I have a 1985 Ford F150 with a 302 fuel injected motor. It only has (Correction 59K miles) 60,000 miles on the motor and the interior is almost mint. My problem is that it keeps stalling and I can't take it anywhere at all. I thought it was a fuel issue so I dropped the tank replaced the sending unit I also replaced the inline fuel pump that's on the frame under the driver side of the cab. A buddy of mine who builds derby cars for the fair told me that I needed to replace the ignition control module on the distributor well I bought the ignition control module and then turned around and bought a brand new distributor too and that came with an ICM also. I installed the new distributor and it ran then stalled. I tried to start it back up but all it would do is click, mind you for some reason the starter remained engaged so I had to end up just disconnecting it for a minute. I ended up replacing the starter solenoid and the starter. I drove for about 10 minutes and then it stalled on me while I pulled into my apartment parking lot. I decided to take the new distributor out and put the old distributor back in with the new ICM and also replaced the spark plug wires too. The starter fixed itself and disengages now but I'm still stalling out. What could be the problem? Like when I go to give is gas it hesitates so I back off the throttle but once the motor gets hot then it just wants to die. I'm at a loss right now and do not know what to do. Any suggestions?

 

STOP replacing parts. Unless someone who understands how that truck runs diagnoses it and finds a specific problem, their guesses are no better than yours. And guesses are mostly worthless.

Also; new parts are not the same as GOOD parts. You'll never be able to buy better parts than the ones Ford put on at the factory, so keep as many as you can. If you have any of the originals, I recommend you put them back on, since you've already proven that none of them was the problem to begin with.

Machines don't fix themselves - it's called an "intermittent fault". And the most-common one on any vehicle (but especially antique pickups) is at the battery terminals. Click this & read all the captions (a few times):

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The stalling could be anything from a bad input putting the EEC into HLOS, to a fuel system problem. To pinpoint it, you MUST do some actual diagnosis. Do you have a digital multimeter, a fuel pressure gauge, & a mechanic's stethoscope? Do you know how to use them? Some parts stores will loan specialty tools like the pressure gauge, so call around before buying one. Read the links in these captions:

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https://www.f150forum.com/profile.php?do=editsignature

 

Thank you for the advice. I've never used a mechanic's stethoscope before. I don't know how to diagnos whats wrong with it but I am able to do the work. I have both Chilton's and Haynes manuals on the truck plus a couple shade tree mechanic friends. I will go through all of the links that you sent. This truck has a lot of sentimental value to me since my fiance bought it as a birthday gift last year and she just passed last Friday. I just want to get it running the right way so I have a reliable vehicle. After I get it mechanically sound then I'll work on the cosmetics on the exterior. I'm most likely going to just drop it off at the shop in the morning and pay my real mechanic to fix it but that means that I'm with out wheels until they get to it next week.

 

Sentiment is NOT a good reason to put this much effort & money into such an old, low-intrinsic-value vehicle. It's CERTAINLY not worth paying someone else to fix or maintain it for you. And at this age, the truck will never be as reliable as a newer vehicle, which would also be more cost-efficient per mile. I recommend you sell it ASAP and move on. It's just a thing - it's not her, and I doubt she would have wanted you to waste your time & money on it.

 

I can't get rid of it. I just can't do it. one day this truck will be in good running condition. I always give up on things and get rid of stuff because they either stop working or I get tired of it. This truck is something that I will tough out until the end. I'm putting it in the shop tomorrow night and it should be fixed by next week.

 

Does it immediately restart when the engine stalls? I would start by checking fuel pressure. Your truck should have 28-38 psi at idle. Hopefully you have a shrader valve on the fuel rail to connect to. You can hang the gauge and situate it so you can observe the pressure as you drive and see how the pressure responds when the engine stalls. Did you replace the fuel filter?? How are the plugs burning??

 

Wow that's a little excessive! He's talking about a stalling issue not a vehicle that was t-boned. If I was in his situation, I would fix and keep also.
Does it stall when it gets hot? After you've driven it for a few miles or does it stall right away?
It could be the throttle body injectors?
Did it run fine before and this is just a current problem?

 

Originally when she bought the truck for me last August it only needed tires because they were weathered. It only had 51K miles. We ended up having to put in a new master cylinder. So in the beginning there was always something that would make it hesitate when you went to pass a car or get on the interstate, felt like it was starving for gas, I figured it was a fuel issue hence the reason for installing a new sending unit in the tank and new fuel pump. After doing so the problem was still there. the problem has always been there since we got Darla, that's what Lexi named her, but has just gotten worse over time. Now when it stalls, it stays down until it cools, yes I have noticed the Temp gauge higher than usual. But still no check engine light. I know that after me taking out the distributer and putting in the new one then taking that out and putting the old one back in with a new Ignition Control Module I've messed the timing up. As far as tools go, I have a Power Torque 200 Piece mechanics set, and miscellaneous other basic tools, but no stethoscope, or fuel pressure gauge. I'm unsure of how the plugs are because I was running out of daylight and I was in my apartment parking lot. I did purchase some NGK spark plugs but haven't put them in yet. Yesterday I tried to go to my apartment and only made it halfway before it stalled and died. It sounds like a ****ty Ford now that is out of time. If you press the throttle when its acting up then it simply shudders and gasps as it tries anything to pick up speed when it can't. I ended up having to call a tow back to my house. Today I had to move it from the front of the house to the garage around back so I could take all of my tools and crap out of it for when I drop it off at the shop later tonight. I will update as I hear back from them as to what the estimate will be.

 

So if the love of your life just up and died on you and gave you a nice watch, when it breaks you're just going to throw it away? F*** no you won't. You're going to cherish that watch and do whatever you can to maintain its functionality. I don't care what any one says, this truck is more than just a THING, I know it's not HER. I guess you're just not a true car guy if you can't adapt a bond to a vehicle that you've always wanted since you were a kid.

 

How much and where can I get my hands on a decent gauge for the fuel pressure?