I have a 1988 F150. It's the 300 6 cyl and I believe a 4.9 I can't figure out what the problem is. I can drive it short distances and then it begins to run rough, losing compression and/or dying. It usually will restart. Once as I backed in my drive way and stopped, it was running rough and some black and white smoke was coming out the exhaust. I revved it up a bit to see if it would clear out and run smooth like it has done in the past. That's when my wife told me flames were coming out the exhaust. I have put in some Lucas fuel injector cleaner and spray cleaned several components under the hood but to no avail. Drove it about 1 1/2 miles just now and it ran great. Then it ran real rough and I barely got it home. Some have suggested it's the fuel injectors that are bad. Others say catalytic converters while another suggested exhaust sensor. Any suggestions? Really need some help since it's our only vehicle at the moment.

 

Start by pulling the codes. That is always step 1 with these fuel injected trucks.

 

Can't pull any codes. Don't have any such equipment and can't get truck to any repair shop at the moment. Was suggested it could possibly be the mass air sensor. I'm just a shade tree mechanic trying to fix my old truck.

 

You don't need any equipment. You only need a paperclip, a piece of paper, pencil and your eyes.

Ford ? OBD Trouble Codes

 

If I'm not mistaken you have a box on the drivers side under the hood near the fuse box labeled "ECC Test" follow the instructions that lead head gave you and watch the lights and one of them will start flashing in a sequence. For example

Flash Flash Flash *Pause*

Flash Flash *Pause*

Flash Flash Flash *Pause*

That would be code 323. Whatever yours does write it down and then google it or ask it on here. Best of luck to you man.