78 250 stalled out, stranded
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 287
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From: Northeast OH
78 250 stalled out, stranded
we got a freak snowstorm today and i was out plowing. the truck had sat idling for about 10 minutes while i was inside, when i went out and back out the driveway it started running really rough. it acted like it was running out of gas (sputtered when i gave it gas, only would idle) then it stalled. now it will not start. gas guage read 1/4, but i added 5 gallons anyway. still no start, not even with starting fluid.
another thing, the turn signals quit working earlier tonight, they just come on and dont blink. not sure it's related but thought i'd mention it.
any help would be welcome on the no start issue. the turn signals i couldn't care less about right now. i'll have to get this thing running in the morning so i can clear snow.
400 engine, btw
thanks
another thing, the turn signals quit working earlier tonight, they just come on and dont blink. not sure it's related but thought i'd mention it.
any help would be welcome on the no start issue. the turn signals i couldn't care less about right now. i'll have to get this thing running in the morning so i can clear snow.
400 engine, btw
thanks
Last edited by 69oiler; Apr 2, 2005 at 08:44 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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after checking to see if you have good spark (are you sure its good spark) id check the carb they put a screen in the inlet of most carbs check that to see if there is debris clogging the screen if there is remove the screen to get it to move after that id rebuild the carb
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 130
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From: Langley BC
If your truck still has the metal filter in front of the carb, check that first, they can get clogged up. Definitely check spark, as well as the fuel pump(unplug the line at the carb to see if you are getting fuel). If you have an original timing chain, some(most?) were made with a plastic coating on the cam gear, which wears down, causing the timing chain to slip, this would cause the truck to run rough ,then just quit when the chain slips enough. Hope it is an easy fix!
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Northeast OH
i have an Edelbrock 4 bbl on there and it is getting fuel. i pulled off the fuel filter hose and cranked it and it spurted fuel. accel pumps are squirting gas. i pulled a plug and cranked it and there was a spark, but it was kind of faint. i have a dual batt setup and i was also jumping from a new RV batt, so i think i have good batt power. the truck has always started easily until now.
this morning i went out and tried to start it and it farted a couple times like it wanted to start but then it just kept cranking and cranking.
i guess my next move will be replace the plug wires and cap/rotor. i'm a diesel guy, it's been a few years since i had a gas motor to monkey with. what else should i look for? is there a ballast resistor like on the old Mopars?
the temps are just above freezing so moisture could be an issue.
this morning i went out and tried to start it and it farted a couple times like it wanted to start but then it just kept cranking and cranking.
i guess my next move will be replace the plug wires and cap/rotor. i'm a diesel guy, it's been a few years since i had a gas motor to monkey with. what else should i look for? is there a ballast resistor like on the old Mopars?
the temps are just above freezing so moisture could be an issue.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 123
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From: Maryland
i'm assuming you have a duraspark II system on your truck...no ballast resistor. if your spark was intermittent or weak, test your coil voltage and resistance. those things have been known to crap out. the tests are complicated, but you could always buy a new coil for 10 bucks anyway. it could also be the distributor itself, but a cap and rotor are cheap and always worth a try.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: okc
if one plug had weak spark id bet that all or most of the others do as well, i would start by pulling them all and checking them as you go.....how long have the plugs been in there?? cold weather can be hard on plugs, i usually change mine twice a year, once before summer and again before winter, regardless if they are bad or not.....i only use bosch platinums, ive had bad experiences with most of the other brands of plugs out there, but havent had any issues with bosch platinums what-so-ever, yeah they arent the cheapest at 1.89 a plug, but to me its worth 40 bucks a year to know my plugs are all firing properly.......
