Got a problem with my ole 87 F250(2wd,4sp,460ci).Not sure what is happening but once in awhile it's like a "breaker" triggers and I don't really notice it until I look at my radio and see that I've lost the memory/time/stations. I'm not even sure if it's happening when I'm trying to start it or even when I'm driving cause it has bogged down a time or two momentarily. What the heck would cause this situation?
thanks in advance!
Tim

 

It could be that the radio is bad. They do that from time to time. But it could be anything from the alternator to a bad ignition switch.

 

Alternator is fairly new,ignition switch had been sticky,went bad awhile back,it'd turn on the ign. but wouldn't crank it.I was in a hurry so I went to the parts store and bought a push button starter.Been using it since. Suppose it could be in the switch?? It does always start right up this way though.

 

The ignition switch is less than $10 most places, and it's a lot easier to replace it than bypass it.... It also controls the ENTIRE truck. So yeah it could very well be the problem.

 

Its possibly the ignition switch. I had a bad ground in my truck when I first got it and I had similar symptoms. I'd hit a bump and the lights/engine would crap out for a second. Not sure if you having anything like that happen.

 

Yeah, I'd definitely start with restoring the factory ignition to it's fully functioning state, and remove the push button. In an emergency, I can see it's use, but to make it a permanent fixture? Probably not.

If that doesn't solve the problem, I would double check the connections in the wiring harness. The memory only disappears when power is completely cut off, so an intermittent problem like this indicates a bad connection.

Good luck & keep us updated.

 

The Ignition switch should have nothing to do with the a Radio's lost of the memory/time/stations as that has a different source of power for its memory if the radio is wired right.

 

I'd pull the cable connections off the battery and clean them shiny bright. When all you've got to work with is a lousy 12-15 volts, it don't take much corrosion to cause a voltage drop that can mess with electronics like radios.

 

While I'm all for having bright & shiny battery connections [THEY LOOK SO GOOD! ], it seems to me that there would be other problems besides a shaky radio if the battery connection was the problem. Not saying he shouldn't clean them, I just don't think it's the primary cause.

I didn't think of it before, but you might also check and clean the ground for the radio, too.

 

I'm appreciating you guys chimimh in. The battery was new in July,the posts are clean,the cable ends look new(er). When I first got the truck the ignition switch would stick and I'd have to manually turn it back to "on/run" position. Then one day when I went to start it,it wouldn't do anything but turn "on,no starter...that's when I put in the push button. I had been into the wiring a little, replacing the wiper and headlight switches but thats about it. I can/have started to pull the ignition switch one day but I was worried that something else was messed up further down in the column,like the "actuating rod or something and I didn't go any farther cause I needed to use the ole girl. So...I stopped there and just left the push button in.
I did have a problem one evening and the truck died at a stop light,thought I was out of gas(luckely there was a gas station right there. Added gas,wouldn't start,left it there,came back the next day,started to wiggle some wires,found that a couple wires going to the solonoid were the problem. Got it home,replaced the neds on those 2 wires and it was OK....but,maybe it's those 2 wires that are the problem???? (oh by the way,I'm thinking when that happened,I had lost the memory then as well)