New guy needs help with timing?

[lokitwitch04]

Alright, I have a 89 with a 2.9 5 speed. A couple of days ago I noticed it was starting to miss alittle. Well I ignored it because the person who owned it before me miss treated this truck and I planned on changing the plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Well the next day I drove to workand it was worse. Anyway it got worse and worse till it had no power on friday.I changed the stuff I was going to change and it didnt run any better like it was now out of time. My question is is it the timing belt or something else? if its the timing belt how do I change it on this truck? Is it a belt or a chain? What all do I need for a timing belt change? Where do the gears need to be set at for this motor to be in time? Is it really difficult? I'm a diesel Tech, but I have no Idea about this motor. I wasnt a ford guy before this truck, so i have no idea about this engine. Any help would be great. I need this truck to get to work.

Thanks in advance,
Marc

 

[nismotunedgtr]

There is no timing belt.

Unplug the spout connector on the left of the engine and shoot a timing light at the crank. Very unlikely the timing changed.

Did you try resetting the ECM?

 

[Psychopete]

Do you have a CEL present, or has it ever been?

It's extremely vague as to what you're experiencing, but I might recommend that you check the fuel pressure regulator vacuum line for raw fuel. The diaphram can rupture and causes gas to go into the engine through the vacuum line.

As well as doing your tune up and checking for vacuum leaks while you're there.

Pete

 

[lokitwitch04]

I dont know where the spout conector is. The CEL came on once when it first started and then went away. Hwo do you reset the ECM. Do I just unplug the battery like on anything else or is there a special way to do it. Where is the fuel pressure regulator. Is that right where it plug into the fuel rail with the vacuum line going into it? These all seem like very ameature Q's but like I said I know nothing about this motor.

As for the vague discription I'll try to explain better. It feels like its missing on like half of the motor. Every time you give it gas it seems like it floods out and sputters really bad. It wont even run now unless you pump the throttle. It spits and sputters and if you let off the gas it dies. When it started to go badit seemed like it would run fine at 55 MPH but if I pressed the clutch in coming to a stop sign it would die. That is the best description I can give.'

Sorry so long guys,
Marc

 

[Psychopete]

It's normal for the CEL to come on with the engine off/key on. You might pull codes first before pulling power to the PCM just in case there are any stored memory codes (you'll loose them). Look for ECC-IV diagnostics in the technical library.

What you describe sounds like you have an idea of where the FPR is, passenger side, round, off the fuel rail, short vacuum line to the upper intake plenum.

If it does this all of the time (warm or cold), definitely take a closer look at the FPR. However, it can go bad without it leaking. The only way to tell is to test the fuel pressure. It should be ~40psi w/ key off, slighly less when the engine is running.

Check those out and let us know what you find.

Pete

 

[lokitwitch04]

So I dont have raw fuel in the vac line but I took out the FPR and destroyed the o-ring trying to put it back in. So tommorrow I will go get a new o-ring and test the fuel pressure. Before I destroyed the o-ring I tried to pull codes with my diagnostics tester and nothing. Hopefully it is the FPR How muchis a new one?

 

[Dangeranger3]

Autozone says 40 bones by me. That seems high though. I thought I remembered paying like $15

 

[MAKG]

They vary all over the place with model year, and don't stay constant.

You lucky bastidges. I priced one for my 1992 retrofit (got sick of that STUPID 1991 4.0L slide-on connector that is impossible to keep from leaking once removed). The best price I found was $90, and most of the regular spots wanted $140. I decided to haul a hand vacuum pump to the junkyard and take my chances. For $4.50, it was worth the risk.

I rather like the return line connector on 1992+ 4.0Ls (kinda like a backwards oversize brake line), but that price was unbelievable.

 

[nismotunedgtr]

Change the fuel filter.

 

[lokitwitch04]

where is the fuel filter? Is it by the tank or in the engine compartment.

 

[koolmilds]

Autozone says 40 bones by me. That seems high though. I thought I remembered paying like $15

no need for a scanner. a simple piece of wire is sufficient.

 

[grnrngr]

I wish I coulda found a FPR for $15...mine cost $110 for my 86 b2 2.9...and I chawed the o-ring on the bottom of mine too. Finally got it worked out tho. but it was running as described, cutting out, hard to get up to speed, acting like it was flooding...now it won't hold oil pressure. If it ain't one thing it's another...but I love that truck...fuel filter is tucked in the frame rail about half way up the drivers side .

 

[lokitwitch04]

Thanks for the info Guys. Im going to buy the FPR today hopefully it fixes the problem. And I changed the fuel filter last night

 

[lokitwitch04]

Any one have a FPR laying around they want to get rid of. I dont want to spend the 7o bones for a new one. Sounds lke Im being cheap but I just dont havethe money right now. SOOO anyone got one layin around