Hoping for some help/ideas.

I have a 1994 F250 7.5L V8 with 155,000 miles on it (but I love it dearly).

Since August it has started stalling, and then it doesn't want to start, and has trouble starting on occasion thereafter. The stalling has no warning, no buck or stutter, I'm just going down the highway at 50-65 mph, and suddenly the engine is gone, but all electrical items are still going just fine(radio, AC, etc). This has happened 15 minutes into my drive, or 4 hours into a drive (and only 4 times in these two months). Has happened going uphill, downhill and level, and did not happen when I was hauling my horse trailer. After it stalls, when I try to start it, the starter motor is working, but it doesn't kick over. Three of those 4 times, it started after I let it sit for 15-25 minutes (the other it started right away). It does have dual tanks, and switching fuel tanks does not help. After it stalls, it continues to struggle to start for the next day or so, but not every time, and usually kicks over within a few minutes.

I have had the fuel filter replaced, and the mechanic also suggested and replaced the spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. With it being so random, it has not yet misbehaved for the mechanic (despite me having it towed when it wasn't starting, it had no problems starting for him), so he is having a hard time knowing where to go next (no codes, fuel pressure is fine). I am worried about being stranded, as I live an hour out of town on a twisty highway that often has no shoulder.

 

It could be the pickup coil (pip sensor) in the distributor. my truck would die randomly but it would always start right back up. I had a code though, code 211. One day i went out to start the truck and it wouldn't start. I changed the distributor and it started right up. I hope this helps.

 

Yeah it sounds like a failing PIP (Profile Ignition Pickup) sensor in the distributor. This is what the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) uses to sense engine rotation/position for fuel injection and spark timing. Next time it won't start, see if you have spark. If not then it's probably the PIP but could also be a few other things.

If you replace the entire distributor then don't get a reman from the parts stores, they are known to have faulty uses PIP sensors in them too. Rebuilt my ***....

 

As my F250 was acting up again last week, I was able to test that when it isn't starting, there is no spark. I made an appointment with my mechanic, he is leaning towards the ignition module, and in general only wants to replace something if it has been diagnosed (which my pocket book appreciates). If it won't misbehave for him, I was actually pondering just having both the ignition module and the distributor replaced (I'm not flush with cash, but this truck is my only transport and I need it fixed)

I made an appointment with my mechanic, but before that came along, it stalled out on me again, this time leaving me half in a lane on the highway, as it refused to start.

The Highway Patrolman who pulled over to help, had me do the following: key to Acc and gas pedal to the floor. key to On and gas pedal to the floor. Key to off, then attempt to start - and it fired up like a charm.

My mechanic had no idea what this meant, and a friend thought that this indicated the ECM, but I can't find anything on this little procedure to know what it actually did. Any ideas??