My 1987 F150 dual tank EFI 5.0 recently started having issues. First it cut off when I hit a bump while hot rodding it. It would not start for an hour and then it started and drove home where it died.
When I turn it over it is trying to start very hard, the starter is obviously working and I have good power. So I changed the fuel filter it was old and clogged up with mud, I figured maybe the tank was nasty. I dropped the tank and it was spotless clean. I changed the fuel pump in the tank and it still would not start. The next day I tried to start it and it cranked right up. Then I drove it back and forth to work for 3 weeks. Last night a pivot broke on the farm and I was pissed so I hotrodded it out of there. When I stopped it would not start again. I towed it home and I changed the Distributor coil, Distributor cap, and the piece that turns and fires underneath. It stil would not start. I took the ICM off and up to the local Advanced and it tested good. Green, good to go so I said the heck with it and went to carquest and got a new distributor. I marked all of the points and wires and I know I got it back in timing correctly. The thing will not start. Before I changed to the new distributor the spark was small and red, now its good and blue. Still wont start. I dont know what to do. When I take the intake hoses and spray gas into the intake it still will not start. When I try to start it you can clearly smell gas pumping into the intake and the pressure is good on the fuel rail. WTF.
I need this truck to go to work, I am scared I will be fired and after all of the work I only have 250$ to fix this bad boy.
Please someone call me at 352-445-2467 if anyone has the time and want to help me through this. I don't know squat about this vehicle or vehicles in general. I am not a mechanic!
Dang I hope one of yall knows whats going on.
My name is Jared Cannon. Dunnellon Florida. I am not a wierdo, I need help though

 

Just a question, did the CEL ever come on whenever you experienced the dying problem? This would have been the 1st in diagnosis. Also, I believe that there are 2 fuel pumps on this truck. You said that you verified there was good fuel pressure. If you checked the pressure, you should note what the pressures are. 1 would be for key on, engine off; 2nd would be for key on, engine running(which I know you can't note now since it isn't running).

If you know fuel is reaching the cylinders, pull the plugs after cranking a few times. Plugs will be wet with fuel if indeed they are getting gas.

Also, I believe this truck has the TFI module located on the Distrubutor. There could be a chance this module is bad. The TFI modules located on the dizzy were notorious for failing because of the heat and stress near the engine. That's why Ford moved it later to the driver-side fender well, Also known as Remote-mounted TFI. There are a few tests for determining if it's bad. If it's bad, you wouldn't get the PIP needed to fire. Be aware that if using anything other than Ford/Motorcraft parts for ignition/fire, you may run into further problems which will only exaggerate the problem(s) you have. Be sure to cross-reference any parts that you replace/may replace with only Motorcraft. A really good site to help in the cross-reference is RockAuto Auto Parts.

Hopefully another member will chime in with some suggestions/ideas or advice in your problem.

 

Any resolution on this thread? I'm having almost identical issues...see my post...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-starting.html