Distributor cap getting wet.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
Likes: 17
From: SW Florida
Well, if YOU are causing the water to get in there say by fording a creek or other fun off-road activities, then seal that bad girl up with some silicone.
But if you ain't driving thru any water, and it's getting wet in there, you might wanna take a look at what's in your crankcase. Water in the oil can evaporate and condense in the distributor.
But if you ain't driving thru any water, and it's getting wet in there, you might wanna take a look at what's in your crankcase. Water in the oil can evaporate and condense in the distributor.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,314
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From: southwest michigan
My 95 used to have that issue. It would be fine, then start acting up on rainy days. Sometimes it would be fine, then I'd hit a puddle and it would barely stay running.
A few time I took the cap off and used a hair dryer to dry any moisture out, then it would be fine till I hit another puddle. We're not talking about fording rivers here or anything, just getting to close to puddle on the side of the road. I did find that keeping the contacts on the cap clean would help.
I've never had that problem on my 96 though. I've taken it through water that was over the hubs at speed and it never had an issue. Not sure why that is.
A few time I took the cap off and used a hair dryer to dry any moisture out, then it would be fine till I hit another puddle. We're not talking about fording rivers here or anything, just getting to close to puddle on the side of the road. I did find that keeping the contacts on the cap clean would help.
I've never had that problem on my 96 though. I've taken it through water that was over the hubs at speed and it never had an issue. Not sure why that is.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Mount Vernon, KY
Had the same issue on my 96' 302. If it rained or was humid it would barely start and would run horribly till it warmed up. Just replacing the cap made a world of difference. Haven't had any issues since. It is $30 for a 5yr warranty one with rotor at autozone or one with a 1 yr warranty with no rotor for $16. Distributor Cap | 1995 Ford F250 3/4 ton P/U 4WD 8 Cylinders H 5.8L EFI | AutoZone.com
More Turbo
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I've had that problem on several Ford trucks and it was always the coil.
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Brett Foote
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: southwest michigan
am I incorrect in thinking this?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yes.. that is the TFI problem.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
As for rain... never had any Ford truck OR car that couldn't go thru a puddle at speed and stay running...
... and if you live in FL, you know the kind of rain and "puddles" we get here in the summertime 
Throw a new cap on there and see what happens.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Mount Vernon, KY
On mine all the contacts were badly corroded on the cap as well. It just happened that moisture was what caused it to act up. I also have never had any issue due to actually driving through water though. It isn't like these trucks have slant 6s in them.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Like the Chrysler slant 6 you mean? Mopar products from the '70s and '80s were well known for having a brutally weak ignition system, install an MSD black box and coil on the thing and problem solved.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Mount Vernon, KY
Yeah, those are the engines I was referring to. My dad has had several old Dodge Darts with them. He said they were great engines that were extremely reliable, but if you spit on the ground in front of them they wouldn't run until the distributor was dried out. Of course the dist was on the bottom of the engine
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah we had a slant 6 Dart and another in a Labaron.... man were those things gutless. But the V8 trucks were no better, as soon as it got overcast those things would start stalling every time you took your foot off the gas.