Finally figured it out....
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Finally figured it out....
First if you have an auto trans this won't apply so only keep reading if you're curious. 
I finally found out why my 95 F150 wouldn't start reliably. Just as info, it's a 2wd 4.9L w/ the Mazda transmission but it'd be my guess most of us here use the same clutch pedal assembly. Mileage is just over 135k.
Started out as if you pushed in the clutch and turned the key sometimes it would fire off and sometimes not. The first thing I did was discover that the bushing between the clutch rod and clutch master clylinder push rod was toast. Replaced that and everything was fine, for a while. After a few weeks it started it again so I assumed it was the clutch position switch which encircles the clutch master cylinder push rod. Changed that and things got better, for a while again. After about a month I noticed that the bushing was worn again and was popping off... snapped it back on and it was "fixed" again. Well, yesterday the truck finally told me what was wrong, in fact it slapped me upside the head with it. Went to push in the clutch and BANG! went to the floor. When I looked down, the round end of the clutch master cylinder pushrod that holds that bushing was in 3 pieces on the floorboard next to my feet. I guess all that rattling around with the worn bushing cracked it and it finally decided it was time to give up the ghost.
After a trip to the parts store for a $68 clutch master cylinder and some time laying in the dirt bleeding it and I'm up and running. Moral of the story, crawl up under there and check that bushing. If there's any slop replace it, if there's still slop you may want to invest in a spare clutch master cylinder. The good news is it didn't do it during my 16 hour trip towing a car on a dolly last weekend. It waited until I was in the front yard and sitting next to the shed that has my tools in it. I'm buying a Lotto ticket tonight.
I finally found out why my 95 F150 wouldn't start reliably. Just as info, it's a 2wd 4.9L w/ the Mazda transmission but it'd be my guess most of us here use the same clutch pedal assembly. Mileage is just over 135k.
Started out as if you pushed in the clutch and turned the key sometimes it would fire off and sometimes not. The first thing I did was discover that the bushing between the clutch rod and clutch master clylinder push rod was toast. Replaced that and everything was fine, for a while. After a few weeks it started it again so I assumed it was the clutch position switch which encircles the clutch master cylinder push rod. Changed that and things got better, for a while again. After about a month I noticed that the bushing was worn again and was popping off... snapped it back on and it was "fixed" again. Well, yesterday the truck finally told me what was wrong, in fact it slapped me upside the head with it. Went to push in the clutch and BANG! went to the floor. When I looked down, the round end of the clutch master cylinder pushrod that holds that bushing was in 3 pieces on the floorboard next to my feet. I guess all that rattling around with the worn bushing cracked it and it finally decided it was time to give up the ghost.
After a trip to the parts store for a $68 clutch master cylinder and some time laying in the dirt bleeding it and I'm up and running. Moral of the story, crawl up under there and check that bushing. If there's any slop replace it, if there's still slop you may want to invest in a spare clutch master cylinder. The good news is it didn't do it during my 16 hour trip towing a car on a dolly last weekend. It waited until I was in the front yard and sitting next to the shed that has my tools in it. I'm buying a Lotto ticket tonight.
Last edited by doodaa; Dec 20, 2006 at 09:56 AM.
