1978 F150 ignition troubles... Please help!!! - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Wicked_S10 · 01-04-2003, 11:52 AM

I am hopeing one of you has run into this before. I have a '78 F150 and it will not start. It was running last night and just calmly sputtered out and died and will not re-start. This morning I was working on it and found that it had very week spark. I purchased a new coil and ignition module (I suspected that it was the module that was giving the troubles anyway) and that cured it-- for about 30 seconds. It ran great and then did the same thing all over. I think that I have a short somewhere that is cooking my ignition module. The wireing under the hood looks good, but under the dash I haven't even started yet. I am hopeing someone could give me some pointers on where to look. BTW after the module dies on me I only have 6vdc at the coil + with DEC shorted to ground. I have no idea why this happens either, because if you disconect the ignition control module then the coil voltage goes back up to ~11.9 vdc right where it should be according to my chiltons. ANy idea whatsoever would be appreciated. I am goint to put a new ignition switch in tomorrow incase there is an iternal short in the old one-- it is getting kind of "loose". Well, help me if you can!

Thanks,

Dustin Smith · 01-04-2003, 11:55 AM

Put a new Pickup coil in it, and I bet that fixes it.

WhiskeyTango · 01-04-2003, 05:12 PM

The fusible link could have gone out. It is a "stupid ford shit" type of part, I think it connects the alternator to the starter solenoid, but am not positive. If that goes out or breaks you won't get nothin to work no mnatter what you replace.

Oatmeal · 01-05-2003, 05:40 PM

Ford uses a resistor wire to feed it's ignition, it could be getting weak. I believe you can still get the correct wire from the dealer. If not you can always run a straight wire through a ballast resistor of the correct value. Location of the wire and resistance value can be found in the appropriate wiring diagram. The Haynes manauals have excellent wiring diagrams included. The Chiltons are worthless for electrical problems. Hope that helps. Good luck!

Wicked_S10 · 01-05-2003, 09:03 PM

I am pretty sure this is the DURASPARK 1 ignition system and doesn't have a resistor wire... At least that is according to my chiltons-- and you are right Haynes does have much better wireing diagrams, but I didn't want to have to buy the fawkin book too, I am trying to get rid of the POS right now and would rather not spend more and more money on it! I guess tomorrow I will break down and get the better manual.

Thanks,

79broncn · 01-06-2003, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by liliysdad
Put a new Pickup coil in it, and I bet that fixes it.

Had a similar problem with mine. Haynes manual says you can
measure resistance of the pick-up coil and it should be
400-800 ohms. Mine was M-ohms. Replaced...took care of it.

Wicked_S10 · 01-08-2003, 09:49 AM

Well, I have it figured out. Turns out it wasn't the ignition sytem at all. My brand new holley carb (about 100 miles on it) evidently went to carbeurator heaven. I can get it running on a dribble can, but for some reason the carb is fawked up. I am taking it back and getting it replaced. Thanks all of you for your thoughts!

Thanks,

01-04-2003, 11:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Wicked_S10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14848 Location: Midland, Mi Posts: 1,750	1978 F150 ignition troubles... Please help!!! I am hopeing one of you has run into this before. I have a '78 F150 and it will not start. It was running last night and just calmly sputtered out and died and will not re-start. This morning I was working on it and found that it had very week spark. I purchased a new coil and ignition module (I suspected that it was the module that was giving the troubles anyway) and that cured it-- for about 30 seconds. It ran great and then did the same thing all over. I think that I have a short somewhere that is cooking my ignition module. The wireing under the hood looks good, but under the dash I haven't even started yet. I am hopeing someone could give me some pointers on where to look. BTW after the module dies on me I only have 6vdc at the coil + with DEC shorted to ground. I have no idea why this happens either, because if you disconect the ignition control module then the coil voltage goes back up to ~11.9 vdc right where it should be according to my chiltons. ANy idea whatsoever would be appreciated. I am goint to put a new ignition switch in tomorrow incase there is an iternal short in the old one-- it is getting kind of "loose". Well, help me if you can! Thanks, __________________ 2006 JCORF Buggy, 60's,Locked F&R,42" TSLs,EFI460,C6,Atlas5.0 Comp Case 1988 Bronco,in progress

01-04-2003, 05:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
WhiskeyTango Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Member # 3677 Location: Mountain House, CA Posts: 660	The fusible link could have gone out. It is a "stupid ford shit" type of part, I think it connects the alternator to the starter solenoid, but am not positive. If that goes out or breaks you won't get nothin to work no mnatter what you replace. __________________ Rigless...

01-05-2003, 09:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wicked_S10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14848 Location: Midland, Mi Posts: 1,750	I am pretty sure this is the DURASPARK 1 ignition system and doesn't have a resistor wire... At least that is according to my chiltons-- and you are right Haynes does have much better wireing diagrams, but I didn't want to have to buy the fawkin book too, I am trying to get rid of the POS right now and would rather not spend more and more money on it! I guess tomorrow I will break down and get the better manual. Thanks, __________________ 2006 JCORF Buggy, 60's,Locked F&R,42" TSLs,EFI460,C6,Atlas5.0 Comp Case 1988 Bronco,in progress

01-08-2003, 09:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wicked_S10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14848 Location: Midland, Mi Posts: 1,750	Well, I have it figured out. Turns out it wasn't the ignition sytem at all. My brand new holley carb (about 100 miles on it) evidently went to carbeurator heaven. I can get it running on a dribble can, but for some reason the carb is fawked up. I am taking it back and getting it replaced. Thanks all of you for your thoughts! Thanks, __________________ 2006 JCORF Buggy, 60's,Locked F&R,42" TSLs,EFI460,C6,Atlas5.0 Comp Case 1988 Bronco,in progress

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01-04-2003, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dustin Smith Rock God Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11139 Posts: 1,687	Put a new Pickup coil in it, and I bet that fixes it.

01-05-2003, 05:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Oatmeal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Member # 14600 Location: Covina,Ca. Posts: 1,010	Ford uses a resistor wire to feed it's ignition, it could be getting weak. I believe you can still get the correct wire from the dealer. If not you can always run a straight wire through a ballast resistor of the correct value. Location of the wire and resistance value can be found in the appropriate wiring diagram. The Haynes manauals have excellent wiring diagrams included. The Chiltons are worthless for electrical problems. Hope that helps. Good luck!