89 460cid wont start

nightmare_82282 · Mar 5, 2011

My dads 89 F-250 with the 460cid wont start. Its been sitting for a year because it was running like crap and smoking (Black smoke) bad. It would start up and run really bad before it would get up to temp and than flood and stall. Some one suggested it was the engine temp switch, I replaced it. Than I checked the coil. It was yellow spark, bought a new one and got a nice blue spark. The plugs (all 8) are covered in oil (even dripping). I cleaned them off and and touched them up with some sand paper. Still wont start. I checked the fuel pressure, 40psi (on the rail, both tanks). Tried to start it and the needle didn't move. Check comp, 8.5:1 on #1 piston. I got spark, I got air, I got compression. But still the SOB wont start. I plan on checking the TDC and dizzy after work. Anyone got any good ideas here, Im missing something. :icon_confused:

Im thinking it has bad gass and maybe the Ignition Control Module is bad. But idk. Any way to check the ICM? :icon_idea:

PORTnPOLISH · Mar 5, 2011

Will it fire with starting fluid? if not ..I would start looking into timing issues.

nightmare_82282 · Mar 6, 2011

PORTnPOLISH said:
Will it fire with starting fluid? if not ..I would start looking into timing issues.

I tried starting fluid and still nothing. Checked the TDC and dizzy and everything looks good. Im starting to wonder if maybe its a mix of bad fuel and lack of spark, due to bad wires or crappy plugs. :icon_confused:

PORTnPOLISH · Mar 6, 2011

If your timing is good then the only thing stopping you would be spark if it wont with starting fluid.

Boggin · Mar 6, 2011

nightmare_82282 said:
I tried starting fluid and still nothing. Checked the TDC and dizzy and everything looks good. Im starting to wonder if maybe its a mix of bad fuel and lack of spark, due to bad wires or crappy plugs.

an engine just needs fuel, air, and spark to run. in the above post you have elmininated fuel so its either air or spark. try eliminating either spark(timing, coil, dist.) or air (vaccums, air filter). once you knock out one of them culprits. theres only one thing left to go wrong

nightmare_82282 · Mar 6, 2011

PORTnPOLISH said:
If your timing is good then the only thing stopping you would be spark if it wont with starting fluid.

The spark form the coil is good. But I havent tried it form the dizzy. Maybe im getting a weak spark for the cap and rotor some how. I will take a look after work, im on my lunch now. :headbang:

Ill check the wires too.

nightmare_82282 · Mar 6, 2011

Boggin said:
an engine just needs fuel, air, and spark to run. in the above post you have elmininated fuel so its either air or spark. try eliminating either spark(timing, coil, dist.) or air (vaccums, air filter). once you knock out one of them culprits. theres only one thing left to go wrong

Well its getting air. Its getting fuel (might be bad fuel, but its getting it). So it must be spark. Im guess bad wires or plugs. The coil is new and its sparking good. This damn truck isnt even sputtering. It just turns over. No stumble or anything. Even with weak spark it should sputter or sound like it wants to start, right?

Boggin · Mar 6, 2011

not necessarily. if it had good spark and no fuel or bad fuel it would at least sputter and make a couple pops but if she dont sputter or pop at all i would say its spark

nightmare_82282 · Mar 6, 2011

Boggin said:
not necessarily. if it had good spark and no fuel or bad fuel it would at least sputter and make a couple pops but if she dont sputter or pop at all i would say its spark

Im wondering if mybe the ICM on the dizzy is not working :icon_confused:

I know the coil is making spark, I know the plugs are bad (but still put out spark), I know the cap and rotor are new-er. So I will try replacing the plugs and wires and see if that even helps. but that will have to wait till payday. Is there anything else I could try or do till than?

nightmare_82282 · Mar 9, 2011

A friend of mine is suggesting the timming chain might be to blame. Were gonna get a bad storm all week so i'll mess with it when it gets nice out. :icon_cheers:

Ill have to let you all know whats going on when I get it running again. Thanks for all the input and comments. :headbang:

fordtrucknut77 · Mar 9, 2011

i would give it a tune up for starters, plugs wires distributor cap and rotor and also change the module on the distributor, they are known to go bad.

If that doesnt get you anywhere start looking into the computer. you may have to get someone to scan it unless you wanna just go buy one. how many miles are one the motor?

89 460cid wont start

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