Distributor Cap
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From: Durham
Distributor Cap
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jan-02 AT 11:05 PM (EST)]Don't just shotgun solutions. Try to figure out what is wrong. First thing to try is to pull a spark plug wire and determine if you are getting any fire to the plugs. Insert the end of a Phillips screw driver into the plug wire and hold the shank near the engine block, have someone turn over the engine and you should see a spark jump from the screwdriver to the block. Make sure you stay clear of the fan and any other rotating parts while the engine is being turned over. Then let us know what happened. Once again it would help if we knew what year your vehicle is. We know it's a 302 with a carburator. You may have severely flooded the engine...let's see, if it sounded like it wanted to start, it's probably got gas and fire, but in a wrong mixture with the air....(just thinking out loud)
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Distributor Cap
It is a 1985 F-150 with about 145,000 miles on it. I have replaced the Fuel filter, fuel pump, and the ignition module previous to this problem. I don't know what to do next! Once again, I am not mechanically inclined and in need of guidance.
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From: Durham
Distributor Cap
It is doubtful that it would be the cap or rotor bad...but possible. You need to check and see if you're getting spark to the plugs. If not, you will probably need to take the truck in to get the distributor tested. If you are getting spark, then we need to look closer at the fuel situation.
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Distributor Cap
Perhaps you could take some time and read this ignition system
testing article.
http://www.autosite.com/garage/encyclop/ency04b.asp
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
testing article.
http://www.autosite.com/garage/encyclop/ency04b.asp
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
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From: Home
Distributor Cap
Thanks for the article. A buddy of mine said he checked out the spark when I was out of town and got shocked twice. He also mentioned that there was a lot of carbon residue around the plugs and possibly in them.
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Distributor Cap
Due to the FACT you said it JUST Happened Quickly
and without warning I would say it is NOT anything to do with Carboned up plugs.
Quick unannounced Failure of Ignition can be because of :
1)Faulty ICM
2)Faulty Coil
3)Faulty ignition switch
4)Faulty magnetic pick-up in Distributor cap
Anything else will give you a warning.
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
and without warning I would say it is NOT anything to do with Carboned up plugs.
Quick unannounced Failure of Ignition can be because of :
1)Faulty ICM
2)Faulty Coil
3)Faulty ignition switch
4)Faulty magnetic pick-up in Distributor cap
Anything else will give you a warning.
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Durham
Distributor Cap
If you're getting spark, then the ignition system should be OK. Next step is to once again check the fuel. You probably have a clogged fuel filter (as mentinoned in some of the other posts on this board). I suspect that when you dumped gas down the carb that it flooded the engine. If it is severely flooded, you could lose compression (bleached the cylinders)....but let's check and make sure you're getting fuel to the carb...the only sure way that I know of is to pull the fuel line off at the carb... there will probably be a filter there and it will be a good time to change that filter...once the fuel line is off, have someone crank the engine and see if there is any fuel being pumped through the line...be careful since this will shoot gas all over the top of your engine...try to have a catch can sitting in a place to catch the fuel...there should be another filter in the fuel line between the carb and fuel pump that should be replaced at this time also...after you check for fuel, let us know and we'll continue to analyze your problem.
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From: Durham
Distributor Cap
Ok, if you're getting fuel, and you're getting spark, then all you need is air to fire the engine. However, you may have a plugged exhaust which would prevent the entire system from drawing air properly. One place to look is the catalytic converter. You may try and pull the exhaust apart at the cross over or even off the exhaust manifolds and see if it starts and runs.
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