Mystery ...
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Upper midwest
Mystery ...
19940 F-150 EFI 351W E4OD 4X4 Dual tank.
It dies randomly as I'm driving. Fast or slow speeds.
Sometimes it won't start. Engine being hot or cold seems to make no difference. Though one time the gauge read low, but there was a lot of heat under the hood. And the antifreeze reservoir was nearly empty.
Thoughts?
It dies randomly as I'm driving. Fast or slow speeds.
Sometimes it won't start. Engine being hot or cold seems to make no difference. Though one time the gauge read low, but there was a lot of heat under the hood. And the antifreeze reservoir was nearly empty.
Thoughts?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 633
From: Houston/Sugar Land
Out of 10 times it dies, how many times of that will it start right back up? If it will not start, how long do you have to wait until it finally starts? Has the reservoir gotten low since you filled it? Have you tried switching tanks? The answers should help the answer folks know what is going on. Sandy
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 633
Likes: 42
In my case it turned out to be the pip, and I just went ahead and replaced the whole distributor. If when you are trying to re-start you never hear the fuel pumps run for a couple seconds, then it's a good idea to check the ecm and see if any capacitors are leaking. Keep us posted. Plenty of smarter people than me to help.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Upper midwest
...
After changing the coil wire, distributor cap, and rotor. It now restarts right away after it dies. 2 times in the 10 minutes it was running.
New capacitor is on the way via the Ford dealer. $13.
PIP sensor will follow if needed.
I'll listen for the fuel pumps next time.
New capacitor is on the way via the Ford dealer. $13.
PIP sensor will follow if needed.
I'll listen for the fuel pumps next time.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 47
Likes: 8
Mine did the same thing, random death, sometimes start, sometimes not. It was the plug to the roll over switch on the firewall. the plug was fried.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Upper midwest
Wow.
Did not know a roll over switch was a thing. Makes sense after a crash. I'll look it up.
I'll keep you all updated in hopes this helps someone else as well.
The saga of owning an old Ford is still better than being a GMC/Chevy guy. What dark days those were. :P
I'll keep you all updated in hopes this helps someone else as well.
The saga of owning an old Ford is still better than being a GMC/Chevy guy. What dark days those were. :P
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 47
Likes: 8
Fuel Pump Inertia Switch , supposed to turn fuel pump off when wrecked. My switch was good,
the plug was fried and intermittent. Mine was on the firewall behind where the clutch pedal would be if I had one.
Has a push button reset.. Unplug and check connection..
the plug was fried and intermittent. Mine was on the firewall behind where the clutch pedal would be if I had one.
Has a push button reset.. Unplug and check connection..
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,935
Likes: 34
From: Arcadia, Fla
Also the ECU power relay could be failing. My 89 F250 would random die and would restart back up. Took a year(and few $$$ in parts) to find the ECU power relay was the problem!
What happened, the contacts inside the power relay were bad and loose connection. When you cycled the key to restart, they made contact and engine would start and run XX amount of time before breaking connection. I only found it after it hard faulted and I then could trace back the problem.
What happened, the contacts inside the power relay were bad and loose connection. When you cycled the key to restart, they made contact and engine would start and run XX amount of time before breaking connection. I only found it after it hard faulted and I then could trace back the problem.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Upper midwest
Update
Truck sat over the long weekend. Dome light was on. Battery was barely functioning. Charged at 40 Amps for a bit. Started easily. Ran for 15 min at idle. No dying. Sounded good. Will tool around the neighborhood for a bit.
To do list so far.
•Replaced the coil wire, distributor cap, & rotor. All were corroded moderately - severe.
•Unable to locate TPI/ICM. Apparently it was already upgraded to a cooler location.
•Check the ECU relay for intermittent failure.
•Check the roll over fuel pump cut off switch.
•Check the capacitor.
•Check the PIP
To do list so far.
•Replaced the coil wire, distributor cap, & rotor. All were corroded moderately - severe.
•Unable to locate TPI/ICM. Apparently it was already upgraded to a cooler location.
•Check the ECU relay for intermittent failure.
•Check the roll over fuel pump cut off switch.
•Check the capacitor.
•Check the PIP
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Upper midwest
So far
So far it is running much better than last week.
I'll let you know if it dies again, but the new coil wire, distributor cap & rotor may have done it. Though now I have a check list should it happen again.
Thank you to all who contributed. It rocks to have access to your collective Ford knowledge!!!
I'll let you know if it dies again, but the new coil wire, distributor cap & rotor may have done it. Though now I have a check list should it happen again.
Thank you to all who contributed. It rocks to have access to your collective Ford knowledge!!!
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 7
From: Upper midwest
More
Happening more than ever.
Replaced the ignition capacitor and EGR position sensor. Made sure the EGR valve moves.
Ran another OBDI test;
Engine Running codes.
I did not " touch anything " during test as may be required.
311
thermactor air system fault.
536
Break on break off not activated during test.
538
Invalid cylinder balance
( maybe sparkplug )
632
Overdrive cancel no action.
(Again nothing done) ..
Replaced the ignition capacitor and EGR position sensor. Made sure the EGR valve moves.
Ran another OBDI test;
Engine Running codes.
I did not " touch anything " during test as may be required.
311
thermactor air system fault.
536
Break on break off not activated during test.
538
Invalid cylinder balance
( maybe sparkplug )
632
Overdrive cancel no action.
(Again nothing done) ..