Topics

1

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1988 Ford F 150 Starting, running problem

« on: February 28, 2013, 08:34:46 AM »

Our plow truck is having starting and running issues.

When it runs good it runs good. It starts up instantly and idles nicely.

But after a short while it will 'choke out' and die.

Starting is then a problem. It will turn over for many seconds (10 -20 secs) and then staggers into running.

The exhaust blowing into snow is very dirty(as if the is incomplete combustion).

I'm thinking its  something to do with the throttle body control or fuel injection.

Maybe needs a tune up?

This is very frustarating as snow we have a foot of heavy wet snow

Bob

2

Auto Repair Car Questions / Ford F 150 Transmission Oil Coller

« on: October 22, 2012, 12:25:44 PM »

Hi

Our 1987 F 150 transmission oil cooler has stripped threads on the pipe fittings out of the cooler and replacements are expensive or hard to come by used.

Is it possible to remove and bypass the cooler? It seems very small and wouldn't provide that much cooling.

The transmission fluid would still flow through the regular radiator.

We only use the truck for plowing and yard work in New England.

Bob

3

Auto Repair Car Questions / 87 Ford F150 truck starting issue.

« on: June 18, 2012, 07:25:22 AM »

Hello

Our 87 F150 truck was starting and running fine after I swapped out the neutral safety switch mounted on the tranny.

The other day when we  started it the engine was racing at very high revs. We immediately turned it off. It did that for a couple of times. same thing. We left it for a day then tried again. This time no start. Cranking strong but no hint of the engine firing.

Any suggestions.

Thanks

Bob

4

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1997 Ford Escort low power

« on: May 13, 2012, 10:03:11 AM »

Hi

Our 1997 Ford Escort wagon is running with low power. It starts and runs ok but seems very under powered.

No check engine light but the 'service engine soon' light comes on occasionally.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Bob

5

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1989 F150 not cranking.

« on: January 10, 2012, 03:32:55 PM »

The truck was being used all day in the woods, starting OK multiple times. Then when trying to start nothing. Turn key, nothing, no  clicking, no lights dimming, nothing. Battery good. Ignition lights on. I jumped the starter directly from the battery to the starter positive terminal and the starter cranked.

Any ideas please.

Thanks

Bob

6

Auto Repair Car Questions / 87 Chevy 3/4 ton truck. Ignition problem

« on: July 29, 2011, 08:12:28 PM »

Turn the ignition and nothing.

no wiper, no start, no instruments. Dead apart from flashers and horn.

Key in column seems solid in ignition.

Battery seems ok.

Did briefly come to life as far as the ignition came on, but turn to start and it went dead again.

Ideas?

Thanks

Bob

7

Auto Repair Car Questions / 95 Ford Escort starting issue

« on: May 07, 2011, 11:58:21 AM »

Hi

Recently we have been experiencing an intermittent starting problem. Some times it starts and sometime it doesn't. Our mechanic reminded me of the trick to tap the starter which worked once.  Now I just changed the starter and the problem persists. Is there another system controlling the starting system? Such as the gear lever (automatic).

Any ideas?

Thanks

Bob

8

Auto Repair Car Questions / 88 Chevy 3/4 ton truck. Running very rough.

« on: January 28, 2011, 02:31:24 PM »

Hi

My yard plow truck has started to run very rough and stalls out when running hard.

I can run the truck ok if I keep my foot light on the gas but as soon as I give it some gas such a plowing hard or going up hill it will die after a few seconds. Then it will start right up again and run ok until I work it hard again and it stalls.

I'm thinking fuel pump or a stuck float.  I'd like some advice before I start to mess with it between storms.

I took the air filter off and the carb looks in poor condition. Many of the hose are perished and so there are probably vacuum leaks. I particular the advance /retard vacuum unit has no vacuum hose attached. Where would this unit draw it's vacuum from? Is there a web site where I could see the vacuum system diagram.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob

9

Auto Repair Car Questions / 1996 Berette Parking break Adjuster

« on: December 19, 2010, 07:28:13 AM »

Hi

Could someone let me know where access to the parking break adjusting nut is located.

Seems either below the console from inside or from below behind the exhaust heat sheild.

Thanks

Bob

10

Auto Repair Car Questions / Escort Cooling System Bleeding

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:09:39 PM »

Hi

My 1995 Escort wagon has a cooling system that never reaches the normal temperature.

The temp gauge stays at about 10 o'clock instead of 12 o'clock after the normal warm up period.

My local Ford service dept suggested I need to have the cooling system bled of air.

They were unclear how to do this.

Any suggestions please?

Bob

11

Auto Repair Car Questions / 88 Chevy Truck spark plug rusted, blown, threaded part stuck

« on: October 12, 2010, 07:32:05 AM »

Hi

My plow truck blew out the spark plug where it had coroded at the top of the threaded section. The small threaded stub remains in the block but all the rest was blown out.

I guess these plugs haven't been changed in years.

Any ideas how to remove the small stub. Also I'd like to change all the plugs but I'm afraid the plug will shear off leaving the stub remaining in the other cylinders.

Thanks in advance

Bob

12

Auto Repair Car Questions / 93 Ford Escort Wagon Manual transmission linkage problem

« on: May 15, 2010, 02:14:46 PM »

I have my 93 Ford Escort Wagon back on the road.

The gear change linkage will not stay in position in the body cut out where it fits.

I see 2 rubber pieces that fit into groves either side of the  cutout but I don't understand how the complete linkage fitting is held in place.

Now it drops down and rests on the exhaust pipe.

How is the linkage held up in place.

The linkage is working properly.

Thanks

Bob

13

Auto Repair Car Questions / 95 Escort. Stalls at idle and replacing hood latch cable.

« on: January 30, 2010, 01:44:14 PM »

I'll try to kill two birds with one stone.

95 Ford Escort starting to occasionally stall when idling , at the  lights for instance. Its starting to become more frequent.

Also I have to replace the hood latch cable and it looks a nasty job. Do i have to remove the front wheel well cover to access the cable route?

Any tips or ideas on these issues.

Thanks

Bob

14

Auto Repair Car Questions / Ford Escort Front End Issues

« on: January 10, 2010, 10:00:24 AM »

I have 95 Ford Escort Wagon, 1.9 liter engine. 105K miles. I have two front end issues that may or may not be associated with each other.

1)  When driving in any gear there is a slight rumble/vibration from  the drive train that only happens when accelerating , not when just freewheeling. Its a very low level rumble that I feel through the seat and my feet. When the foot comes off the accelerator it goes away completely. I'm thinking CV joints but there are no other noises or vibrations when turning which is a symptom of the CV joint failure.

2)The steering tends to pull either left or right when beginning a journey. I notice no particular tendency to pull either left or right. After a few miles the pulling seems to go away and I can drive straight without having to work the steering wheel. Then when I start another trip the same thing happens. Other than that the steering seems to be working fine.

I live in the country and the vehicle gets rough treatment on the roads and driveway but the front end seems to be fine apart from those issues listed.

Any ideas welcome.

Thanks

Bob

15

Auto Repair Car Questions / 95 Ford Escort Turn signal Flasher unit.

« on: November 27, 2009, 10:18:07 AM »

I replaced the turn signal flasher unit on my 1995 Ford Escort. Part of the plastic cover had melted.

Now the replacement unit has also gone. I can hear the unit clicking as it cycles but the turn signal lights are not working.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Bob