'87 F150 Won't Start
11-23-2012, 12:14 PM
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'87 F150 Won't Start
Hi everyone,
I have a 1987 F-150 with the FI six that decided it didn't want to start today. The symptoms are that it feels like it's out of gas. Trying to start, but doesn't quite get there. I checked the fuel pump and filter by pressing the fuel line release valve before the injectors and I get a good shot of fuel coming out of there. I replaced the rotor and cap because they looked a little gnarly but that didn't change anything.
This came on relatively rapidly. Initially an obvious stumble while driving, then fluctuations in idle speed to outright stall at stop. I managed to get home, but in the morning the engine wouldn't start.
This is an old and fairly neglected truck but has been a very, very good companion for the last 8+ years and I'm hoping to breath some new life.
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
I have a 1987 F-150 with the FI six that decided it didn't want to start today. The symptoms are that it feels like it's out of gas. Trying to start, but doesn't quite get there. I checked the fuel pump and filter by pressing the fuel line release valve before the injectors and I get a good shot of fuel coming out of there. I replaced the rotor and cap because they looked a little gnarly but that didn't change anything.
This came on relatively rapidly. Initially an obvious stumble while driving, then fluctuations in idle speed to outright stall at stop. I managed to get home, but in the morning the engine wouldn't start.
This is an old and fairly neglected truck but has been a very, very good companion for the last 8+ years and I'm hoping to breath some new life.
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
11-24-2012, 12:29 AM
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Thanks, Sean. Working on getting a gauge and will report back. It really seems like a fuel problem, like when the tank runs out. Hopefully it is a pump or filter issue, because past that it seems like it will get complicated very fast!
11-24-2012, 02:57 PM
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Hopefully it has gas in it. Like Sean said borrow a guage and check pressure. There are a couple of different pressure readings your looking for. I don't have my book in front if me but a search here should yield results. There and engine run pressure somewhere in the 40 to 55 range. Correct me if im wrong guys, im from memory here. Then there is a hold pressure with engine off.
12-05-2012, 03:27 PM
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Ok, checked the fuel pressure, and gas in the tank, and it's all good. Ended up taking the truck to the local garage because FI and electrical checking is beyond my toolset. They initially suspected a slipped timing chain but ruled that out and said that it appears to be an electrical problem - probably computer and/or sensor.
Had it towed to the auto electrical specialist and so far they replaced the Oxygen sensor since it was showing poor voltage. The sensor naturally works now, and they checked electrical to injectors, etc. They now suspect there are issues with the computer, which I think is an ECM on the Ford truck.
They want to take the computer out and check it pin by pin to see if it's working properly. The suspicion is now focused on the computer. The cost for diagnostics at this point will be around $250.
Does this track of thinking sound correct? Any ideas on cost of a replacement ECM for my truck with manual transmission? I'm hoping not to sync anything more than $500 overall.
Had it towed to the auto electrical specialist and so far they replaced the Oxygen sensor since it was showing poor voltage. The sensor naturally works now, and they checked electrical to injectors, etc. They now suspect there are issues with the computer, which I think is an ECM on the Ford truck.
They want to take the computer out and check it pin by pin to see if it's working properly. The suspicion is now focused on the computer. The cost for diagnostics at this point will be around $250.
Does this track of thinking sound correct? Any ideas on cost of a replacement ECM for my truck with manual transmission? I'm hoping not to sync anything more than $500 overall.
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12-06-2012, 12:59 AM
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I asked the shop about codes and they said they didn't have the right equipment to check codes unfortunately and this was pre-OBD.
They pulled the ECM and confirmed it's shot and I headed to O'Reilley's Auto to get a replacement. The ECM I have is E7TF-12A650-L2C. According to the store I'll end up a Cardone brand ECM for about a $100. There are apparently about 10 different ECMs for the 300 FI engine and we had to narrow it down to a "Federal Emissions" only model with manual transmission. There doesn't appear to be an exact match for the ECM model noted above and it looks like we're targeting a E7TF-LC. The store guy explained that the "7" represents the model year ('87) and that the "12A650" is always or often used for all ECM models and that the "2" in L2C is often dropped, hence the E7TF-LC model.
Sound right?
They pulled the ECM and confirmed it's shot and I headed to O'Reilley's Auto to get a replacement. The ECM I have is E7TF-12A650-L2C. According to the store I'll end up a Cardone brand ECM for about a $100. There are apparently about 10 different ECMs for the 300 FI engine and we had to narrow it down to a "Federal Emissions" only model with manual transmission. There doesn't appear to be an exact match for the ECM model noted above and it looks like we're targeting a E7TF-LC. The store guy explained that the "7" represents the model year ('87) and that the "12A650" is always or often used for all ECM models and that the "2" in L2C is often dropped, hence the E7TF-LC model.
Sound right?