My son's 1991 f150 won't start. I think he ran it out of gas. This is what I have done and replaced. Added 5 gals of gas Fuel pump is running and I changed his fuel filter and checked for fuel at the fuel rail all checks out. I have replaced the distributor cap, rotor button, Coil Pack, and Ignition Control Module. I also ran a jumper cable from neutral side of battery to engine block to check for a bad ground. I don't know what else to check. I haven't replaced the distributor yet would that be next step is there a way to check if that's it? What else should I check? Really want to get his truck running but we can't afford a mechanic at this time. Thank You for your help.

Larry

 

Hi Larry,
If you have any carb/choke cleaner (I don't like to use starting fluid because most people use too much and that can cause other problems). Just shoot a shot or two of the choke cleaner into the air intake and see if the engine will start. If it stays running fine, otherwise if it runs for a few seconds and quits there may be a fuel supply problem.
Also if it runs for a few seconds that would confirm there is spark available to the plugs.
If you try that and it doesn't start or even try to start there may be a no spark condition which we need to get into separately. How about you try those suggestions before going any further?

 

there is another way to check for spark if you can get a dummy plug you take the coil wire off of the dist. and put the dummy plug in it's place making sure that it's grounded properly have your son turn it over while you look at the plug and see if you're getting spark. just remember not to touch the dummy plug until the engine is not turning over and the key is out of the truck. those dummy plugs ain't expensive and they don't do any harm to the system. there should be a pickup coil in the dist. that could cause the same problem.

 

Thanks Guys, Hanky the starter fluid did the trick. I sprayed it twice and it started fine and stayed running. Now I have this problem when I put the Ignition control module on, I moved the distributor to remove it, I took a measurement off of the nearest support bracket to the electrical connector on the distributor after reinstalling a new ignition module I returned the distributor back to its original location by measuring of the bracket. The truck runs fine in low 1 and 2 but when we put it in drive it misses real bad. What could cause this.

Larry

 

This is no reflection on your ability, but now I need to do what we tell everybody else to do and that is recheck your work.
Is the distributor cap all the way on and in the right position?
Did you replace the cap by removing the wires one at a time or did you possibly place the wires in the incorrect tower of the cap? If so, you may need to go through a procedure to correct this.
Did you check the plugs for the correct gap? If it ran OK before then not necessary.
If it pulled any water from the tank when going so low could the filter have filled with any water that was in the line?
Last , but not least try the old coil and see if the problem is still there.

 

Hanky thanks for your help, My ability is simply I can usually do minor repairs and swap parts out. When I took the old distributor off I held up the new one up aligning it with the locking clips and guide points on the cap and I then just moved the wires from old to new as I went around and replaced cap. I only replaced one spark plug that my son dropped and broke and I gaped it at the auto store according to what he said was the proper gap. The distributor fit fine and secure but this weekend I will recheck everything again. I believe my son may have used some bad gas out of a gas can that was outside, it wasn't much but could that cause the problem and if so would adding more good gas help or should i do something else?

 

So you know where you stand, get another fuel filter. Then remove the one presently on the vehicle. Don't forget to pull the fuel pump fuse and run the engine until all the fuel pressure in the lines gets lowered so you don't get a fuel bath when disconnecting the lines from the filter. Once you get the filter off drain the filter out into a clean container opposite of the direction the fuel went in. If you see anything other than clean fuel and possibly some water , just install the new filter , and add some dry gas like "Heet" or similar. If the gas he installed was contaminated or stale adding fresh gas should minimize the problem. Reinsert the fuel pump fuse and turn the key on and off a few times to allow the fuel pump to fill the new filter. Then start the engine and see what you get. Should be OK.