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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Truck quit!!!

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Old May 13, 2005 | 12:16 AM
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Question Truck quit!!!

My budy's 89 F-150 4x4 with a 302 quit on him today. He said that it made a large pop then was dead. The truck was running really crappy for some time studdering and sort. So I checked for spark since you could smell the fuel when he was turning it over and there was no spark at all. I hear that the TFI only works or just doesn;t work so what would make the truck run like crap and then just up and quit. Is there something in the distributor that would cause this? I recently hooked the truck up to a comp to check for codes and got none. Thanks for your help.
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 10:57 PM
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Does nobody have any ideas as to what is causing this, his truck is still sitting in someones yard.
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 11:01 PM
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sounds to me like he mey have just plain blown the motor
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 11:05 PM
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nope the motor is perfectly fine. We just put one in this winter and i'm quite sure it has something to do with the electronics.
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 11:24 PM
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Last time my truck stalled out and wouldn't start (no spark), the coil was at fault. Could be that.
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 11:38 PM
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Okay i think we will check it out here soon, with a multi meter. Thanks for you help.
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 11:41 PM
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Ok, sorry I didn't know that. You may wanna check your distributor and pickup coil. that will cause the truck to run like crap for a while and could cause your symptoms. Plus to the 302's are known for this problem. Keep in mind I don't know how old your distributor is. But I think i would start there. And with this problem you could still get spark. I know when mine went bad it went real quick however the truck ran it did not have enough power to move the truck. That is why I think it might be more the dist. than the pickup coil. Not to be confused with the ignition coil.
 
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Old May 17, 2005 | 11:51 PM
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If these suggestions turn out to not be the prob. check the computer. It may have gone bad. Just a thought though.
 
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Old May 18, 2005 | 07:48 PM
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k thanks, now that i have a target that should save some time rather then checking random things.
 
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Old May 19, 2005 | 06:06 AM
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The TFI in My Merkur (same one that is in the early Ford truck) died a couple of years ago and it bucked and jerked for a good mile before dying. They can die different ways, sometimes they get hot and quit but will work again when they cool off. Mine died and stayed dead. Good thing is it only takes a minute or so to change. I switched that car over to a remote mount module like my 93 F-150 has and the module has been happy ever since.
 
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Old May 22, 2005 | 08:52 PM
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Okay we changed the TFI on the distriputor and the truck now runs. But it still runs just as crappy as before so now I am suspecting the computer itself, even though it does not display any trouble codes I believe the computer is the problem, are my accusations viable and if so how do i test it. Thanks
 
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Old May 23, 2005 | 05:51 AM
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The running crappy could be lots of things. First check for codes then give it a good tuneup if it's been over 6 months. Check for vacuum leaks and a stuck EGR. Check or replace PCV. When mine was missing under load it turned out to be the ignition wires.
 
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Old May 23, 2005 | 11:11 AM
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We checked codes and got nothing so maybe it is one of the other things you suggested.
 
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Old May 23, 2005 | 11:53 AM
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The thing that makes me suspect the computer is that we did a complete engine swap and this one ran almost the same i say almost because this new engine is only have the ignition troubles instead of the many other problems with the old engine. If you are wondering when we swapped it was this last winter.
 
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Old May 26, 2005 | 08:31 PM
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have you checked the pick up coil at all? I would start there.If it were the computer you still wouldn't be able to fire the truck .(in most circumstances.) If you don't know where it is at it's on the bottom of the distributor.
 
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