Author	[Modern View]
Britcheflee 09-04-2012 22:43:23 67.187.170.181 Report to Moderator	Still having problems with my 1979 ford F100 - I fired it up today and ran it for a a while then moved it over for a wash - after it had sat for about 15 mins or so went back to the starting problem I had where it would turn over but not fire - well, just catches as the ignition key is turned back - I did do the wiring override as per information given but would not start. I eventually got it to start after it had sat for about 20 mins but only after a fair bit of cranking - what is odd is that once started and running for about 5 mins or so I can stop the truck, then immediately re-start it and it fires up instantly and can do this over and over again. When it sits for a while after running it does not want to - however, once left overnight it will start again. Could this actually be a fuel problem with vapor lock? Problem with fuel pump? Has a new ignition module and I have a newer ignition switch - however maybe either of these not working right as they both are China made items? lee [Reply]   [No Email]
JMOR 09-05-2012 18:45:03 72.181.173.171 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to ZANE, 09-04-2012 22:43:23   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see"Cheap enough \" is a gross understatement! How on earth can they sell that for $50????!!! $20 for a decent set of points! :!: [Reply]  [No Email]
Hobo,NC 09-05-2012 18:35:47 98.16.15.138 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to john B. ne ind., 09-04-2012 22:43:23   Cool,,, cheap enuff and a far better system then ford ever thought of.... I would have one but I have a FE engine :cry: This post was edited by Hobo,NC at 18:36:17 09/05/12. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ken(Ark) 09-05-2012 17:11:45 173.185.127.153 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Britcheflee, 09-04-2012 22:43:23   If you determine it is an ignition problem you can buy an HEI conversion distributor that is basically a Chevy top end on a Ford shaft . The HEI systems are very dependable and cheap , about $50 delivered . They are made for about all of the older Ford V8's except the FE motors . This system is what I installed in my Father/Son project '76 F250 w/'79 front end and a donor 351M / C6 . I have purchased but not yet installed the crystal clear distributor cap and rotor ($25). You can watch the rotor spin and the arc jumping . Pretty much takes the guess work out of ignition spark working or not . http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Clear-Hei-Cap-Chevy-Distributor-Cap-Rotor-Coil-Cover-/310429080821?forcev4exp=true http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-HEI-Distributor-H-O-Coil-351C-351M-400-460-/380453707078?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5894cedd46&vxp=mtr [Reply]  [No Email]
Britcheflee 09-05-2012 23:00:36 67.187.170.181 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Ken(Ark), 09-05-2012 17:11:45   Usually the pesky thing will do this when I am by myself so real difficult to check spark - mine has the 302 engine. Is it just a case of pulling the old one out and inserting the new one or is there some alignment needed to set it up? Lee [Reply]  [No Email]
JMOR 09-05-2012 15:12:27 72.181.173.171 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Bruce(VA), 09-04-2012 22:43:23   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeWell, Lee, you got several, "it could be, might be" and "here is what happened to me" responses, but one response that will actually help you diagnose YOUR problem. Try it and let us all know what you find...."Have you checked if you are getting spark when it does this?" [Reply]  [No Email]
Jason S. 09-05-2012 11:18:45 174.252.176.192 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Britcheflee, 09-04-2012 22:43:23   I"ve owned a bunch of those model trucks and bronco"s...they are my favorite. I still own a 1978 f150 4x4 swb. Usually if the switch is going out you can push in on it a bit so it makes better contact internally and see if it cranks. Also if you have several keys on the key chain that"s a big no no on those trucks. The weight of the extra keys swinging around all the time tends to tear up the switches. Personally I would lean more towards the ignition module bad. Those modules had a crank side and a run side...they crank on 12 volts and then it steps down to 10 or so volts. Some of the aftermarket replacements do away with that though...so buy a good one if you need to. I bought a new one at napa last year and didn"t make it an 1/8 mile from the house and my truck died and never did crank back. That module was bad. Ive had the best luck with the Borg Warner select modules...they cost more but they won"t leave you stranded either. The pickup module in coil can go bad also...you are supposed to replace the pickup and ignition module together because if one goes bad it can damage the other one. Although most people don"t do that.Another thing you check is originally they had a ballast resistor built in the red wire running to the coil...sometimes they go bad. [Reply]  [No Email]
Britcheflee 09-06-2012 07:59:06 67.187.170.181 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Jason S., 09-05-2012 11:18:45   did you mean the pick up module in the distributor? Looks like a small coil like on an outboard motor? I think this is the original one on the truck so might be the problem? Lee [Reply]  [No Email]
Britcheflee 09-05-2012 11:30:21 67.187.170.181 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Jason S., 09-05-2012 11:18:45   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Thank you, very useful additional information. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bill Crowell 09-05-2012 06:41:36 216.57.77.71 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Britcheflee, 09-04-2012 22:43:23   The dead giveaway is that it tries to start when you turn the ignition switch back from the "start" position to the "run" position. This invariably means a bad ignition switch. I had this problem recently with my "78 Dodge dually. [Reply]  [No Email]
Britcheflee 09-05-2012 08:21:16 67.187.170.181 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Bill Crowell, 09-05-2012 06:41:36   Thanks, I have a spare switch ready to swap out when it does it again - usually at the most inconvenient time! [Reply]  [No Email]
William C. Rowles 09-05-2012 00:24:59 76.2.233.143 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Britcheflee, 09-04-2012 22:43:23   Sounds like the carburetor could be leaking internally into the engine. Try holding the accelerator pedal on the floor while cranking if it fails to start quickly when hot, to see if more air into the engine will clear the (possible) flooding condition. Could also be a wire or switch problem in the ignition circuit if it fires with ignition switch in "on" position but not in "start" position. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jock(OR) 09-04-2012 23:49:24 97.120.42.161 Report to Moderator	Re: OT Ford F100 starting problems revisited in reply to Britcheflee, 09-04-2012 22:43:23   It sure sounds like a problem related to heat. The sensors in the distributor can get warm. If I remember correctly, the coil is mounted to the engine block, too. Unless the ignition module is hot to the touch, I would doubt that it is causing this. Have you checked it you are getting spark when it does this? If no spark, you can eliminate the fuel system as a cause. [Reply]  [No Email]