I have a 1987 F150 XLT Lariat that I just recently bought. I drove the truck to the store one night and when I came back out, it won't start. I jiggled some wires and disconnected the battery and then it started after reconnecting the battery. The next morning it started up just fine so I drove it to work, got off and went to crank it and it would only turn over. Everyone said it was the ignition module so I bought a new module and rotor button. When I reinstalled the distributor I put the rotor back to the point where I thought it was pointing before. Now the problem is the distributor is all the way turned against the water neck and still needs to be turned some more, it runs like its too retarded and rough, so I will pull it and move the rotor, think I might have been off by a few teeth, but the problem is after I finally get it started it will run just fine until I turn it off. It might crank back up 1 out of 1000 shot, or it will just rotate. I'm completely stumped on this one. Any help is appreciated.

 

did you do a fuel pressure test yet? I'd rule that out first. Easy cheap..

 

Yes I checked the pressure and it has around 47-50psi, I also used my spark tester and found I am getting spark.

 

Did you check both fuel pressure and spark at a time when it wouldn't start? I think it's an ignition(spark) problem. Either the coil or the PIP in the distributor.

 

Yes I got both at the time it won't crank. This morning I walked out and it fired right up this morning after it set overnight.

 

If you got both good fuel pressure and good spark when it won't start, the next thing would be to get a noid light and check to see if the fuel injectors are firing off to inject the gas into the cylinders. Of course this would also have to be done when it is in a no start condition.

 

i don't think they used EFI or even TBI back in 87... don't know. lizard now i'm know carb exbert but if its carbed in 87 it would most likely have an electric choke it's possible it could be stuck. could be a problem in cold weather.

 

I'm pretty sure carbs were gone in 86 in the f-150
I had a 86 f-250 that had a carb and I'm pretty sure that was the last carb F-250 5.8 Thats what I remember about that truck being told it was the last carb year.

 

i'm merely positing a plausible explanation. a stuck choke would perfectly explain his symptoms. happens all to often with the snow blower.

 

Most engines had the fuel injection by 1987. Lizard said he removed the distributor to replace the ignition module(which you don't have to do by the way with the proper tool) so I'm sure he has fuel injection.

 

Now the problem is that it will now crank up and run just fine, after you turn it off you have to let it wait for a about and hour and a half before it will crank again. I will hold the throttle slightly open and it will fire right up after sitting. I'm still pretty stumped. Maybe fuel pressure reg., someone also said check the engine temp sensor?

 

Won't crank or won't fire?

Crank = starter will turn the engine over
Fire = Make sounds like it's going to start, or actually starts

 

If you shut the truck off warm and immediately try to start it back up, will it start? If it will start then, that would indicate you have gas leaking down, probably from leaking injectors or a bad fuel pressure regulator.

 

It could also be out of timing. One of my friends had an 89 with a 302 and when the engine was cold it'd start no problem but after it was ran for a while and you tried to start it nothing happend. You had to wait about 10-15 mins before it'd start or else coast start it. Adjusted the timing and it was like new again.

 

It wont fire after it is shut off. If you hold the throttle wide open occasionally it will fire back up, but mostly not. The timing is set at 10 degrees BTDC, if you let it set it must be about 1 1/2 hour then it will fire up on the first try. The engine runs and drives smooth while it is running.