Sorry, this is a bit longer than it should be. I think I needed to vent.

So, this is weird. Yesterday after stopping at Harbor Freight i jump back into my truck and turn the key. It cranks okay but refuses to turn over. I check the ignition wires, nothing totally out of whack but the oil pressure sensor wire is disconnected. Re-attach and she starts and runs as sweet as she ever did.

Head home drop tools off and head out on another errand. Turn the key and she refuses to start again. I pull wires and it looks like the HT wire on the Coil hasn't been properly seated for a while. I pull it, clean it up and reshape it with some pliers and put it all back together. She starts first time.

Thinking I had fixed it for good this time I head out to find some lawnmower parts and 3 miles from home the engine dies. Won't restart. No matter what I try I can't get her to turn over. I figure it is the Ignition Module this time and after a $90 tow I run to Autozone and pick up one up. Ten minutes later I have it installed and turn the key. Fires up right away, test drive it and it runs great. Pull into the drive and go finish my other chores.

An hour later I need to move the truck it won't start, annoyed as hell I walk away from it. Two hours after that I try again and it starts. WTH??

And again this morning it started just fine but now I can't trust it to get me to work. Does anyone out there have any idea whats going on here? The only thing left that I am not sure of may be the wiring harness but I can't find any breaks in the wires.

HELP!

 

Your frustration can be eliminated by doing some simple troubleshooting. Obviously, throwing money at it hasn't gotten you anywhere, so try it my way. I'm sure someone is going to come along and tell you to replace the distributor, this, and that, but you already know where that panicked path leads.

The next time it doesn't start, connect a test light from the negative coil terminal (TACH TEST) to clean, unpainted metal on the engine (ground). The coil must remain connected. Crank the engine over with the key, and the light should BLINK. Report your results.

Also pick up a multimeter. To be clear, your next post is to consist of two statements: (1) "the light did/did not blink," and (2) "I bought a multimeter."