Stalls when put into Drive or Reverse
 

Hey y'all,

I purchased a 1990 F250 with the 460 ci engine 3 weeks ago. Had no problems until this past weekend when we went on a camping trip. Everytime I'm in Park and shift into Reverse or Drive, the engine shuts off. I have to rev the engine a bit to keep the car from stalling when I put her into Rverse or Drive. She drives like a champ once in gear. It just stalls out if I try and put her in Reverse or Drive. What could be causing this? Any help would be apreciated! :-X22

Does it idle fine in Park?

I think you are in the wrong forum, what you describe is a GM car :)

A LONG time ago I had a similar issue after I had tranny work done by Ford. I found they only filled up the transmission with about 1/2 the fluid that was needed...my truck would stall when I shifted into reverse.

The truck idles perfectly in Park. It drives perfectly while driving.

If you come to a stop when driving keeping it in gear with the brakes on does it stall as well?

I had an issue with my tranny filter falling out of place causing stalling

When driving, if I come to a stop with the breaks applied, the truck doesn't stall at all. It drives perfectly when in drive, it runs perfectly at a stop with the breaks applied and runs perfectly in park. The only issue is it totally stalls out when in park and I shift it to Reverse or Drive. I have to apply to gas when going from Park to Reverse to make it not stall. Have no idea whats going on here.:-huh

I'm wondering if this has something to do with your torque converter being locked up - that can cause this behavior. But it would still die as you slowed to a stop, so maybe not. Worth looking into just to eliminate it as a possibility.

What type of transmission your truck have?

Does the truck lurch-jump forward or reverse when you shift in either gear before it stalls? If it does that, then it may be the T-converter locking up.

Another thing is try cleaning the Idle air bypass system. A sticking IAC can cause exact problems you describe.

I have the E4OD Transmission. The truck engine would rev up a bit when I would put it into Reverse, but the truck didn't lurch-jump when put into gear. Hmm.

I think I'm going to check the transmission fluid level and attempt to clean the IAC before I drive into the Torque Converter possibility. Crossing fingers...

I had the same thing happen last year except my speedo started bouncing at about 35+. Turned out to be a bad PSOM (Speedo Gauge). Replaced speedo and now it's all good. Junkyard model had more miles on odo but don't care.

Get a JY Cluster for giggles. Cheaper than tranny work.

Why would you throw parts at it without having the slightest idea what's wrong?

See what the computer has to say about things:

Fuel Injection Technical Library » How To Run a Self-Test

+1 I didnt think to ask if the light was on. Even if it inst there still may be codes. Also does the O/D off light on the end of the shifter arm flash?

I didn't see it was a 90 till now. Different speedometer too, sorry.

I'm going to clean the throttle body and remove the IAC and clean it in and out. People I talk to say the IAC should have nothing to do with my problem being that the truck drives fine once in Drive and Reverse (no stalling or puttering). They also say the Torque Converter should have no relation to what my problem is because once in Drive, Reverse or stopped at a light, the truck runs fine.

I have no tool to check codes. If I clean the throtle body and IAC and the problem still occurs, I guess I'll have to take it to my local shop to see what they have to say. Really don't want to shell out more $ on this truck being I just purchased it. A guy at my work says it might have something to do with the shifter on the steering colum. Scratching my head on this one?...:-huh