Wierd F150 problem

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James Goforth - 29 Jun 2005 05:07 GMT

I had an 86 F-150 that wouldn't run and sold it as is, a guy came over
to buy it and tried to see if he could get it running to drive it home.
We started messing with it, cranking it over, wouldn't fire at all,
and then we took the plug off one of the injectors (302 engine) in order
to put the test light on it, and then when we cranked it it would start
right up. Then we could plug the injector back in and it would run
perfect. But every time we'd shut it off, it wouldn't start again until
we'd unplug that injector; and then we could plug it in while it was
running and it'd run fine. We did this numerous times.
Even if that injector was bad, it would be a bizarre coincidence that
we happened to choose that particular one to put the test light on.
Plus, why would it refuse to start, or even fire, until we'd unplug
that one--and then it would start and run normal (with a steady miss of
course) until we plug that ingector and then it'd run perfect?
Doesn't matter to me now, the guy bought it, but I (we) thought it was
strange.

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Jim Warman - 29 Jun 2005 06:15 GMT

86 was "bank fired" rather than SEFI....here is where a LOT of assumption
comes in to play... especially since this same scene wasn't tried with the
injector on a different cylinder. I imagine a number of contributing factors
including corroded connections and possibly a shorted injector coil... no
way of telling without testing but I can assure you that auto repair is NOT
as simple as most people think.

This could open the door for many other subjects, points of view,
experiences ad infinitum but I wont go there. Sounds like you got rid of a
truck that runs for the price of a truck that don't...

Knowledge is our friend.... this ain't rocket science but it does take a
logical approach to diagnosis.... electrical problems are much easier to
diagnose than we allow ourselves to believe......

> I had an 86 F-150 that wouldn't run and sold it as is, a guy came over
> to buy it and tried to see if he could get it running to drive it home.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Doesn't matter to me now, the guy bought it, but I (we) thought it was
> strange.

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James Goforth - 29 Jun 2005 21:46 GMT

I bought the truck for cheap because the owner, an older, retired guy,
kept having it "act up" on him and eventually wouldn't run at all. The
body & interior were still fairly good shape.
I'm not a Ford lover by any means but I just bought it figuring to get
it going and have it for a spare vehicle for hauling, etc.
I dinked around with for awhile and decided I didn't want the thing
bad enough to go to any big problem for and I knew I could get back out
of it what I had in it.
I have a degree in automotive technology and have a fair amount of
experience in the field but just never really glommed onto Fords.
I remember in school the textbook for Electronic Engine Controls had
the chapter for GM cars was 18 pages long; Chrysler about the same, and
Ford's was EIGHTY EIGHT PAGES LONG.
I guess when they said "Ford has a better idea," they weren't kidding.
Another turn-off about them was going to dealer auctions with a car
dealer friend and noticing how GM stuff always goes high, Chrysler not
far behind, and Ford sucking hind tit, that's just the way it is.
The guy who bought it from me, a die hard Ford fan and professional
tech, said he'd been driving it but he thought there was still an
"issue" with the wiring somewhere. He also told me that after a short
time, the tranny started slipping in it.
So I guess I actually kind of lucked out.

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6whiteboomer77@hotmail.com - 29 Jun 2005 23:37 GMT

>86 was "bank fired" rather than SEFI....here is where a LOT of assumption
>comes in to play... especially since this same scene wasn't tried with the
>injector on a different cylinder. I imagine a number of contributing factors
>including corroded connections and possibly a shorted injector coil... no
>way of telling without testing but I can assure you that auto repair is NOT
>as simple as most people think.

LMFAO
cant follow a flow chart jimmy
lmfao
35 bucks/ an hour at the lake
lmfao
thats like 10 bucks in calgary

h
u
r
c
a
s
t

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