So, my truck (88 F150 4x4 302) has had an issue once or twice since I bought it that has become more serious.

It will be running fine, but all the sudden, the engine shuts off no matter what speed you're moving at. When I got the truck pulled over, back in park, turn it off at the key (the engine was already off), it will turn over and try to start, but nothing. Wait a bit and it will start up fine.

So today, I was driving to the bank (while pressing the accelerator) and it sort of coughed like it had no fuel, made a noise that I can only describe as something between a pop and a backfire, and then kept going. So, that told me that something was up (obviously). I parked, turned off, into the bank, deposited my money, came out, truck started fine. But, I noticed that the accelerator seems "softer" than before. Not the pedal itself, but the fact that I had to push harder to get it to give some power.

So, I go get my son, we drive to Goodwill to scour the records and it stalls while moving at about 40ish. Same thing...I was not really giving it a ton of throttle, so it just sort of stopped. I pull over, try to start...same thing. Seems to be turning over, but not starting. So, I get out of the truck, pop the hood, check that battery cable, the connection to the solenoid, etc. All seems kopasetic. Hop back in, turn over, nothing. Do that a few times then just wait. In a few minutes, it fires up fine. We drive to Goodwill, get a few Bonnie Raitt records that someone foolishly donated, truck starts fine when we go to leave. Sitting at a redlight it's fine. When I accelerate to turn onto the main road and head home, it seems to get no fuel, does the popping/backfire thing and we move on down the road. So, I decide it's time to hustle home, because I don't feel like being stuck on the side of the road with a 5 year old.

On the way home, it does the fuel thing again but we keep moving. In my neighborhood, as I pull around my cul-de-sac to park, I'm not really accelerating and it just dies.

Again, it does not stall out or sort of cough and sputter out...if no acceleration is happening, the engine just turns off, but the electronics are all on and fine.

Over the past while I've done the following:
New air filter (month ago)
New cap, rotor, plugs (a month ago)
New inline fuel filter (week and a half ago)
New thermostat (yesterday)
Seafoam (Once at the plugs and again with the new fuel filter)

I did not replace the wires when I did the tune up stuff becausee they didnt really look that old. I had the truck on at night about 2 weeks ago, sprayed water all over everything and didnt see anything arc or anything.

So, I'm at a loss. I just got off the phone with my friend who used to be a mechanic, and he doesnt have time to work on other people's vehicles any more even for $. So...I'm at a loss. Help me F150forum.com...I've got your sticker on my rear window and I don't know what to do. I can replace stuff with some simple instructions and pictures, and I do not like the idea of paying some mechanic out the nose to do something that I am capable of doing myself....HAAAALPPPP PLEEEEZE!!!!

 

Check both fuel pumps the one on the rail and the in tank one. Check the fuel regulator. When it does it again have someone turn on the while you have the gas cap off and listen for the pump to come on.

You may also have a plugged cat but I am not sure that it would not do this all the time for that or not.

 

"on the rail" is the inline fuel filter, no? But, basically, you're saying the fuel pump might have died?

 

I would not think a fuel pump would work intermittent. Either it works fine or its going or gone bad. This is just a guess since I have not had a fuel pump problem before.

I would start with checking the fuel pressure just to make sure the regulator and pumps are working.

If the fuel pressure is OK, then I would look at the stator (PIP) in the distributor. You do have all the symptoms of a bad PIP.

 

Would the ignition module cause this? It seems to die when it warm. After it cools it restarts. I know they used to put them on the side of the distributer and they would get really warm. Been so long since I got rid of my 88 can't remember if it was there or on the fender.

 

You say you have an inline fuel filter on your rail? You need a Haynes manual!


Sounds more like PIP sensor (Stator) &/or TFI module (ICM).
The Pip can show in en error code scan. The TFI won't, but can be taken in to be bench tested. However it may pass anyway if it hasn't failed completely, but it's worth having checked.

On your year engine, they are usually replaced at the same time, as the service life of both components is close to identical. Both become temperature sensitive, coming back to life after they cool down as they near catastrophic failure.

Side bar:
You guy's are gettin good!

 

Oh, you mean fuel rail I guess. I thought he meant the frame where the filter is. Never mind. Pip sensor or tfi module. Are those unplug and plug new ones in type of parts?

 

I had the same problem if u turn it on and off a bunch with out cranking the engine u can get it to run a while put a fuel filter in it on the frame big chance that's it cheap try I had that then later on did it again come to find out I had two rusted gas tanks come to find out truck set a long time and the rusted Wich clogged the pump and lines Thank GOD for filters I put two used tanks and pumps and a mother filter and I'm good now most of the time that's it same thing happened on a friend and it's the filter

 

I just put a new filter in...

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jljde

Oh, you mean fuel rail I guess. I thought he meant the frame where the filter is. Never mind. Pip sensor or tfi module. Are those unplug and plug new ones in type of parts?

see link: http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=25