Bronco wont start

[JBronco]

Hey guys,

I am looking for some ideas to get my bronco running. I have an 88 bronco with a 351w and was driving it home the other day and the engine just shut off out of nowhere. Now it had been acting funny for about 7 months meaning that it would Idle fine but sometimes it would sputtter when accelerating fast but it seemed ok and ran like that for a long time so i dont know if it is part of the problem or not. The engine turns over and tries to start when I try to start it. I have checked the fuel pumps by disconnecting the fuel line infront of filter and turing the ignition to on, the pumps push the fuel out just fine. I initailly thought it wasnt getting fuel but i think that it is, atleast its getting past the fuel filter. I looked in my Haynes manual and it said some things with ignigtion and spark plugs could be an issue but it really doesnt say how to check without replacing everything. I pulled out one of the plugs and it looked fine to me so I put it back, I also took off tge top of the distributor cap to see if it was clean and it was, so now im out of ideas and am hoping you guys can give me some things to check I really wanna get her on the road again. Thanks

JB

 

[Krafty]

you should get a fuel pressure gauge and connect it to the fuel rail. could be a bad Fuel Pressure Regulator or FPR. amongst other things. if you don't have a haynes manual I recommend getting one. you should also try and take the fuel line off the fuel filter and connect it to the High pressure pump. If I am right it should only be a few inches behind the filter and the line should reach that far.

hope this helps.

 

[AdamDude04]

My problem was an ECT sensor going out.. mine would randomly cut off. Once it "cooled off" (30-60 min later) it would fire right up like nothing ever happend. Also it'd buck and kick when accelerating..

Worth a check. If anything, it's a cheap sensor to replace and have new in there. Mine was 18yrs old..and like all my sensors, they are all being replaced before they fail. They don't last forever...

 

[andre]

did you check for spark if no spark

on distibutor there igniter commond problem

unplug conetion and replug it make sure it clean may need new igniter

 

[JBronco]

Thanks for the replys, Can somone tell me where ECT sensor is that sounds like the easist thing to try first but i have no clue where it is or what it looks like, but like he said it was acting up a but when I would try to accerlate

also how can i check for spark? I disconnected the plugs and the Distributor cap all the connections look pretty good but i dont know how to "check for spark".

Thanks for input

 

[Krafty]

pull the wire from the coil to distributor off the distributor, plug in an old spark plug that works and rest it against the intake manifold. have some one turn the engine over and you should see the blue ark at the plug. then plug the coil wire back into the distributor, and put your extra spark plug in one of your 8 plug wires and check again with it resting against the intake manifold. as long as you see some spark at both tests then your ignition system is decent.

if it sparks at the coil and not at the plug wire then you need to replace either A, rotor B, cap or C plug wires.

if is does not spark at the coil then begin following diagnostic procedures on your coil and ICM as laid out in a haynes manual or other reference material. most common tool required is either a voltmeter/ multi meter or a test light.

also just replacing parts is not diagnosing the problem if you follow the books to the letter they can save you alot of money.

remember not to touch or hold the plug or wire when you are testing it, cause it does kinda hurt getting a few thousand volts through your hands.

Good Luck.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

Pull diagnostic codes for a good idea where to start.

How to scan FORD on board Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) in your driveway

How to scan FORD on board Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) in your driveway

http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=14269&view=findpost&p=74587

 

[2percent]

Yeh I would scan it first if possible. And check for spark. Remember there are 3 things needed to make it run. FUEL, SPARK, and COMPRESSION. Most of the time from what I have seen if it is a spark issue it will be the ICM on the side of the distributor or the coil itself. A simple voltmeter will test both but a Haynes manual will help extremely.