1988 F150 XL 4X4 running bad

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08-21-2012, 06:19 PM

NotAFordGuy

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1988 F150 XL 4X4 running bad

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9; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> Fellas, I'm brand new here and I need some help please. I purchased a 1988 Ford F150 Extra Cab 4X4 and it is not running very good. It ran great driving it home (about 40 miles) except it overheating. The truck has been sitting for about five years. I bought this truck for a young Marine at Camp Lejeune, NC and am starting to worry about how it runs. In the days after I got it home I flushed the radiator, changed the thermostat and added new coolant. That didn't help and it still overheats. I bought a new radiator and it should be here soon.

I noticed the truck ran great while cold but once it warmed up it started bucking and cutting out. I got on this site and looked up some very old threads and then did a few things. I dumped about a ½ pint of Marvel's Mystery Oil in the tank along with 10 gallons of gas. I changed the fuel pressure regulator (that helped it start right up without having to crank forever) I've disconnected the battery for a few hours, checked the plugs, checked the air cleaner element and sprayed carburetor cleaner on some of the sticky external throttle body parts. It did not make one bit of difference at all.

Now, I start it up, and it starts right up, and it idles for a moment and then dies and then won’t start up again for a few minutes. I have read many posts with similar issues but there really never seems to be a definitive answer or cure to the problem.

As my username implies, I am Not A Ford Guy and I'm really kind of stuck with what the problem could be. The Marine I sold it to will be out here next month with my son, also a Marine, to pick it up and tow it back to North Carolina. I want it perfect for him. Please help. TIA

BTW, the front gas tank is the only one that works. Is there a fix for that as well?

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08-21-2012, 06:54 PM

burnout400m

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1. Pull the codes
2. full tune up including fuel filter

For the fuel tank; check power out from the switch, check the relay, check the pump. It's probably a bad pump but it could be loose wires. Or it could be 5 year old gas in the tanks causing all your issues.

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08-21-2012, 07:10 PM

NotAFordGuy

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Burnout, thank you for the very quick reply.

There are no codes showing. I will do the full tune up as your suggested. Are there more than one fuel filters? Where is it ( are they) located? Where is the High idle-tps sensor located?

The gas tank had some gas in it but not much. The 10 gallons I put in it was premium. (I thought it might help) The back tank (not working) smelled really bad like lacquer. The front, working, tank smelled fine and like fresh gas when I picked it up.

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08-21-2012, 07:15 PM

burnout400m

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There will be a (one) fuel filter on the driver's side frame rail. it's either a in-line style or a canister style but they're in roughly the same spot ahead of the front tank.

You should at least be getting a code telling you there's no problems detected. If you didn't get at least that you either didn't do the test right, didn't get a good ground, or the computer is bad (which could cause your problem)

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08-21-2012, 07:18 PM

NotAFordGuy

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Can I do the test with a common fault code tester like this one?

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08-21-2012, 07:22 PM

burnout400m

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As long as that one works with Ford OBD-1. If you don't already have one this is the one I use and I like it. seems to be popular with a lot of others here too.
Amazon.com: Equus 3145 Ford Digital Code Reader: Automotive

I also was helping someone with a similar issue and found a video online of how to do it without a scanner. I'll see if I can grab it for you.

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