I6 Won't Start, Ignition??
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I6 Won't Start, Ignition??
I have a 1986 F-150 with the Duraspark (?) IV ignition. Unless I am completely crazy, when the timing mark hits 0(deg) that should mean that the piston is at the top of compression stroke right? And that's when the #1 spark should fire?! But in my truck when those two things happen the truck cranks but doesn't start! 
HELP ME!! 
I will go nuts if I don't get my truck running again. Any ideas would help me.
hhv - 1986 F-150
HELP ME!! I will go nuts if I don't get my truck running again. Any ideas would help me. hhv - 1986 F-150
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 386
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From: Wichita, KS
that could actually be at tope dead center for the exhaust stroke could be 180 deg. out. you need to pop the distributor (if you have moved it since the last time it ran) and make sure that the rotor is pointing at no.1 wire. the next thing would be make sure you are getting spark. I usually pull a plug and ground it to the body or engine and crank it over to see if its sparking. fuel, fire and compression are what runs the engine. so your missing one. is it carbed or injected? good luck hope this helps and I hope all my info is accurate.
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When I first started fooling with the truck, yes it WAS working, I couldn't find the timing mark. That is until I looked under the truck, the timing mark was about 180 (deg) off! Is it possible to reinstall the main pulley 180 deg off?
I have never gotten that deep into engines and this is my first Ford. What I did was stuff a rag into the spark plug hole and cranked it until it popped. Then, I set the ignition to line up the 1st cylinder in that general area. Am I nuts or should this have worked? Don't make me go back to rice-burners!
I have never gotten that deep into engines and this is my first Ford. What I did was stuff a rag into the spark plug hole and cranked it until it popped. Then, I set the ignition to line up the 1st cylinder in that general area. Am I nuts or should this have worked? Don't make me go back to rice-burners!
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Wichita, KS
I dont think you can install a pulley 180 out but I suppose with a big enough hammer you could hahaha. anyway your rag idea might have worked, I have always put my finger in the hole and have a friend crank it. and you definitly know when its compression. Im not sure if the rag may have blown out on exhaust for ya. do you know if you have spark and fuel? that would be the first and easiest thing to check. what have you done since it ran to possibly make it not run.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Memphis, TN USA
Just like what they said, check for sparks first and if you have spark then you can spray a starting fluid in the intake while someone cranks the engine.
If it starts then spray some more and it should continue running until you stop feeding the starting fluid. If this works, the the problem is fuel related.
Try by-passing the fuel pump relay and directly connect it to the power source to see if the pumps works this time or not.
If it starts then spray some more and it should continue running until you stop feeding the starting fluid. If this works, the the problem is fuel related.
Try by-passing the fuel pump relay and directly connect it to the power source to see if the pumps works this time or not.
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Oh yeah I forgot to mention, I pulled out the distributor when I couldn't see the timing marks, to line it up, or so I thought. Then I turned over the engine, lined up the timing mark that way and then put the distributor back in. Well, then I got the engine acting super crazy and when I tried to undo my foolishness, well 3 hours later, still a no go...
I do have spark and fuel so those are not a problem. Tell me what if the timing gears were installed incorrectly? Would the marks on the main pulley be off 180? I am beginning to suspect that the problem lies there.
I do have spark and fuel so those are not a problem. Tell me what if the timing gears were installed incorrectly? Would the marks on the main pulley be off 180? I am beginning to suspect that the problem lies there.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 386
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From: Wichita, KS
I dont think that anything was installed wrong except the dist. you probably are not getting it lined up when the piston is in the TDC position of the firing stroke. also check and make sure your wires are in the correct order.
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: NC
hhv,Ijust had to replace the harmonic balancer on my 85 F-150. Could not get the timing marks to line up either. The problem was the rubber part of the pulley had seperated so timing marks were waaayy off. hope this helps. Happy new year. Mark ,RAZZMAZTAZZ.
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: NC
harmonic balancer pulley
hhv, The large main pulley attached to the crank is the harmonic balancer. It is made up from three pieces, a center steel section, a rubber damper, and the outer pulley section that has the timing marks on it. When the rubber fails, the "pulley section" slips making the timing marks off . Hope this helps Mark
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Finally!! Got the beast running like a champ! The weirdest thing about the whole situation, is that in order to even see the timing marks, I have to use the 2nd spark plug wire and set timing that way! I know how it sounds, but I'm not crazy! When I set the timing light to the 1st spark plug the timing mark is 180 opposite.
But I wanted to thank everyone who helped with this bizarro timing thing. I did find out that I have 120 lbs compression in all 6 cylinders and 19 cm/Hg vacuum at idle. Are these "good" numbers? I can't seem to find what "good" is anywhere!
Thanks again,
Hector
But I wanted to thank everyone who helped with this bizarro timing thing. I did find out that I have 120 lbs compression in all 6 cylinders and 19 cm/Hg vacuum at idle. Are these "good" numbers? I can't seem to find what "good" is anywhere!
Thanks again,
Hector
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Cameron, OK
Sounds like you were on track, the dampener on my old engine had slipped also making it impossible to set the timing with a timing light... just had to play it by ear usually. When I re-built it last year I replaced the balancer and it solved that problem though. I've also had two distributors shear the pin in the drive gear on the distributor in then the gear sieze back up but out of alignment. I guess that was better than the gear falling down into the engine but it sure made it hard to figure out what was going on for a while. Anyway, you guys check out my problem I got now, should be on a new post. I've been messing with it all weekend and I'm stumped.
