Urgent: Stranded: Please Help
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Urgent: Stranded: Please Help
I'm in the middle of a cross country trip in my '86 F150 4x4 with the 5L V8. I pulled into a gas station and filled up, and when I tried to start back up, the truck would crank but not turn over. I've tried several times, tried getting a jump in case the battery was going bad (no change). The first crank or two are real slow and sluggish and then it seems to crank normally. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Right now it looks like I'm sleeping at a gas station. I have noticed over the last few days that the first crank or two have been sluggish but it's always started...I could sure use some advice.
John
John
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: Michigan
Not sure if this will help you or not, but my 1981 did the exact same thing one time at a gas station... try wiggling all the ignition wires and check the connections. Mine had a loose connection that with wiggling took back off. I simply ended up putting dielectric grease on it and it's worked since.
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Everything was doing great until I stopped. I've been on the road for nine hours with no issues till all of a sudden I stopped and it wouldn't start back up. Like I said, I've noticed sluggish cranking the last few days but always started up. The AC was frozen up when I opened the hood, but I can't see how that'd affect it. Battery terminals were a little corroded. I cleaned those with no change.
John
John
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
It is that "sluggish cranking" that makes me suspect the ignition module (sounds like it's no longer retarding the ignition timing in START).
Somebody brought up a good point, inspect all your electrical connections on ignition devices, and particularly the ones at the coil.
Somebody brought up a good point, inspect all your electrical connections on ignition devices, and particularly the ones at the coil.
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Joe Kucinski
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 84
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From: Michigan
When mine died like you described it was the same thing. Ran it for about an hour, pulled in to gas up and when I went to start it there was nothing. Would crank but not fire up.
My truck is a straight 6, but the connection that fixed mine was in a cluster of wires mounted on the inner fender somewhere.
My truck is a straight 6, but the connection that fixed mine was in a cluster of wires mounted on the inner fender somewhere.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
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Quick troubleshooting: Disconnect and ground the center lead at the distributor cap. Although the engine obviously won't start, see if the cranking speed returns to normal. If so, that would point to the ignition module, as mentioned.
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Junior User
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Timing sprocket was completely worn smooth and timing was off. Also found the water pump leaking while tearing that apart.
Thanks everybody for the advice.
Thanks everybody for the advice.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
So you doing the fix in the stations lot or had it towed?
Dave ----