351W nightmare
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New User
Joined: Aug 2018
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351W nightmare
My son has a 95' Bronco with a 351. He has absolutely no mechanical ability, so I have been given the task of fixing it. The idle gets rough at times and the ck engine light will flash then go off. When driving, it will drive normal for a few miles and then feels like it dropped a couple cylinders with no pwr. From there on it will do this intermittently unless it stalls all together. I managed to repair a crack in a vacuum line. I have no idea if there are more leaks, or if its even the problem.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque
welcome to the group first off. you probably need to start with the check engine codes. if your planning on spending time with this then go buy a INNOVA code reader from the parts store. there are many things or might be just a few things wrong but with out the codes you cant really do anything right.
first things are tune up or check the ignition parts. fuel filter. air filter and stuff like that. go from there. cracked vacuum lines need to be replaced too.
first things are tune up or check the ignition parts. fuel filter. air filter and stuff like that. go from there. cracked vacuum lines need to be replaced too.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
whats the history on the vehicle? get your son involved as well since you cant be expected to do everything especially given the rig is 20+yrs old. getting all the vacuum lines replaced would be a good step, checking codes like mentioned. and also a tune up. Change the spark plug and wires one at a time so the order doesnt get mixed up. run a standard autolite/motorcraft copper plug gapped to .44
keep us posted
keep us posted
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,724
Likes: 4
From: Rogersville, TN
Take it by somewhere like advance or autozone and have them run the codes. They do it for free. It may be something simple and cheap to fix. Throwing parts at it with no clue what is wrong with it is going to lead to an expensive nightmare pretty quickly.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2018
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whats the history on the vehicle? get your son involved as well since you cant be expected to do everything especially given the rig is 20+yrs old. getting all the vacuum lines replaced would be a good step, checking codes like mentioned. and also a tune up. Change the spark plug and wires one at a time so the order doesnt get mixed up. run a standard autolite/motorcraft copper plug gapped to .44
keep us posted
keep us posted
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
Pull the codes.That Check Engine Light (CEL) is trying to tell you something.
Warm up the engine then do this (use a paper clip or length of wire): How to Run a Self Test
Your truck will display 3 digit codes. Please run the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) tests and Stored Code display. List any codes, by number, and when they were displayed.
Or invest ~$20 USD on a code reader. It will pay for itself many times over. Highly suggest the Innova/Equus 3145. Great tool.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Along with a code reader, suggest a mechanic's vacuum gauge, for about the same price. They are simple to use and provide a lot of information quickly to include a restricted exhaust, that might be caused by a defective catalyst.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 19
So, you're throwing money at it and haven't even checked the codes that will tell you exactly what the problem is? Then took it to a shop that wasted even more money without checking the codes? Do that poor truck a favor and sell it before your kid with "absolutely no mechanical ability" or his dad with apparently not much more mechanical ability than his son ruins it. Or maybe try CHECKING THE DAMN CODES!!!! as instructed.
Good Grief. All you need is a paperclip and a notepad.
Good Grief. All you need is a paperclip and a notepad.
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