Engine suddenly cut off driving, won't start help

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Sep 23, 2013 | 11:55 AM

danomac1982

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Engine suddenly cut off driving, won't start help

Well my truck was running great, 1987 f150 efi. Suddenly was driving and the engine just cut off. I tried to start it and the starter sounds fine but it will not fire up. Almost seems like it's getting no fuel? I tried both tanks which both had gas and still didn't work. Is this an obvious problem with the fuel pump maybe? I put in a new starter a month ago and my mechanic put in a used distributor about 8 months ago.

The gas gauges on the dash have been acting wonky since about 2-3 months ago. The meter points to over full until I am very low on gas. Also last month when I filled up the tank I noticed very small amount of gas under my truck, must be a leak somewhere when it's full.

I left a note with my mechanic saying it might be a fuel pump problem and now it's 3 days later. I have no idea what could be taking them this long to figure it out. They said they checked the distributor and got the engine started with "ether" but thought maybe it was out of fuel. WHEN I left a note stating "It could be the fuel pump?" I had jusst gotten gas shortly before the engine cut out.

Does this sound like an obvious problem that anyone could help me deal with? Thank you

Sep 23, 2013 | 12:57 PM

Extreme Dimensions

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It does sound like it could be a fuel pump if they are getting it started with starter fluid.

My advice would be to have them check fuel pressure prior to dropping the tanks though.

Sep 23, 2013 | 04:01 PM

danomac1982

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I asked if they check the fuel pressure and they said they did. Going on the 4th day at the shop and they don't know why it won't fire. I don't get it.

Sep 23, 2013 | 04:09 PM

85e150

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TFI ignition module is always a suspect when this happens. Test for spark would tell the tale to look there. Since they got it started with starting fluid, it may be intermittent.

You just bought fuel? Where? Receipt? Have they checked filters? Checked fuel for water?

All this stuff is the first hour of diagnosis, not sure why you are out 3 days here......

Sep 23, 2013 | 05:00 PM

mary-kate

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A bad ground for the fuel pumps could cause this intermittent problem (I have an 87 too, guess how I know...). The ground wires for both tanks(pumps and senders)join together and then go to ground-therefore both senders and both pumps would act up at the same time under this condition, which would explain the gauges acting funny. Both fuel pumps going out at the exact same time is almost unheard of, and the connectors on the fuel pumps are easy to get to for electrical testing-time to take it to a different shop.

Sep 24, 2013 | 03:04 PM

danomac1982

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mary-kate

Thanks I will let them know and if they can't figure it out by tomorrow time to find a new shop. It doesn't seem normal they can't figure it out in 4 days.

Oct 6, 2013 | 08:59 AM

Mike4xdriver

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I had the same thing happen to me. Look at the Fusable links next to the battery and make sure you dont have a corroded one. I had this exact thing happen to me. Replaced a bunch of stuff and then read about this issue and checked it and bingo corroded fusable link. Hope this helps.