly, the coil is fine 90% of the time - it's why the coil isn't firing that must be diagnosed. Coils are simple and seldom fail; but they're so cheap and easy to access that people are tempted to "replace it anyway." If your truck is cranking, but not firing, please clarify; then there are several steps to track down why it's not firing. But if it wouldn't even crank at the gas station, there is a separate diagnosis path.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
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I noticed you said the battery was toast once you got it home. Was this from turning it over trying to get it started or did it just not have any juice. The reason I am asking is I had a similar issue and the cause was the alternator. Apparently the idiot light had a blown bulb and once the juice in the battery was depleted it would run at idle but not under load. As soon as the battery was low enough the truck shut off. Hope this helps.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tigard, OR
The engine will crank fine it just wont fire up. I was working on it again today. Cleaned the fuel filter, mostly to see if it would fill up again, and it didnt. So from there i was thinking that the fuel pump wasnt working, so i replaced that, but it still isnt getting fuel to fire up. My only guess now is that theres something in the lines?
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tigard, OR
Tried blowing out the lines to clean them. Took the line going from the tank to the pump, and used a compressor to push air through the lines to hopefully get anything clogging them out. Everyone says it takes awhile for gas to get pushed through all the lines and build up the vacuum pressure, but the truck still wont fire up. The filters still isnt filling either. Anyone else have any ideas?
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Junior User
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Could be the filter sock on the end of your fuel sending unit/pickup in the fuel tank is clogged with crud.
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