Have a 1989 F150 with 5.0 bought truck about a month ago from original owner with only 89K on it. Ran great til today, Problem died going down road, let it set for about 10 minutes and started back up and will only run couple of minutes driving and will die again. Took me about an hour to do a normal 15 minute drive, died and cooled about 5 times. Got home and after cooling idled for about 20 minutes (put in seafoam) without cutting off, took off driving made it a mile and died again, finally got home again. Truck has 5.0 with A/T. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

First thing I'd do is replace the fuel filter.

 

That truck has a TFI ignition system.When it goes bad, as the TFI or Ignition Module gets hot, it turns the engine off just like turning the key off. When it cools down it works again til it gets hot. The TFI is found on the dizzy.

 

I changed the TFI/ICM this morning and there is no change in the truck. It was cold when I put it on and after putting it on, started and drove for about 30 minutes thought was fixed and started cutting off again. It stopped 3 times after that on a 6 mile drive each time had to wait 10-15 minutes for it to start again. When it died out or finally started it is like sputtering like starving for fuel. Any additional help or suggestions would be appreciated, if can't figure out in next day or 2 going to send to garage. Thanks

 

^^^

 

try and replace the fuel pressure regulator. its like $40 i think. its located on top of the engine back towards the fire wall. i had a similar problem with my 91 f150 302v8 auto. and that fixed my problem, but yes start with the fuel filter, and some fuel system cleaner wouldnt hurt either

 

Changed the fuel filter and the external high pressure pump and still have the same problem any last suggestions before taking to a garage. Thanks

 

Stator/ PIP sensor. Located inside Distributor. Cheap part, but a bitch to replace, as it requires removal/ disassembly/ reassembly/ reinstall of Distributor. Most folks just replace the distributor.

Symptoms pretty much identical to TFI in end stage of life, including thermal sensitivity.

See Link: http://oldfuelinjection.com/?p=25

 

I don't know if you've solved this yet, but here's my two cents' worth. I had an intermittent problem like you are describing. This is on a 1987 F-150 with the I-6 4.9L. It showed up as a random cut-out like it was fuel starved every once in a blue moon, but nothing that I could diagnose. The other thing that happened periodically was a random turn-over-but-no-start when hot. Let it sit for a half hour, and it would start and run like nothing was wrong. I eventually traced the problem to a bad terminal in the fuel pump relay plug.

 

I had a similar problem back when I used to own an '88 F-150. The fuel filter was old and clogged, which eventually burnt up the fuel pumps. I eventually replaced both pumps (for both fuel tanks) and the relays for them...oh, and the filter.