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ignition issues

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Old May 12, 2014 | 08:17 PM
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ignition issues

ive got a 1990 F-250 heavy duty, with a fuel injected 460, just put a new engine in it, got it all back together and running great, until tonight, going down the road it just shut off, almost like i shut the key off, i put a new distributor in it, when i put the engine in, any suggestions would be great. already tried changing the tfi module, ran fine for about 5 minutes then did the same thing
 
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Old May 12, 2014 | 08:55 PM
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From: Easton,Ks
Sounds like you have a bad PIP sensor inside the distributor.
If it was not a new distributor most rebuilt distributors have bad PIP sensors in them.
Put the old distributor back in it.
 
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Old May 12, 2014 | 09:14 PM
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brand new distributor, thats one thing i didnt wanna skimp on when i did it, and it was acutally cheaper to get a new one than a remand one, everything exept the wires and coil are new on the engine,
 
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Old May 12, 2014 | 09:58 PM
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From: Easton,Ks
If it quits check for spark. If no spark unplug the computer and see if spark returns. If it does then you more than likely have a bad computer.
If you have spark when it dies then you more than likely have a bad fuel pump. Do you have two tanks?
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 07:07 AM
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fuel pump still comes on when i turn the key on, thats not the problem
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 07:32 AM
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From: Easton,Ks
You need to check to see if you have a code stored in CM.
That may tell you what the problem is.
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 09:55 AM
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Definitely check the PIP signal at the coil. Just ground your test light and back probe the two wires on your coil while someone turns the engine over. One of them should cause your test light to blink as the PIP circuit is interrupted. (Won't work with and LED light).

I recently bought a rebuilt distributor from NAPA and installed it only to find that the PIP was bad. Took it apart and upon inspection, the PIP in the rebuilt distro looked to be the original OEM PIP from when that distro was manufactured. I managed to replace the PIP without tearing up the distro this time and she fired right up.

Original symptoms mirror yours. Had just got my truck running good when it just died all of the sudden.

I went to NAPA on purpose because they generally have better parts than your other boxed auto parts stores. NAPA=FAIL this time.
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 04:20 PM
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well i checked the wires at the coil, no flash when its cranking over, put an old plug on number one wire and grounded it and nothing there
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 04:29 PM
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From: Easton,Ks
You need to unplug the computer and see if spark returns then.
If so you more than likely have a bad computer.
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 04:43 PM
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PIP is cheap, just be careful with the distro gear. Also those distro shafts are very soft. I split the shaft in my original distro, hence requiring a new one. Of course the new one had the bad PIP also

Just goes to show that this is pretty common.
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 05:00 PM
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does the pip throw the check engine light on also, im going to borrow a code reader for the obd 1 system tomorrow just to make sure before i start throwing new parts into it again
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 05:23 PM
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still no fire with the computer unplugged, ill hopefully be able to figure it out tomorrow
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by scubasteveF250
still no fire with the computer unplugged, ill hopefully be able to figure it out tomorrow
subford has posted this before in these situations:
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 05:54 PM
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It's the pick up in the distributor. (Pip) 97 f350 460 I had did the same thing I replaced very thing and the distributor was the last thing I checked presto chango she fired up and quit dieing on me.

Just did a reread and you put a new engine in your truck and didn't put new wires on it? New plugs new distributor but old plug wires and coil? Coils are cheap wires aren't that bad either. Throw the old coil and wires in the tool box for another project or a just in case.
 
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Old May 13, 2014 | 09:26 PM
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i just didnt do the wires and coil for the fact that they were new in december when the motor decided to go, planning on doing them both with in the next week
 
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