I have a 1996, F250, automatic tranny, 460 motor with a little over 200,000 miles on it. Motor runs great, doesn't leak oil or overheat or have any issues except...it just shuts off sometimes when I am driving! Sometimes it will start right up again, sometimes I need to wait 5 minutes and a couple times it took over an hour. When I try to restart, the starter sounds fine but it doesn't actually start.
There was an odd security system installed in 1996 by the first owner. It had a chip key that you had to use or the truck would not start at all, it cut the power. I had that key in the device for 6 years and never removed it. Thought it might be part of the problem, so I had the whole thing removed. Didn't help.
I have changed the fuel filer about 6 times, didn't help.
Had the baffles removed form the exhaust, didn't help.
I had previously replaced the rear fuel pump about 4 years ago, now I have recently just replaced both pumps. Still quits on me.
Oddly enough, I used this truck to haul a horse trailer across the state of Arizona in September of 2019. I had been having the shut-off issue, but thought the fuel filter fixed it so I gave it a try. It ran perfectly for both days of my trip. I did use high-octane gas, but I have tried that since then and it hasn't helped. I have also used multiple doses of Sea Foam.
I really miss using my truck! I am selling my F350 and I will need this truck if I have to haul anything.

Any suggestions?

 

check for codes, even if CEL isnt on, could have stored codes, does it do it more in summer months, than winter months

 

Mechanic said he checked codes. Hard to say regarding winter or summer. I was in the low desert for 3 years and it happened . Had another truck so I just didn't drive it much. Same last winter here. I only drive it on the ranch..maybe 5 miles at a time.

 

Did he say what they were, or didnt get any at all, is spark present, fuel pressure, try this link below
Part 1 -How to Troubleshoot a No Start (Ford 4.9L, 5.0L, 5.8L).

 

This is the problem with being a woman and having a mechanic who is friends with you husband. He relays all the information through my husband and all I got was "the codes weren't related to the problem". I had to go down and find out that he replaced the fuel pumps from one of the helpers.

Could the problem be the distributor? I replaced that about 6 years ago when I was having a similar problem.

 

I'll let you decide on what to do with, hubby(lol), as far as mechanic, ask him what they were, if its your truck, hubby needs to get answer, if mechanic wont answer. They need to swallow they're, arrogance, your trying to help, apparently they dont know or it would have been fixed, long ago.
It sounds like it could be your, ICM/TFI module, or the PIP in distributor, it being an intermittent issue, you would need to test both, when it doesnt start/dies, before it has time to cool off, or you would get a false answer, on either test, thinking they are fine.

Do you know if the ICM/TFI has been replaced (parts store have given the wrong one for the 94+ trucks, because they dont know and just gives what computer says( motorcraft DY1075 is wrong) should be motorcraft DY1077
here is how to test it--Part 1 -How to Test the Ford Ignition Control Module (Fender Mounted)

The PIP fires the injectors, heres how to test it--(test #7)--Part 5 -How to Test the Ford Ignition Control Module (Fender Mounted)

see below for the correct ICM/TFI for your truck

 

Thank you! I will look into that. I think we did switch out the module, bit it could be the wrong one. I will let you know!