ryan96

So after replacing the d.cap, spark plugs and spark wires... the truck wont fire, it cranks and once I got one cylinder to fire quickly but now it just cranks. Im running out of ideas and nothing is working. Then to top it all off I was trying to jump it, clean terminals the ground Broke where the negative battery cable attached to. Not the best way to experience my first ford... since I ran out of time today, im gonna try and replacing the negative cable (its strangely lose and trying I think it may have a bad connection) and replacing the ground that I broke. Any ideas from here? I didnt have the time to adjust the tps but I wouldn't be surprised to figure out if that has something to do with all this

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

Don't blame Ford for a crappy battery connection 20 years later. Just kidding, they should have made them to last forever.
You may find that a bad ground can cause all kinds of little issues. Power connections can all be perfect but if a ground connection is bad, all the power connections may as well be unplugged for all the good they'll do.
It's a good idea to go over all your ground connections and clean them all up shiny, like new - that eliminates the need for you to climb all over your truck looking for mysterious problems that really come down to a rusty connection.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

As for adjusting the TPS, (which can do all kinds of wierd things if it's not adjusted right), I found that leaving the throttle body off and upside down will allow you to dial the tps in exactly before you install the throttle body back on.
I used a jumper cable to ground the T/B while I did it, but I don't think that was necessary, I just did it anyway.
Tighten the screws enough to hold it firmly but still allow it to turn - watch the multimeter readout and just turn it a little one way or the other till you get a readout of .9 to about .95. Tighten the screws and check the reading again.
As (I think it was) fltdriver said, if you cant get it to the proper range, you may have to elongate the holes in the tps slightly.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

As for not starting, check for spark. If you have spark, get a fuel pressure gauge and check that.

AbbadonTD

Also, Check your timing on the engine, not a sticker. My sticker on the front end is wrong, but the casting one the engine is right. I put all my wires on wrong at first when I replaced because of this.

ryan96

Alright guys and girls I've come to the point where Im just gonna buy a new truck, the one I have isnt worth all the time and money putting into it, although I would never switch to a chevy or dodge. Im gonna get a 9th gen in a little better condition and swap over my 33s, throttle body spacer, hookers, etc and make a Frankenstein f150. Im going to start a build thread once I get the new truck. I would like to thank all of you for the advice! I would rather of learned and failed than to learn nothing at all. Again thank you!

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

Sometimes they're beyond being worthwhile, sometimes they require a lot of time and patience. The good thing is that if you get a similar truck, you can salvage most of the new parts that you put into the old one, so all is not lost.
Hopefully you can salvage most of your money back. Chalk your time spent up to experience and you'll come out ahead.