whats going on everyone?? well here is my problem, i will be driving down the road at 30mph or so, or when i make a turn, or driving straight, the truck sputters and bucks, then dies....the rpm's surge up and down when this happens when it dies it won't start but will crank and you smell fuel...this was a rare thing and then it happened all yesterday and the night before. the only other symptoms i could give you are sometimes if i'm lucky i will crank it and floor it and it will start, but that was rare... i got it running by pop starting it also...it started with the back tank and now it has happened on both....idk whats going on here but it started happening after i cut my exhaust and dumped it after the glassspack, the only other things i can think of is that it starts right up after i'm beat from pushing it off the road, and doesn't cut out on the highway..i put some gas treatment in the back tank, but didn't drive too far yet???i hope someone can help me out...all responses appreciated...thanks everyone

 

87....is that still carbed? Also is there white smoke out the exhaust when this happens?

It sounds like a sticking float that floods the engine out.

 

no its efi, i don't see any smoke but it is also dumped???.. i will say when i get it running it stinks.

 

Did you mess with the O2 sensor?

 

it sounds to me like a lose battery or coil connection.

 

ok no smoke at start-up, the only thing i did with the 02 sensor was give it a zip tie to hold it up. when it wants to die and i floor it with the rpm's surging and it starts pinging(a popping noise).. i added prestone fuel treatment and it hasn't done it ....yet thanks for everyone's help

 

the pinging is probley it spark knocking. does your truck have the solinoid on teh started or fender aprens? check all your wires, sometimes when on the starter, your exhaust manifold will burn through the wires. this happend to me and a friend on a long trip to pick up a mustang in missouri. it was acting the same way you described.

good luck to ya

 

cool, i'll start checking and get back to ya's.....thanks for the help fordman5

 

If that doesn't fix it, try disconnecting and plugging the vacuum line to the EGR valve, and see if that makes any difference. If not, check your fuel pressure, and see how fast it bleeds down after you shut the key off. Sounds a lot like bad injectors.

 

the wires seem to be okay...i'll double check tomorrow but then i'll start with injectors, thanks for everybody's help

 

next time it cuts out, and wont start. pull the coil wire, and see if you are geting spark. that will rull out if its the spark or not rigth there. its eithere fuel or spark, keep at it, and you will find the problem

 

jsut a thought...

I had a car that did this and couldn't figure it out to save my life.

Once it did it at night,,, VERY DARK location when it died.

I was lucky, With my wife inside trying to start it, and me under the hood.
I noticed a wire sparking, it wouldn't do it all the time, just when it wanted to it seemed.

YA may wanna open the hood at night and look for spark jumping.


Hope it helps

 

ok well i'm back with some more problems, i'm leaving school and i get in, i try to start it, and the starter just cranks and cranks then i floor it and hold it and it will eventually go...is this a fuel problem??? one more thing keeps happening frequently and thats in the morning when its sat overnight, i start it (when it likes to) then get in, and i'm almost out of my driveway and the motor is clanking, like a tap/ or almost knock that i hear with the windows up, i shut it off and start it again and then it runs clean... anyone ever had these problems????

 

Did you check your fuel pressure, and see how fast it bleeds down after turning the key off? What were the results?

 

no i haven't checked fuel pressure, i'll see if i can get to it tomorrow and post my results..thanks for the help pkrwud