'85 2.8 V6 mystery

85general · Apr 21, 2008

so i have a 85 2.8 V6 that ran like a champ until about a week ago. I parked it in my driveway after work an then the next morning it wont start?
-has spark
-has gas
-checked all spark plugs an cap an rotor
-replaced ignition module on back of distrubutor
-can get to run by pulling with another truck but it will only run at high rpms in first gear only if it drops rpms it will backfire like crazy an try to die but higher rpms it runs fine (in first gear only)

the motor turns over normal an all just wont fire, i am out of ideas

pillen140 · Apr 21, 2008

well, uncle jessie said to pour some moonshine in the carb.

BlackBII · Apr 21, 2008

Timing?

Jorley · Apr 21, 2008

Sounds like it might be a vacuum leak. Check for vacuum hoses for cracks or breaks and that they are plugged in good. Check the PCV valve and brake booster.

pillen140 · Apr 21, 2008

intake?

85general · Apr 21, 2008

well at first i thought maybe it was timing but then again timing doesnt change sitting in my driveway really, it drove fine all the time iv had it then suddenly doesnt fire an like i said it will run if you push start it, its quite the situation i have no idea

enginepaul · Apr 22, 2008

You describe a timing problem; but it wouldn't happen just sitting there.
If the throttle is stuck open, the same symptoms would happen.
If you have a stock system, which it sounds like, pull the codes.

skippy · Apr 22, 2008

85general said:
well at first i thought maybe it was timing but then again timing doesnt change sitting in my driveway really, it drove fine all the time iv had it then suddenly doesnt fire an like i said it will run if you push start it, its quite the situation i have no idea

i'll put my two pennies in,the distributor gear worn out or the reluctor or both.

85general · Apr 23, 2008

well i dropped it off at a friends shop yesterday, i dont have the time to hunt down the problem like id like to, so ill see wat they come up with

Yank · Apr 29, 2008

To set the timing on a 2.8 you must unplug what I believe they call the spout. Unplug this union and try to start your truck. If it starts, you need a computer. This happened to me and it left me scratching my head for nearly a week. I accidently pulled this union apart and away it went. I got a scenatic for the computer pins and found my problem. I bought another computer for 20.00 from www.car-part.com. Good luck.

Yank

85general · Apr 30, 2008

well it turned out to be some bad grounds here an there an the connector to the ignition module was not so good an he retimed it

Boggin · Jun 12, 2008

pillen140 said:
well, uncle jessie said to pour some moonshine in the carb.

Lol!!

87danger · Jun 29, 2008

some times its right in your face i had a prob with blowing my uper hose one time and i thought i hurt the motor and i fixed it and cranked it over and over again and then it wouldnt crank any more couldnt get it to run but then i looked at my power wire going to the battery and that was jacked up fixed it cranked it over and it ran!!!! lol

Yank · Aug 10, 2008

To find out if it is your computer just disconnect the spout, the connection you disconnect to set the timing, and crank it up. If it starts with the spout disconnected but dies when you reconnect the spout... it is probably your computer that went bad. At least that's what mine did. I bought a used computer from www.car-part.com for 15.00. It proved to be an inexpensive way to solve the problem. wHEN i PLUGGED IT IN THE BEAST RAN GOOD WITH THE SPOUT CONNECTED. Good luck, friend.

'85 2.8 V6 mystery

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