OK i 'm some what of a newby but not when it comes to working on cars, i placed 4 in state this year in the ford compitions, we worked on 02 ford escapes. so i'm not completly stupid.

the truck did something that it has never done befor, i started it to leave and turned the wheel and it died, now t has done that befor when its cold, but then it wouldn't start again, it would crank but not start. so i pooped the hood and tried it again, it stated so i left(dumb thing to do) i get 10 miles from home and go shift from 4th to 5th and it dies like i turned the key off. so i pulled over and screwed with it checked the cap and rotor cause i had just washed the motor, it was ok. then randomly it started i drove a little ways then the damb thing died again. so messed with the return line cause it ahd a kink in it and got it running agin, went to drive home and 8 miles later it i turned itoff to wash up and it wouldn't start agian, what the shiet is wrong with this truck, any ideas
89 ford 1/2 ton with EFI and the suposidly reliable straight six?:confused:

Pull the codes first off... :idea:
Sounds like an electircal short somewhere, which means you get to spend hours of fun with Mr. Multimeter, and Mr. Test Light. EFI motors are very intolerant of grounding problems so check to make sure all your ground straps are tight.
If all else fails, it probably a bad TFI module.... :mad:

oh and i forgot to mention one very important deial, i cannot hear the fuel pums keying up, now wouldn't that be a relay? well i will replace and see what happens.

i too was thinking of that(tfi) but don't they just go out, they usdually wouldn't work intermitantly(big words:mad:)

thanks for the helpi let you know if the relay works

Originally posted by OffRoadPoser
If all else fails, it probably a bad TFI module....

That would be my first guess......

Go back to the basics..... FUEL, COMPRESSION, FIRE! When your motor is in the state that it won't start, which is missing? I think we can rule out compression, which leaves fuel or spark.

So, carry a can of starting fluid with you....when it dies, check for spark immediately....if you have spark, then squirt some starting fluid in the intake.

Originally posted by fox

i too was thinking of that(tfi) but don't they just go out, they usdually wouldn't work intermitantly(big words:mad:)


Nope.....your symptoms sound exactly like a flakey TFI module. It will eventually completely burn out.

What's happening is it's heating up then quits functioning.....then it cools while you're f'n around, and then it suddenly starts...and you think WTF :confused:

A bad coil and any number of other electrical things could produce the same syptoms.....My money is on the great ford TFI module

ok i have never heard of this happening ever, but it was the feul pump relay. i never have heard of a realy only working some times, anyone else ever heard of that befor?

but it starts and runs good again.

thanks for the help guys!!!!