1981 Ford F-100, 300 inline 6, 3 speed on floor....

I went to drive my truck the other day, and while I was driving it, I changed into second gear and the truck wanted to die. I had to let off the gas, and then push the clutch in and give it gas to keep the truck running. It runs good in first, but when I change the second, it does like a sputter, and then loses power, and third gear does the same thing. Anyone have any idea's what may be wrong, and how I may be able to fix it? I found out 1 sparkplug wire isnt firing, so I will be changing that. If anyone has a clue, please email or message me at rem8128(No Email Addresses In Posts!) or post back here.

Bobby

 

Tune the carb - the idle is too low. You probably also have some vacuum issues.

 

Don't change that one spark plug. Change them all plus the air filter, oil and filter, fuel filter..........

Start with a good tune up and go from there.

 

yeah, I changed them all.. For some reason the battery keeps draining and the truck doesnt work to turn over...

 

disconnect your positive cable from your battery. hook a test light between the cable and + post. disconnect 1 wire at a time until the light goes out. you'll probibly find your alternator is draining the battery

 

I will have to try that. I''ll buy a test light soon, or ask my father in law if he has one. When I run my truck for a lil while, and then shut it off... I can wait a couple minutes and it'll start back up. I wait about 5-10 minutes and it wont start back up. Does it sound like its more in the electircal, or the alternator? I'm thinking about just buying a $30.00 61amp alternator at Auto Zone.. But dont wanna buy it if I dont have to.

 

I checked the distrubor cap also, and it had a lil crud or something inside the cap (on the center,etc) and I scrapped most off with a straight slot screw driver.

 

that sounds more like a bad cell in your battery than a drain

 

Brand new battery. This is the second Battery I have tried it with.

 

If you have gone through more than 2 batteries in a short period of time, than you have a bad altinator.

 

I'm going to take it out, and take it to advance and let them check it out.

 

i had the same problem with my 77-f-150-300-6-3 speed. it would lose power and the lights would dim after running under load for more than 15 mins. i went through 2 batteries, replaced the voltage reg, the alternator, new wires, all ground wire surfaces cleaned and it would still go dead. i got the altenator checked and it was good as was the ingition modular. being at my wits end i search the forums for similar problems that others have had. i came across a post by a gentleman named Silver Streak. his instructions were to diconnect the neg. terminal from the battery and hook up a test light between the nagitive post on the battery, and the negitive terimnal itself, and if the bulb lit up, then there was a short. sure enouph it lite up denoteing a short. then he said to pull out one fuse at a time until the testlight went out, then you have found the short. when i pulled the interior fuse out the testlight went out. i found the shorts were in the light switches that are in the doorjams , the ones that make the dome light come on when you open the door. they were rusty and defective. i unplugged both of them and now the batterie holds a charge, and it starts up quicker.i couldnot figure out for the longest time why 2 new batteries would go dead until i read Silver streaks post and performed the test.his post saved me from the shop. you may have the same problem, i dont know. the test is worth doing, your ride is almost as old as mind. electrial problems are a chore, hope you figure yours out.