Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving


  Email This Post



VinniD
Novice

Feb 21, 2017, 12:20 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2501 views)
post icon 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

Hi All,

1990 Ford F-250 W/351W, 4X4, 82K miles.


Just Left the house and the truck was running strong since catalytic converter replacement a few weeks ago. Drove about 2 miles and everything went dead.
All Engine function and dash electrical was non-responsive. Came to a stop on a side road and tried to restart but absolutely nothing. No idiot lights, no gage movement, no typical relay clicks or fuel pump whining and no engine cranking.
My service manual is limited and I suspect EEC power relay but how do/can I test it, or am I out in left field?
Thanks, VinniD


kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Feb 21, 2017, 1:05 PM

Post #2 of 10 (2487 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

BASIC electrical check - do you have a test light ?
battery connections - cables both ends - fuses,


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Feb 21, 2017, 1:58 PM

Post #3 of 10 (2483 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

You might want to look it over and make sure that brand new exhaust wasn't touching a harness and burned through it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



VinniD
Novice

Feb 21, 2017, 2:44 PM

Post #4 of 10 (2473 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

I have a test light and a Fluke Multi Meter. All Fuses are good.
Checked exhaust and harness clearance and no issues, all clear.


(This post was edited by VinniD on Feb 21, 2017, 2:46 PM)


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Feb 21, 2017, 6:59 PM

Post #5 of 10 (2449 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

Yes you should check for power at the fuses for the dash. Maybe the ignition switch has gone bad. Check for power going in and out of the ignition switch. You may need a wiring schematic.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


VinniD
Novice

Feb 23, 2017, 2:32 PM

Post #6 of 10 (2420 views)
post icon Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

Yep, that's where I'm at now. Have power under the hood but nothing to the fuse panel or the ignition switch. The fusible links I can find are good so just chasing wires and hoping I find the bad one.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 23, 2017, 2:56 PM

Post #7 of 10 (2417 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

Sorry if I missed it but does anything electrical work at all? You said it just went dead first post. Brake lights, interior lighting, hazards - anything?


If nothing the battery either croaked and can just like that usually with a wild egg odor or isn't making any connection at one of the cables.


Step one: Do the center of the posts of the battery even show voltage and what is it? Then if so does it show voltage (any) at the u-bolts? Then follow along cables. This has a solenoid on a fender well for positive cable then ignition goes on to starter when triggered. Other wiring at solenoid then feeds battery positive on with another wire to follow.


Basics if totally dead or battery has anything and doesn't make the loop if you will. Negative u-bolt should light up a test light all the way to the engine block eyelet end.


Any of those can lose connection and you have zero battery essentially. If power find where it quits.


To just test presence of power on what should be ground just use a test light even with the alligator clip end to positive power and everything you touch that is and should be ground would light up the test light.


This may be all it is that a connection or cable if battery has any power at all gave out even if tight you see that it works,


T



VinniD
Novice

Feb 24, 2017, 1:22 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2403 views)
post icon Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

So I’ve been busy using my voltage check light to see where I have power.

The head lights work but nothing else. When the key is on, no dash lights, No gauge movement, no fuel pump or EEC relay clicking (They do have power to the hot side but never activate) and no power to the windows. I replaced the ignition switch before I realized the switch is not getting power to it. The only thing I can see in the wiring diagram is a fusible link (M) that goes to the ignition switch that turns on everything but can’t find it. Anyone have a clue where it’s at? All the fusible links I’ve found are good.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Feb 24, 2017, 2:48 PM

Post #9 of 10 (2397 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

The fusible link should be right at the starter solenoid, next to the battery.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 24, 2017, 2:51 PM

Post #10 of 10 (2395 views)
Re: 1990 F-250 Engine Dies while Driving Sign In

OK - Headlight work - nothing else? If you look there may be a ground from battery to where headlights mount and ground the works + nothing else.


You just have to chase where there is power and where it stops. Ford's fusible link is off the solenoid marked fusible link should be a clue - it's a fat spot in the wire.


Other but never found this on a Ford product (real Fords) is the block at firewall lost it going thru to fuses panel inside and should separate and empower things thru that.


Test the dang cables as already said. You are getting zero reaction so we aren't ready to blame battery or anything else but a total loss of connection.


Again - for now a simple $5 test light for presence of power. It's a scratch awl type with wire out handle to alligator clip. Handle has a light inside it. NAPA, any place they should or can be well under $10 bucks,


T







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap