Crank No Start
I have a friend in Michigan who drove this vehicle to Detroit, and when he arrived at his destination and it was still idling it backfired and quit has not ran since. If he cranks the engine it tries to start, but as soon as he lets off cranking, it dies. He does not have schematics but he says that while it is cranking, both wires going to the ignition coil are +12V, and when he just has KOEO just 1 wire is hot.
Just checking to see if anyone has experienced anything like this and knows a good starting point for him.
Thanks :)
… If it has a spout connector (?) …unplug it and see what it gets… Dan H.
David I've seen this on a smaller V-8, it was the ignition module (that's why it will stay running while cranking because the light blue wire is the crank “sense” to the module).
If I remember ignition modules used to cause that problem
Hi David, How mechanically inclined is your friend? They may need to find a reputable independent shop? This sounds like a column ignition switch that is worn out and separating at the housing. Ford had a lot of issues with them. They are mounted down low on the column and often had tamper proof screws holding them. Also, this model shows to have a 1 Ohm ballast resistor wire in the harness…
It is carburated and seems to have good compression. The owner wanted me to express his appreciation as he is performing the test suggested in this thread.
If it has a blue plastic section on the DuraSpark box where the wires enter the housing, I’m pretty sure a new module will fissit.
… I shouldda known it was too old for spout connector…senior moment I reckon… Dan .
Hi Dan, I recall it being a switch over year when they were phasing in fuel injection on many models. The trucks and vans were a mixed bag. Most of the sedan models were fuel injected back then.
i think the conversion was done engine by engine. I think the 460 was the last engine to get converted to EFI.
Hi Rusty, I actually owned an 86' F250 with a 460 and it was carbureted with a Holley built for Ford. I had to always go to one inspection station who understood what non catalyst meant. Others would not do the inspection and thought my convertors had been removed. I would show them the emissions label and they still did not believe it. I think most GVW's over 8500 were catalyst exempt and they…
No disagreement with any of the posts….but your KOEO results should be b+ on both coil terminals (+&-) unless the coil is open. Something doesn't make sense so I have to ask if these were test light or meter measurements? And were the coil wires attached? Does the coil get warm in either scenario? Acknowledging that the ignition module and/or ignition switch has likely failed and therefore…
Has DursSpark ignition on this, (or it should have). has a crank sensor (of sorts) in the Distributor. Should be able to see analog wave out of sensor to ICM unit. ICM is responsible for generating the spark through coil control circuits. If you've got good sine wave to ICM and no output at the coil (should have power to one side of the coil with the coil disconned, and the other wire should…
I would say resolution as he thinks this is the issue, but he had to head back home and leave the issue with his father-in-law. I will update once they get a module to try.
Hi David, Before they go down the rabbit hole too far…. Have them back up and check the battery ground cable, especially the small ground going to the inner fender/ radiator support. These were bad about corrosion and breaking on many trucks and vans. If it had a large factory quick connect in that lead, they always corroded. The next thing I suggest is to look at the Dura Spark module (Large…
It sounds like a bad ignition module. Over the years I have had a few act the same way
Duraspark ignition modules have two power inputs. One is a crank circuit and the other is a run circuit. If I remember correctly, they are both in the same connector. It is either a two or three wire connector at the module itself. Verify both voltage inputs, if both are good, module is most likely bad. I remember some pick-up coil failures where the coil would fire at the end of the crank event…