Spark/Fuel - Won't Fire

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Nov 30, 2008 | 04:55 PM

Idaho Spud

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From: Malad, Idaho

Spark/Fuel - Won't Fire

K.....truck (1990 F-150, 302) won't fire....it will sputter a little when turning it over, acting like it might start, but doesn't.
I am getting fuel to the line above the heads/injectors, and also getting spark (ask my brother, he can still feel the bite).
He thinks it's either some type of computer chip problem or something in my throttle body.....I'm not a mechanic, so I don't totally understand). I am going to hook it up to a code reader this week and see what it says, but until then, how do you spray fuel (gas, starting fluid) directly into the throttle body to see if it's just lacking fuel? I did spray some starting fluid into the air hose that connects to the air filter housing and it still did not fire.....

K, not sure this makes any sense, but if it does to someone, and they have a suggestion, I would appreciate it!!

Nov 30, 2008 | 05:07 PM

xltlariat87

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From: southwestern,pa

as a guess, i would say check the ignition module on the side of the distributor.

Dec 1, 2008 | 11:31 AM

Opossum

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From: Renton, WA

If it won't fire with starting fluid and you saying it sounds like it's trying to fire I would take a real good look at the timing. What your describing sounds to me like the timing is way to late. What did you do before it quit running?

Dec 1, 2008 | 12:12 PM

Idaho Spud

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From: Malad, Idaho

It has been running very rough for a while, and I thought maybe my injectors were plugging, so I starting adding cleaner to my fill up and it seemed to be helping a little (still rough, but not quite as bad). Then the other day, I started it (chilly morning), warmed it up far a couple of minutes and just drove down around the corner, only going about 15 mph or so and it sputter and died!! Hasn't started since!! It has died on several occasions leading up to this, but it would always fire back up (sometimes it had to sit a minute or two before it would fire up though)

I can put a timimg light on it and check it out though.....thanx!

Dec 1, 2008 | 12:43 PM

60F100

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From: Cantonment, Fl

You say you getting fuel to the line above the heads. How are you checking this. The pressure should be around 40 psi. Pull a plug or two and see if the tip is wet. If it is wet see if you can tell if it is gas or maybe water. It is possible that you have water in the fuel tank. If it is dry you might not have enough fuel pressure or the injectors might not be firing. A bad ignition module can cause hard staring problems,but you say it has good spark If you check the timing and it is off but you have not moved the distributor it is possible that your timing chain is bad.

Dec 1, 2008 | 02:29 PM

Idaho Spud

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From: Malad, Idaho

to check if I was getting fuel above the injectors, I just took the little cap off of thatcheck valve and push down on the little valve while someone turn the engine over...gas squirted out pretty good!

I will check timing, fuel pressure, timing belt and pull a couple of plugs and see if it looks like fuel is getting into the cylinders...all good ideas!

One question, where/how is the best way to check the fuel pressure?