Bad things man...
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Bad things man...
Hey guys...
Today my truck has decided to test the forums troubleshooting prowess.
Actually the problem started a couple of days ago. After a few minutes of driving, I noticed the tachometer drop. The truck stalled for a second, and restarted. It did that twice.
The next day, it stalled and didn't restart right away, rather, it sputtered and misfired a few times, but once started, it ran fine.
Today after a couple of episodes, and sitting for a while, it won't start at all. It will sputter and misfire, but won't continue to run as before.
So you know, it is a 1988 F150 Lauriat, 5.0 motor, dual tanks,(this problem happened while using either tank).
My guess...fuel pump, filter??
Your help is appreciated!
Today my truck has decided to test the forums troubleshooting prowess.
Actually the problem started a couple of days ago. After a few minutes of driving, I noticed the tachometer drop. The truck stalled for a second, and restarted. It did that twice.
The next day, it stalled and didn't restart right away, rather, it sputtered and misfired a few times, but once started, it ran fine.
Today after a couple of episodes, and sitting for a while, it won't start at all. It will sputter and misfire, but won't continue to run as before.
So you know, it is a 1988 F150 Lauriat, 5.0 motor, dual tanks,(this problem happened while using either tank).
My guess...fuel pump, filter??
Your help is appreciated!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 2
From: Southeast FLA
Bad things man...
Those two would be my guesses, as well as the FPR.
Still, have someone crank it while you look to make sure you have consistent spark at at least one of the spark plugs. (Pull a plug, or have a spare, plug it into a wire & rest the other end against the head or something - you should see a spark jump).
Still, have someone crank it while you look to make sure you have consistent spark at at least one of the spark plugs. (Pull a plug, or have a spare, plug it into a wire & rest the other end against the head or something - you should see a spark jump).
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 393
Likes: 3
From: Merrill
Bad things man...
when it was sputtering what was the tach doing? was it totaly at the bottom or was it moving with the sputters? it could be that you were loosing your ignition and that is why there wouldn't be any power to the tach when it was dieing. just a thought.
Good luck
Good luck
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Bad things man...
The tach was responding to the sputtering. It was as if the truck was fighting for fuel.
It was the sputtering that gives my mechanic the feeling that it could be ignition related. He seems to think that the distributor could be the cause....I'm STILL hoping for a clogged fuel filter!
It was the sputtering that gives my mechanic the feeling that it could be ignition related. He seems to think that the distributor could be the cause....I'm STILL hoping for a clogged fuel filter!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Bad things man...
I'm going to suggest a fuel pressure test, those are easy to do.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.
That's it for mods now, saving for a Stang. Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.That's it for mods now, saving for a Stang. Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Bad things man...
>I'm confused, I thought you were asking for everyone's time
>and effort here to work on the truck yourself.
Sometimes our mechanics need help too (sometimes a lot of help). My front end clunk took me several go arounds both at my mechanic's place and here on FTE. Finally someone posted the solution, which I passed on to my mechanic and he fixed it.
INLINE SIX POWER!
'95 F150 XL
300 Cubic Inches of Low RPM Truck Torque! And twin-I-beams too!
"Drive a stick young man! There'll be time for automatics when you're old and unable."
>and effort here to work on the truck yourself.
Sometimes our mechanics need help too (sometimes a lot of help). My front end clunk took me several go arounds both at my mechanic's place and here on FTE. Finally someone posted the solution, which I passed on to my mechanic and he fixed it.
INLINE SIX POWER!
'95 F150 XL300 Cubic Inches of Low RPM Truck Torque! And twin-I-beams too!
"Drive a stick young man! There'll be time for automatics when you're old and unable."
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Bad things man...
The mechanic I speak of is my nephew.
After my truck wouldn't run I needed to remove it from
it's location. When he started talking about ignition possibilities, it was time to let him check it out at the shop.
Oh well...I guess I'll justhave to drive the convertible!!
After my truck wouldn't run I needed to remove it from
it's location. When he started talking about ignition possibilities, it was time to let him check it out at the shop.
Oh well...I guess I'll justhave to drive the convertible!!
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
From: Port Perry Ont Canada
Bad things man...
I just went through the exact same symptoms.It turned out to be the modual on the backside of distributer.Apperantly it controls spark
and injector sequence. I swapped the mod and pickup in dist out of
my wreck and now it runs like a top.
Hope this helps
and injector sequence. I swapped the mod and pickup in dist out of
my wreck and now it runs like a top.
Hope this helps
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Bad things man...
Well...it's like this.
After many hours of troubleshooting, my mechanic who has a buddy at a local Ford dealer, flatbedded my truck over for a little after hours Ford fun.
They connected my truck to the diagnostic computer and it ran perfect!
That's the good news...the bad news is that I need to replace the computer in the truck.
Actually it being an '88, the board won't cost me too much...probably around $60.00 after my nephews incredible discounting!
Nice to have a mechanic in the family!
More good news is that the tech at the Ford dealer loves these trucks, so I'm told he ran all sorts of diagnosis on all systems!
The word was he was very impressed. All systems reflected a truck with about 30k miles...mine has 125k.
So all's well that ends well...thanks for all the input!
After many hours of troubleshooting, my mechanic who has a buddy at a local Ford dealer, flatbedded my truck over for a little after hours Ford fun.
They connected my truck to the diagnostic computer and it ran perfect!
That's the good news...the bad news is that I need to replace the computer in the truck.
Actually it being an '88, the board won't cost me too much...probably around $60.00 after my nephews incredible discounting!
Nice to have a mechanic in the family!
More good news is that the tech at the Ford dealer loves these trucks, so I'm told he ran all sorts of diagnosis on all systems!
The word was he was very impressed. All systems reflected a truck with about 30k miles...mine has 125k.
So all's well that ends well...thanks for all the input!
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