We are at the midway point of a 3800 mile trip from AZ to WI. On the trip east the truck (1987 5.0 4 WD) ran fine but developed a strange problem, it would start like a champ first thing in the morning but after running for several hundred miles it would be harder and harder to start after each shut down. The battery would barely turn it over fast enough to start. If the vehicle was shut down for any extended period it would fire up nice and strong. My first thought was the PO might have mis-wired the replacement stereo but after running for several hundred miles without any accessories on we had the same problem. Any thoughts. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ignition control module is a common problem, and it sounds like it.

 

it is caused by the starter getting hot.

 

Thanks for the replies. How/why would the starter be getting hot? If it is the ignition control module going bad is it something that would leave me on the highway or could I nurse it home without damaging anything more?

 

I would have to agree with 91351 on this. And everything is all connected together, Everything is made from metal so you have heat transfer from one part to the next.

 

Starter getting hot is one possibility.

Another could be a bad connection in the ignition system. Many years ago, my father had a 1977 Ford LTD station wagon with a 400ci v8 that developed the same problem. He was able to fix it by installing a larger negative battery cable. After that, she started right up every time.