subguy

Looking at an 89 F-150 5.0, problem being won't stay running. Starts up, engine sounds good, then starts idling rough with excessive fuel smell. Push on gas engine hunts up and down with the fuel smell and if you let off gas engine stalls. Also black smoke at tail pipe. I think it is a fuel regulator problem. Does anybody have any sugestions?

Thanks

subguy

Moose08

Maybe missing as well?? possiable Ignition problems? distributor and wires plugs etc.

subguy

engine sounds and runs smooth, just hunting up and down like its getting irregular fuel pressure or flow. When I stated idleing rough, I ment hunting up and down, not missing like droping a cylinder. The hunting is small but enough to keep it from running by itself. That coupled with the smell of fuel, I figured it was having a fuel regulation problem. Owner says he drove it to the store and when he came out to go home that it just started doing this. Had it towed home and now trying to sell it.

Moose08

who knows maybe something simple as a fuel filter pluged. or dieing fuel pump.

Good old Bill

Any codes, check engine light activity?

JethroTull

is it injection? or carb cause if its carb its just the air mix screws messed up normally fine tunnin will fix that on a carb

but injection the injectors might have gotten old and worn check them out i would say

aliens8mycow

If the idle is doing crazy stuff, it's probably the idle air control valve. You might pull it and try cleaning it out with throttle body cleaner.

Before you pull it, just unplug it and see if the idle still hunts around - if the idle is low and smooth with the IAC unplugged, the IAC is bad or stuck.

subguy

Thanks for all the inputs. I will give them a try. It is fuel injected, it started up and idled fine the other night but when tried to drive it down the street it started acting up until parked and died.