I bought my 76 f150 back in October. At first it was great, but then it would not start.

I replaced the starter solenoid and it started, so I thought that was it. Then it stopped starting again.

Replaced the starter (broke a bolt on the header, what fun!) and it fixed it, until a week or so later it would not start.

And every time it would not start it was out somewhere, so I had to get it towed.

The thingy that keeps it from starting in drive was broke and the previous owner had tied it "fixed" with tie wraps that were wiggling loose. And when it did that it would not start. Until the shock of towing wiggled them back in place. "Fixed" that by wiring a bypass around it.

Then it started dying while I was driving. It's start right back up. Replaced the ignition module and that stopped.

Then last night after a week or two of everything working, it died while driving home. Of course it was in the bad part of town and the bed was full of stuff.

Acted like it was out of gas, so added two gallons. When I did that it started right up, but then died a few seconds later, basically as soon as I got it in gear. Then it would not start again. I poured a little gas in the barb, and it started, then died a few seconds later, basically as soon as I got it in gear. I moved the lever that's attached to the accelerator and no gas spit out.

So it's likely the fuel pump? Since it has gas but none is coming out? It just seems weird for it to go out with no problems first. Unless it had problems that were being masked by the other stuff.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Fuel pumps can and do fail without warning.
First check the filter that's screwed into the carb. Make sure its not clogged up. If it's okay then replace the pump and filter.
Also, check all the soft lines in the fuel system. There's one at the fuel tank then, if it's a long bed, there's one about midway along the frame, then the one that connects the fuel line to the fuel pump. These get hard and crack allowing the pump to suck air and lose it's prime.
Another remote possibility is the strainer sock on the fuel pick up in the tank is clogged.

 

Ah, well, it turns out it is getting fuel. In the dark last night when I crawled on top of the engine I pulled the wrong lever, not the one attached to the accelerator.

We couldn't figure it out today. It would start for a second, then die. It would not run on ether.

The my dad had a thought and we swapped out the ignition module for the old one. And it started right up and ran like a champ.

And we killed it and it started right back up. And I drove it up and down the driveway and it didn't die.

So it looks like I'll be heading back to Autozone.

Can anyone recommend a good place to get an ignition module? This was the second one from Autozone, the first the wires had been chewed on by rats. So I really don't want another one from there.

Thanks!

 

NAPA. Or find a Motorcraft dealer and get a Motorcraft replacement part. Rock Auto (FTE sponsor) is a Motorcraft dealer.

 

Ordered a Motorcraft part and got it in yesterday. Got home tonight with just a little daylight left so I installed it.

Started right up!

And then about 2 minutes later it died, and would not start back up.

Ugh.

The starter is working, the battery is good. The starter cranks, and the engine tries to start, but it does not.

I checked the connections on the ignition module, and they seemed to be in there real good, but pushed on them anyway.

Still does not start.

I am stumped.

I assume it's getting gas, it was last weekend, but I didn't have a flashlight on me, so I didn't check. I'll check that in the morning.

Any ideas? I don't have any idea where to look.

I suppose it's possible I got another bad ignition module, but what are the odds? I would take this one off and put back on the original one, but dang the connectors are impossible to get back apart! Is there a trick to it? It took two of us last weekend to get them off.

And of course I need the truck this weekend. I've got to get some railroad ties and 4 yards of dirt (multiple trips to the dirt place) and some other stuff, and none of that'll fit in my little hyundai

 

Does it have spark? Pull the coil wire out of the distributor cap and hold it about a 1/4" away from a good ground (block, head). Have someone crank the engine over. You should get a strong, blue/white spark.
To unplug the module there are two little "tabs" on the side of each plug that have to be pried out to get the plugs to separate.

 

Those prongs are really in there! And there is nothing good to hold onto to pull out the male connector.

I'm supposed to pick up my wife at the airport soon. I doubt she'll help me tonight , but maybe in the morning she'll help check for spark. I think it gets it, but I will check.

 

Well before leaving I ran out to try it one more time and...

It fired right up, and I let it run for about 10 minutes and it ran with no problem idling. I did not drive it at all.

So....maybe a loose wire? Somewhere?

Where is a good place to get a wiring diagram? Is there something that would show me how to build a wiring harness? I do know that the wiring is kinda messed up from the previous owner's tender care, so maybe I should just redo it all?

Gotta go, thanks for the help!