Engine dies for no reason
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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Engine dies for no reason
my 1990 F-150 Lariat just dies out of nowhere.
It has a straight 6, efi.
It started last night on the way home, I was comming down the road at a good speed, then the engine throttle wouldn't respond. The engine was running but throttle had no responce.
I pulled to the side of the road and it died. Tried to start it and it would run for about a second(if that) then die again.
I found that if I keep the starter engadged it will run, rev, and all that. Besides the starter grinding along because its still engadged it goes great. But once I let off the key it dies, once I try to put it in drive with the started engadged it dies.
If I let it sit for about an hour it will start up without a problem but it eventually dies just sitting idle.
The engine runs when there is power behind it(transmission while coasting to a stop) but wont respond to throttle. Once I come to about 10 mph it dies.
I'm lost, this is my only vehicle and cab fair is killing me. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks, chris.
It has a straight 6, efi.
It started last night on the way home, I was comming down the road at a good speed, then the engine throttle wouldn't respond. The engine was running but throttle had no responce.
I pulled to the side of the road and it died. Tried to start it and it would run for about a second(if that) then die again.
I found that if I keep the starter engadged it will run, rev, and all that. Besides the starter grinding along because its still engadged it goes great. But once I let off the key it dies, once I try to put it in drive with the started engadged it dies.
If I let it sit for about an hour it will start up without a problem but it eventually dies just sitting idle.
The engine runs when there is power behind it(transmission while coasting to a stop) but wont respond to throttle. Once I come to about 10 mph it dies.
I'm lost, this is my only vehicle and cab fair is killing me. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks, chris.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,467
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From: N. Gwinnett Co. Georgia
Try isolating your fundamentals, fuel, air, spark first. From your description, maybe fuel filter, but that's just presumption at this point. Have you tried switching tanks (if you have dual tanks) and see if it could be a failing fuel pump? What does your alternator read, do your lights die as this happens. Way too many points of conjecture at the moment. Confirm spark, then fuel. Check your air filter. Let us know. You can go code hunting once the basics are confirmed. Also, stay off your starter, they run around $134.80 and we know it works.
Good luck, Tex
94 F250 460 cid E4OD 4x4
Good luck, Tex
94 F250 460 cid E4OD 4x4
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Junior User
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..
Fuel is there, I dont think I was getting spark on the #1 wire but spark is comming from somewhere because when I unplug the coil it just cranks without firing.
Tried both tanks, same thing. Light dont dim, alternator reads fine. No check engine lights, nothing.
Tried both tanks, same thing. Light dont dim, alternator reads fine. No check engine lights, nothing.
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Just started now, its cold. But its been cold for a few months now and it never did this. It does it after the engine is warm, May not have anyhting to do with that but it always happens once the engine is warm.
I'll dig out my meter tomorrow and try to get the codes by hand tomorrow but I was hoping I might have some good leads tonight.
I'll dig out my meter tomorrow and try to get the codes by hand tomorrow but I was hoping I might have some good leads tonight.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 155
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From: Alaska
Its possible that something in your ignition system is acting up once it gets hot. Will it run if you keep your foot on the gas, even at stopsigns just enough to keep it running. Maybe you can atleast limp it home that way.
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Junior User
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nope, it dies no matter where the throttle is. Nothing keep sit runing unless it is coasting at 10+ mph or I keep the starter engadged.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: N. Gwinnett Co. Georgia
When you get to it in the morning, verify spark in the plug wire, any one, from 1 to 6. You should have a schraeder type valve on your fuel manifild rail (looks like a tire stem). Check it for pressure. Have you ever replaced the fuel filter? Bleed fuel system pressure at the schraeder valve and change it if you haven't. Less than $5.00 and never a waste of time.
Good luck, Tex
Good luck, Tex
New User
Joined: Dec 2004
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Had the same problem with my 89 Bronco. Nobody could figure it out. It would even die on the highway at 60 mph. It only did it when it was warmed up and was usually hard to start back up. Turned out to be the distributer pick up. The reason it was so hard to diagnose was because everything showed normal when it was running.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 155
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From: Alaska
I had the same problem with the pick-up in the distributer of my 88 mustang. The shop had a hard time finding it. They said nothing was wrong with the car and I could come get it, I told them to keep it and drive it around. Got a call an hour later saying that the car died and they found the problem, Pick-up coil.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 775
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From: Temperance,MI
Had this problem before on my friends 92 bronco, check your plugs his #8 plug was melting down and the TFI modlue was breaking down when it would get hot cool off ran decent, not something you want to have happen 100miles from home.
Curtis
Curtis
