Help !!

[dirtybird62]

I am the "Original" owner of my 1987 XLT 4X4 'Midnight Blue' supercab. Last summer.08, it started running rough,( 4 or 5 cylinders) loss of power, hesitation, bad fuel mileage) and stalling while letting the clutch out. I started with the no-brainer stuff; (K&N)air-cleaner, plugs,(wires are good), gas filter, dist.rotor, and yesterday the Ignition module on the back of the distributor. It fired up and idled better than it has in a while. Only to test drive to frustration. I had some codes pulled in Dec. (some for tach inop and non-relative stuff). I replaced the o2 a few years back.I replaced all possible vacuum lines last fall. My muffler and tail pipe needs replacing.My tags were due in Dec. and I need to get it smogged. I'm growing weary of fighting this thing.....please help !!

 

[Cyberbeer]

Sounds like you covered most of the basic stuff. Have you checked all the vacuum lines? My truck ran sorta crappy for a bit and it turned out to be the Fuel Pressure Regulator on the fuel rail was bad. To test it simply pull the vacuum line off of it and if gas comes out...replace the FPR.

 

[Syko]

catilytic converter could be plugged.. happened to mine the metal inside them melted and plugged the exhaust.. at its worst point i couldnt even bring the engine over 1500 rpm before it would loose all power. it would also stall at random times. to fix this i just opened them up and cleared them out because were i live i dont need to have it smogged tested. it ran like a dream after.

 

[88gt]

when did you change your battery cables last? bad or corroded cables will yield you those symptoms...just my .02

 

[IMenriched]

Does it runn better off a cold start ... then degrade after it warms up to operating temp??

 

[dirtybird62]

Does it runn better off a cold start ... then degrade after it warms up to operating temp??

It's back to the old ways. Runs crappy upon start-up and driving. I'm going to try the FPR this week...........thanks

 

[dirtybird62]

Sounds like you covered most of the basic stuff. Have you checked all the vacuum lines? My truck ran sorta crappy for a bit and it turned out to be the Fuel Pressure Regulator on the fuel rail was bad. To test it simply pull the vacuum line off of it and if gas comes out...replace the FPR.

Thank you very much ! I will give it a try........

 

[Bryan22]

what kind of plugs did you put in? how do you know the wires are good? I have a 2.3 and had some similar problems as you described, turned out to be a bad set of plugs. Not saying that's your problem just mine You should try checking the fuel pressure before replacing the FPR, if it's not the problem why replace it? is the check engine light on? you might want to try pulling the codes again and see what you come up with.

 

[sjr53]

An 87 doesn't have a check engine light.

 

[dirtybird62]

what kind of plugs did you put in? how do you know the wires are good? I have a 2.3 and had some similar problems as you described, turned out to be a bad set of plugs. Not saying that's your problem just mine You should try checking the fuel pressure before replacing the FPR, if it's not the problem why replace it? is the check engine light on? you might want to try pulling the codes again and see what you come up with.

I figured for 25 bucks, I'll do the FPR and my neg. battery cable and keep my toes crossed.....I'll know tommorro

 

[Bryan22]

An 87 doesn't have a check engine light.

he can still try to pull codes

 

[dirtybird62]

when did you change your battery cables last? bad or corroded cables will yield you those symptoms...just my .02

I installed new cables, didn't help, but they needed it anyway......thanks

 

[dirtybird62]

he can still try to pull codes

I did the codes a few weeks back.........thanks

 

[Syko]

Try smacking the catilytic converters with something and if it sounds like its all broken up then it could be them

 

[Cyberbeer]

FPR had no effect either? Might want to do a compression check as well. My old motor had a cracked head, and all those symptons were present. Three weeks later it toasted the crank bearings and blew the motor.