I have an '86 F150 4x4 with the 302 EFI and AOD. Truck runs absolutely fantastic 99% of the time and all I've done to it since I bought it is oil, filter, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, wheel cylinders, and rear brake shoes and springs. I couldn't be happier with the truck. It was a great trade up from my 2002 F150 v6 4x2.

The only engine trouble I've had with the truck is that sometimes when I start it will die immediately. If I turn it over again, it starts and runs perfectly. I've only ever noticed this when the truck is hot. The cold engine normally cranks right up with no gas pedal, idles high for 10-15 seconds and then levels out. When hot it will crank and then as soon as I release the ignition the idle drops down too low and it dies. On round two it always starts right up and runs strong although sometimes the idle still seems a bit low when starting it hot.

I'm deployed to Iraq right now and the truck is getting a shiny new coat of paint, spray in bed-liner, and headliner while Im gone so I want the engine to work as well as the outside looks. I've stalked and searched a bit and heard a couple potential issues. If I understand what I've read it could be:
1) low idle setting: adjust screw on throttle body to solve problem
2) possibly a fuel filter issue: change filters in selector switch and on the frame rail and it should go away
3) leak in an injector which would require checking with a pressure gauge

Is there anything Im missing or are these three pretty much the usual suspects for an issue like this. Like I said, never gives me trouble other than this, and always runs like a dream after the second crank.

Only other thing Im planning when I get back is a new brake master cylinder. I've got a slight ooze around the gasket, and from what Ive read thats normally a bad cylinder not a bad gasket. Also, if I depress the brake pedal with the cover off, brake fluid shoots up out of the forward partition of the reservoir (rear brake portion). If I'm wrong and this doesnt sound like a bad master cylinder please let me know as I plan to order some parts to have ready for install when I get home.

I appreciate your help. Love this forum.

 

Try not to touch the idle screw. Only turn it as a last resort. The first thing to do is take the throttle body off and spray it with carb cleaner and take the idle air motor off the throttle body and clean it's passages also. You can also check the EGR passages while you are in there and unclog them if they are filled with sludge and carbon. Then take the battery cable off for a minute or so, put it all back together and then drive it for a day or two for the computer to "relearn" everything. As a last resort if that doesn't fix it, turn the idle screw a little bit, but make sure you know where it was originally before you turn it.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely clean it all out when I get home. I searched around the forum a bit for a how to on cleaning the EGR passages and didn't find much. Any tips on how to do this or where the EGR passages are located, or what the best way to clean them is. I know what they do from reading other threads, I just don't know how to find them and clean them. If somebody has a link to a thread that covers this, that'd be great.

'preciate it

 

Here's a picture, I believe yours is the same. Just make sure the piping to the EGR is not plugged up.
AutoZone.com Repair Guide Image

 

Could be TFI module?? mine does the same thing (86 Bronco)

 

Where's the TFI module located and how would I go about checking it.

 

I think its fender mounted or perhaps on your distributor...

 

'86 should be mounted on the distributor grey in color 6 pin, as far as checking there are a lot of treads on how to do this (I have yet to dive into mine)