i have an 88 f-150 with the 4.9 in it, one day i was driveing and it just shut off. i cant get it to start it makes a weird hissing sound like it might have a bad head gasket, but i cant see why that would cause it to not start? also i touched the coil wire while cranking it, it dident shock me. i though i had a bad coil, so i replaced that and it still wont start? does this truck have much of a cpu? is there any way of testing it? i can hear the fuel pump running and i pulled the line off of the front of the fuel filter and i have gas to that point. Any other ideas?

Thanks for all help,
Chris

 

Its possible that either the computer went bad, or the TFI module on the distributor died.

Replacing the TFI module is only like 35 bucks plus a special socket to make it a little easier on yourself.

Considering you replaced the coil, the two items listed above is what i'd check next.

You can pull codes from the computer with a multimeter or a code reader to see if it set any before it died.

You can also pull the TFI module and autozone or your favorite parts place should be able to test it.

More than likely its the TFI module.

 

thanks for your help, what are the chances of haveing a cracked head, i would think that it would still run poorly if i did have one unless i lost compression to all the cylinders. if it was a bad tfi shouldnt i still have power going to the distributer from the coil? when i touch the coil wire with the eninge cranking it dosent shock me?

Thanks again,
Chris

 

There is a metal cased relay on the drivers side inner fender panel around where all the wire harness connectors are. This relay is the EEC ( Electronic Engine Control ) relay . It supplies power to the computer. If the contacts are bad or are of high resistance the computer gets no or low voltage, Ford computers need 10 or more volts. This will cause the engine not to start ( no spark) or to die at the worst possible moment, like in the center of an intersection. The relay is only around $15 from Ford. Could also be the module on the dist, there was a recall on it, would die when hot but restart when it cooled off. Bad coil , if you don't have voltage you won't spark. You may not be able to measure the voltage to the coil . The voltage generated by the Ford Module to the coil is a high voltage spike. Check the coil with volt /ohm meter to see if it is open, or better yet read the service manual and see how they check it. The engine should still run even if the head gasket is leaking , you may hear the compression leaking past the rings when you are cranking the engine in a no start condition , especially if the engine has not ren is some time and is worn. The above pertains to a stock Ford with EFI and the electronic dist.

stractor

 

when i touch the coil wire with the eninge cranking it dosent shock me?


If your getting shocked just by touching the outside of the coil wire you need new wires Pull a spark plug, do you have any spark? Check the schrader valve on the fuel rail, do you have fuel there? Are all the grounds hooked up to the engine? Maybe one came loose..

 

Was it like the truck just ran out of gas? Mine did that the other day and I replaced the coil, cap, rotor, wires, plugs..all to no avail. Check your schrader valve. Mine only lets out air and no fuel comes out so I think it's a bad pump. If you find out your problem, let me know so I can get mine fixed too!!

 

pdsq89f150
Can you hear your frame rail pump running? How about the one in the tank? Sure you've got gas?? Last fuel filter change?

 

I hear the frame rail one running. Not sure about the tank ones. There is fuel in both tanks. Changed the fuel filter already thinking originally was the problem.

I don't mean to hijack your thread broke88, but I thought my problem might help you if it's the same thing.

 

i can hear my pumps running, and to make sure i pulled the line off the front of the fuel filter and put the key in the on position and i got a healthy shot of gas everywhere.

 

I'm gonna do that to mine either tonight or tomorrow.

 

My mother's Grand Marquis passed that test after EVERY time it died on the road, but failed when I finally put a real gauge on it. I highly recommend checking it right (and NOT spraying gasoline all over yourself).

 

i had the same problem it just died in the middle of an intersection, i replaced both eec and FP relays back in business for 22 bucks,