Hello -

I have a '91 F-150 5.0 302 2x4 w/198,000 miles on it. I was driving down the road today and looked down and noticed my truck was dead. I was low on fuel, but didn't think I was that low. I had an 1/8 tank in the front and 1/8 tank in the rear. Tried gas, no start. It cranks, but does not start. Checked distributor, plug wires.. no spark. Checked the coil, but can't tell if I'm getting a good reading or not. Now I'm lost!

My neighbor has the same truck, only its a 300 6 cyl. Around the same miles, and his did the same thing. I diagnosed it down to the coil and told him it was the coil. we bought a coil and it didn't fix the problem. took it to a mechanic and he said it was a frayed <sp> wire before a (resistor, regulator, ...something) can't remember what it was before..

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

198,000! when's the last time the timing chain and gears were changed? It's very likely that the chain could have jumped. Try turning the distributor a little one way or the other and trying to start it.

 

I don't know about the timing chain and gears. I'm leaning towards the ignition module...

 

That's definately a possibility, weren't they still the big box on the inner fender? I always used to carry a spare one in most of my vehicles, came in handy on occasion. You can pick them up in a boneyard cheap, just have to match the plug to yours.

 

Ignition (control) module is on the distributor. I replaced that, and it ain't that....didn't know you could test them til I went back into the parts store, old ignition module tested out fine, grrrr. So... I bought a coil. That didn't fix it. I replaced the distributor cap and rotor, which didn't fix it. I bought a pick-up coil, put it on, but as I was taking the distributor out of the distributor to get to the pick-up coil I chipped the gear on the end of the distributor shaft. So, I have to wait until tomorrow to pick up the gear, then I will see if thats the problem. If that's not the problem it's time to start tracing wires.

Back to your timing chain and gear... I won't worry about that until I get spark! haha.

If I pull the coil wire off the distributor and stick a screw driver or something in there and ground it, I should get a spark, right???

 

You should have a good blue/white spark if you do that.


You sound as if you are having the same kind of luck I have had recently. Got everything fixed on my '92 to put it back on the road and I lost oil pressure, cleaned it out got pressure back, fresh oil, took it to get inspected, lost pressure again, cleaned it out again with kerosene, got oil pressure back, fresh oil again, now I have good oil pressure but I've got at least 2 rod bearings out. Hope you get it fixed soon.

 

Well, I narrowed it down to the pick-up coil, replaced it, fired it up and she ran great....for awhile. Then she started gruntin again like the timing was off. Pull the distributor cap, pulled the rotor, unscrewed that plate that has arms that makes electrical contact with the pick-up coil and pulled it off. The plate that has arms bolts on to another plate that is attached to the distributor shaft with splines.... The splines are stripped. I think I found my culprit.

Although no one sells that part, I have to buy a whole new distributor, but found one on e-bay that was listed for $3.99, asked the guy what he would sell it for with Buy it Now and he said $10.00, told him I'll take it and to ship it so I can get my truck back on the road.