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Hello everyone I bought my first ford. Always had an 89 4 runner. Now I own a f250 lariat 4x4 5 speed. Am looking forward to its long life and would appreciate any constructive advice or questions. Tips and suggestions are helpful as well. Thank You.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
Hey Nicholas, welcome to FTE! To help you out better, we need to know what year your truck is, and at least what engine and transmission you have in it.
A lot of us post out truck info in our signature (like you see at the bottom of my reply) so we don't have to type it out every time we refer to our trucks. I don't remember if you need a minimum number of posts to have a sig, but if you do IIRC it's only like 20 posts or so.
Whatever your truck is, basic maintenance goes a long way to keeping it running right, so start by changing all the fluids, change out oil/fuel/air filters, inspect the brake linings and lines, maybe clean or replace your battery terminals/cables... stuff like that. These are some of Ford's most reliable trucks in my opinion, take care of them and they'll take care of you.
A lot of us post out truck info in our signature (like you see at the bottom of my reply) so we don't have to type it out every time we refer to our trucks. I don't remember if you need a minimum number of posts to have a sig, but if you do IIRC it's only like 20 posts or so.
Whatever your truck is, basic maintenance goes a long way to keeping it running right, so start by changing all the fluids, change out oil/fuel/air filters, inspect the brake linings and lines, maybe clean or replace your battery terminals/cables... stuff like that. These are some of Ford's most reliable trucks in my opinion, take care of them and they'll take care of you.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,080
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From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
I have close to the same truck (only an 89 and XL) the only problem I have really seen big time on the 351W is the control module on the distributor (also known as TFI module). Other then that they are great little trucks especially with a 351W.
As far as the gas pedal swinging side to side I have the same problem on all 3 of my 87-91 ford trucks so I don't know if this is common or not. Probably an easy fix it just never bothered me or my dad.
Trav
As far as the gas pedal swinging side to side I have the same problem on all 3 of my 87-91 ford trucks so I don't know if this is common or not. Probably an easy fix it just never bothered me or my dad.
Trav
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Thanks for the tip Travis. Travis right? If I wanted to check that tfi module how would I go about that? And the pedal sway was freaking me out hearing that it's not uncommon makes me feel better. My truck is an Xl too a lariat. Another question I have is, my truck being a gasser is there anything I can do to get better mpg? Also thanks again! This site rocks. You guys are cool.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
You can call me Trav or Travis it doesn't matter.
Pull it off and bring it to autozone but if the TFI module was bad usually the truck will either not run or run like crap. The pedal sway I have no idea if it is common or not it just is on my 4 87-91 Fords.
Give the truck a 6 liter tune up: cap, rotor, plugs, wires, bump the timing up a bit.
Maybe a good exhaust system but MPG is not a great gain from these older trucks.
What MPG are you averaging now?
My dad's 89 F250 XL 351W ZF5 manual transmission 4.10 or 4.30s with a heavy flat bed is getting 10-11MPG which is not to bad with the set up.
Trav
Pull it off and bring it to autozone but if the TFI module was bad usually the truck will either not run or run like crap. The pedal sway I have no idea if it is common or not it just is on my 4 87-91 Fords.
Give the truck a 6 liter tune up: cap, rotor, plugs, wires, bump the timing up a bit.
Maybe a good exhaust system but MPG is not a great gain from these older trucks.
What MPG are you averaging now?
My dad's 89 F250 XL 351W ZF5 manual transmission 4.10 or 4.30s with a heavy flat bed is getting 10-11MPG which is not to bad with the set up.
Trav
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
Sixlitre tuneup:
ignition upgrade and timing bump (no 56K) - FSB Forums
You'll know if your TFI module is bad. If the truck starts and runs fine, then your module is good. If it gets hard to start or stalls at random, then it *MIGHT* be the TFI module (other things can cause that too) going bad.
I just keep a spare one in the truck with me.
ignition upgrade and timing bump (no 56K) - FSB Forums
You'll know if your TFI module is bad. If the truck starts and runs fine, then your module is good. If it gets hard to start or stalls at random, then it *MIGHT* be the TFI module (other things can cause that too) going bad.
I just keep a spare one in the truck with me.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,080
Likes: 5
From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
Yep I started doing that too Dixie. That is about the only think that I think was built like crap on these older fords other then that no complaints.
(But I like that some people don't know it because a lot of times I get a truck or van really cheap this era and that is all that is wrong.)
Trav
(But I like that some people don't know it because a lot of times I get a truck or van really cheap this era and that is all that is wrong.)
Trav
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