Engine dies during slow down
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New User
Joined: Dec 2004
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Engine dies during slow down
I am 16 years old and i own a 1978 ford ranger f-150 and i was woundering if any of you could tell me what is wrong with my truck. I will be driving down the road in my truck and once i begin to slow down it just dies. But before i would go any where i would let it warm up for 10 min. and i took the battery to get tested but it was fine and i tested to alternator and it was fine so i was woundering if any one could tell me what is wrong with my truck?
Last edited by Mil1ion; Dec 28, 2004 at 09:54 PM. Reason: Title change to reflect topic
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: washington!
Well if you live in a cold climate (like say in the 20 degree F range) and considering its winter, I would venture a guess that your carb is freezing over. But again we need more info on your trucks engine config (stock aircleaner or open aftermarket, stock carb etc.), and the conditions that the truck dies under to really give a good shot at a diag.
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New User
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The truck will crank but will not start. It acks like it is not getting fuel, but I primed the carb and still nothing. We have changed out the coil, control module, external voltage regulater and it still just cranks but will not start. We live in Arizona as far as the starting goes its just an old Ford truck.
We do not have a lot of experience with mechanics but it appears that we have no spark. We hooked up a timing light and tried to start the truck and saw no light from the timing gun. I know the guns works as I tried it on another vehicle we have that does actually start and run.
We do not have a lot of experience with mechanics but it appears that we have no spark. We hooked up a timing light and tried to start the truck and saw no light from the timing gun. I know the guns works as I tried it on another vehicle we have that does actually start and run.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Alabama
I had the same problem twice on on a 78 with a 302.It was the distributor pick up coil both times.Once with a rebuilt distributor with 50 miles after a engine rebuild.It would crank and run great until it warmed up then just die with no spark.Cooled down after 20 minutes would crank and run great til it did it again.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Georgetown, Ky
Sort of. You can replace the pickup coil, independant of the distirbutor, but it depends on your skills as a mechanic.
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New User
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How many miles on this engine?
Maybe timing gears & chain finally worn out.
You need to do a Complete Ignition,Fuel Trouble-shoot and relay all the info to us.
Maybe timing gears & chain finally worn out.
You need to do a Complete Ignition,Fuel Trouble-shoot and relay all the info to us.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Alabama
Changing the pickup coil is easy.Take off the dist cap and rotor.Carefully use two screwdrivers prying under the dist gear gently pry it up and off.Carefully!There is a small dowel pin in a slot in the shaft that will drop out IF not careful so keep eyes open.Don't lose the pin!!!Coil is on a bracket pressed onto the dist shaft.Peened in 3 places.Have to take two screws out one holding the vacuum advance rod is what holds it in placeTwo screwdrivers again prying it loose on both sides.It sort of pops off.Reinstalling in reverse order just take something that will press fit the new coil and just pop it back on the shaft.Pickup coil is about 15-18 dollars and new distributor is about 70-80 if stock.Hope this helps..
Freshman User
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From: Alabama
Originally Posted by Mil1ion
How many miles on this engine?
Maybe timing gears & chain finally worn out.
You need to do a Complete Ignition,Fuel Trouble-shoot and relay all the info to us.
Maybe timing gears & chain finally worn out.
You need to do a Complete Ignition,Fuel Trouble-shoot and relay all the info to us.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
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From: Northern Illinois
Originally Posted by 70bluebronco
Also he had a timing light hooked up and no power so he had no spark.He had changed out everything but the pickup coil.So what else is left?
Put a socket on the harmonic balancer bolt, take off the dizzy cap and turn the crank bolt back and forth, watch to see if or how long of a delay it is before the dizzy rotor turns. It should start turning the rotor almost instantly. To long of a delay is to much free play in the timing chain.
Last edited by ranger429; Dec 29, 2004 at 06:30 AM.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: washington!
I agree with Mil1ion on his point a diag is very important it keeps you from just throwing parts at a vehicle. The original post sounded to me as if the truck was just spontaniously dying while driving then starting back up, however the new info changes the situation totally. Check the timing chain (as mentioned by ranger 429), then if thats ok check power and ground to the ignition module and power to the positive side of the coil, etc (a testlight or voltmeter will work for this). As no power to these components will render any component replacement moot. A broken wire /shorted wire or corroded connection could cause no spark, as could a blown fuse in the ignition circuit. Electrically there are many possibilities for failure between the battery and the Duraspark module and coil. Mechanically the only areas I can see for failure would be the distributor shaft/gear/pin, a broken reluctor or stator plate, and the timing chain/gear assembly. You can manually initiate a spark by turning the reluctor (on the limited rotation of the mechanical advance) by hand past the pickup with the key on, I know, I have zapped myself really good this way while recurving the dizzy. Anyhew I hope this hacked up diag from a guy doped up on nyquill does ye some good 
