I haven't driven my truck for more than 2 weeks. All summer I have been having trouble.

Thought is was a fuel problem: new fuel filter, rebuilt carb, OK for a while but not it.

Then thought it was a timing problem. A buddy of mine timed it but it soon went south again. Then he tuned it up with new plugs, pints, rotor, condenser and distributor cap. Ran good but then bad, tried timing it again but ran bad again after a short while.

Thought it was a timing chain problem. Local garage estimated $250 to check it and fix it. Second opinion at another garage: old-timer (simply means he is older than me and knows more) said maybe the distributor gears are worn. He would check that before he would look at timing chain.

I was waiting until school started and regular paychecks started coming to take it to the garage. I was so bored today, that I started the truck and took it for a drive despite not running too well. The truck shut down on a back road, not far from home. A couple of guys stopped and helped me push it off the road. It wouldn't even start when I popped the clutch. It would not start so called the wife, she picks me up. Call my brother-in-law, he couldn't come, but he calls another guy from our church and he comes to my house and then we go to the truck to tow it home. On the way I see 2 cops sitting in a parking lot. My friend tells me it is illegal to tow a vehicle now days with out a tow bar.

Thought I would try to start it before we hook up the tow strap. He popped the hood while I cranked it. I heard a noise and he yelled. The truck started. I got out he said look at this! The heater hose which had laid on top of the coil wire had rubbed a hole in the insulation. It ran better when when I lifted the heater hose. I made it home, backed it in the garage, and shut it off, got out the black electrical tape and it started right up; took it for a spin and it ran pretty good, still not as good as can be though.

I didn't not get new sparkplug wires when we tuned it up, should have I guess. I adjusted the heater hose so it doesn't touch the coil wire. I will buy new spark plug wires.

This makes sense as the truck shut off as I went around a sharp corner pretty fast which would have perhaps shifted the hose on the wire...

Comments, Suggestions, Advise????

 

Well it sounds like you definitely need new plug wires, or at least a coil wire.... replacing them may well fix the problems, especially if they are old..... which means cracks, higher resistance, less spark voltage etc etc. so replacing them will not be wasted effort/money at least

 

abe, glad to hear you found the problem! as for advise??? plug and coil wires are PART of a tune-up! live and learn

 

Replace the wires, and then re-tune. Use a vacuum gauge to set the timing not a timing light. Might be time for a new coil if the tune up and wires don't do the job.