engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
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New User
Joined: Aug 2001
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engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
Ok, so I'm driving my truck down the road today. Crusing at 65mph. It starts to lose power a little. then it just kills off, then comes right back to life like normal again. its ok for about 2-3 more minutes then it just kills off all together. the oil pressure and all dash guages read normal but my tach drops to zero. I coast to a stop, I try to turn it over and it just keeps back firing. I open my hood and smoke goes everywhere, and my cat is glowing redish/orange. I think ok my cat is clogged. I tow iut home and disconnect pipes from manifold. still wont start. I'm not getting any spark to my plugs. I'm looking for my ignition box but just cant find it any where. where would you think it is? i've already dissceted the front passenger fender well. I've got good gas in both tanks. What do you suggest?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Conyers
engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
Sounds like you sheared your distributor gear drive pin. Happened to me once, tooke me replacing the module, rotor and cap, wires, and then I just got mad and took out the distibutor. The drive gear was on just enough to turn the rotor and thus I saw nothing wrong with it until I pulled it. Check it, worth a try.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2001
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engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
How do I get the distributor out? will the pin fall down into the internals and cause major problems? should i try the rotor and cap? they look worn and i bought the truck with 107k and it now has 134k on it. The only thing i've replaced was the plugs wirs and added a K&N.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
Pull the codes.
http://www.broncodata.com/tech/codes.htm
If the dist gear is off, you'll be able to turn the rotor by hand.
If you're not getting a spark, consider the coil. Mine went bad sorta that way and I ALMOST bought a $190 reman dist before I realized it was a $25 coil.
The cat may have been glowing from the engine running rich off a weak spark from a dying coil, but that's pure conjecture.
The dist is held in the block by a U-shaped clip held tight by 1 bolt (probably 9/19" head) at the base of the dist. When you pull it, do it VERY slowly and watch the rotor rotate as you pull up. When it stops, DON'T MOVE IT!!!! Have a marker handy & make a VERY clear mark on the dist body that you can line the rotor up with when you restab it into the block. If you do, it'll go back in on the same tooth of the gear that it's supposed to be on. If you get it off by even one tooth, the engine either won't run, or will run weak.
http://www.broncodata.com/tech/codes.htm
If the dist gear is off, you'll be able to turn the rotor by hand.
If you're not getting a spark, consider the coil. Mine went bad sorta that way and I ALMOST bought a $190 reman dist before I realized it was a $25 coil.
The cat may have been glowing from the engine running rich off a weak spark from a dying coil, but that's pure conjecture.
The dist is held in the block by a U-shaped clip held tight by 1 bolt (probably 9/19" head) at the base of the dist. When you pull it, do it VERY slowly and watch the rotor rotate as you pull up. When it stops, DON'T MOVE IT!!!! Have a marker handy & make a VERY clear mark on the dist body that you can line the rotor up with when you restab it into the block. If you do, it'll go back in on the same tooth of the gear that it's supposed to be on. If you get it off by even one tooth, the engine either won't run, or will run weak.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
Sounds to me like you sheared a timing gear off. How does it sound cranking with the plugs in? Is it nice and smooth, or uneven? I say this because it happened to the engine in my truck. The cam gear is fiber from the factory, and some seem to be affected by some popular synthetic oils. As far as the gear falling down, it's not very likely. They fit kinda tight, but even if it does, it's got a pretty clear shot to the pan, and I'd leave it there.
Jared
Jared
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Colorado
engine trouble help needed asap!!!!
My distributor gear pin sheared about 3 years ago. When it sheared, the pin had enough 'edge' on it to catch the gear, but allowed it to turn on the shaft several degrees. Rotor still turned, but timing was off and it had the same symptoms you have.
When we were removing the distributor the gear did fall back and down into the pan. It is still in the bottom end. Rather than try to find another gear, I went ahead and replaced the distributor as it had a lot of wear and play in the shaft. I suggest checking your distributor shaft for excessive play while you have it out.
When we were removing the distributor the gear did fall back and down into the pan. It is still in the bottom end. Rather than try to find another gear, I went ahead and replaced the distributor as it had a lot of wear and play in the shaft. I suggest checking your distributor shaft for excessive play while you have it out.
