<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message -->I have a 1986 F150 Lariat Fuel-Injected... ford...

First off, my power steering is leaking. I think I all ready figured out what to do but advice would be helpful.

Second, I have an "indeterminable leak" as Jiffy Lube says, I guess I just have to take it in somewhere. Advice again, would be helpful.

Finally, my truck randomly shuts off, this started after I got a new deck installed. Coincidence? It doesn't even make a lot of noise or anything. At stop lights, going in reverse, going slow; all make my truck shut off. Fuel filter? Fuel pump? I've heard these may not actually be it but help on this would be MOST appreciated.

Thank you.

 

Hello - Guess I will try to address your questions in oppisite of how you asked

Well the random shuting off could be almost anything, but a couple of questions - does it turn off like ytou shut the key off, or does it gradualy die out like it is starving for fuel?

I had the same problem with my F150, with two different causes, luckily the problems showed up at differnt times, but within a month of whne I bought the truck.

#1 Symptom - Truck would randomly shutoff like you turned the key off. Normally would restart fine. Can't trouble shoot what you can't find, so when the test gear was set up, no problems showed up as luck would have it! No codes set in the EFI system either. Truck shutoff in a rainstorm, and this was a blessing in disguise, as i noticed a little bit of steam rising from the area by the starter soliniond as the rain hit that area -

Cure - traced to a bad inline "butt" connector that was poorly crimped, heating up and breaking the electrical connection. Problem repaired witha new connector! (I also had this same problem with a Bronco that I bought for parts that stalled on the way home, it turned out this was about the only thing wrong with the Bronco other than a poorly done body lift, and the previous owner was tired of trying to make it run right!)

#2 Symptom - Hiway speeds, truck would start surging, slowing down, still running, not well. Figured it was fuel, changed the main fuel filter. NO difference. asked around as this was my first older Ford EFI system, and was told about the filter in the reserviour that no one ever changes -

Cure - Changed the fuel filter in the reserviour that most people are not aware of.

As far as the leak goes, it may be a better idea to take it to a qualified mechanic / shop on that, Jiffy Lube is good for certain things, and there are a FEW good mechanics/gearheads (or potential of) getting their start at Jiffy, but a regular shop would be a better idea in my opinion for this kind of diagnosis.

Have you determined which fluid is leaking ? If so that will narrow down your search a bit -
Black/dark/golden - Engine oil
Red/brownish - Auto and some manual Trannys or Steering system oil

Not sure how to advise on your power steering leak as you did not mention where you thought it was leaking at?

Just some thoughts to get you started. David

 

I'm not sure how to describe my truck shutting off... It just dies. No whining or anything. After I got a new battery (thought it might help and I needed a new one anyway) it stopped doing it as much but still happens at least twice a day...

Once I'm going fast there's nothing wrong. I only have to worry if I'm going less than 10 mph.

I've thought about changing the fuel filter, maybe even the fuel pump, I really want to pinpoint what's wrong first.

I haven't determined what fluid is leaking... I've had a couple people I know look at it but not too thoroughly yet.

I'm not sure either, my trucks pretty dirty, I'm going to power wash it around the sides and hope that it's just the tubing.

Thank you!

 

Also, to quote someone when I posted this in the wrong spot:

"On an 86 F150 the fuel pump inertia switch is located on the firewall just to the right of the heater duct. It's very possible the switch wiring might have been disturbed, or possibly even tapped into by the stereo installer. I would check that area very closely."

I'll have to check that at some point...

 

Usually, an electrical bug will make a vehicle die instantly, just like shutting off a light. A fuel starvation problem can make a vehicle shut off like a light switch, but more than likely, it will sputter and then die as the fuel pressure goes down on an EFI vehicle or the fuel bowls drain on a carbed vehicle.

Does it act like your running out of fuel or does it act like someone just turned off a light switch?

 

You say it only happens at less than 10 mph and runs fine at speeds above that.
That rules out fuel filter.

 

does the battery go dead after this happens? Can you start it back up right after this happens? Does the battery go dead? If so, then you may have a faulty alternator and youll be good until the battery dies and then you have no juice to create spark.

 

Light switch.

 

Yeah, I can start it back up right away.

 

With the aditional discription, I would concur that it is not the fuel filter.

When your engine is running, you could take some time and carefully wiggle the wring at various points, to see if there might be a connection that idle speeds/low speeds breaks the connection long enough to shut off the enigne. Other than that, you might have a electrical issure like that I have outlined above. Problem is gettkng it to act up witha test meter on it.

You may also have a problem with the dist modual, these have been know to fail in the manor that you are describing.

Good luck with this, keep us posted on what you find.

David

 

This may or may not help, but my '85 F-150 would die occasionally like that, for no apparent reason. Turns out on mine it was the ignition switch not holding proper contact. If I turned the key to start it and just let go of the switch, it would stay running for a while, then just shut off like I turned the key myself. Would start right back up.

I took the steering column apart, greased up the actuator rod (don't know the actual name of it) and all moving parts, and cleaned up all the electrical contacts. Never did it to me again.

One other symptom of the ignition switch I had, it was VERY hard to turn from the "on" position to the "start" position. Some times, when it was really cold, it was almost impossible to turn. I'd also have to manually twist it back from the start position, or it would just keep the starter engaged. Not fun.

 

re your leak
get some uv dye and pour it into crankcase. use a blacklight and you can pinpoint the source of the leak.

its most likely an oil leak, check your transmission fluid and make sure its not low, if you are losing trans fluid, that can easily cause your tranny to fail if it gets too low.

take the initiative you'll find that leak easily.

very likely RMS at our vehicles' advanced age...