My Jeep will does the same thing. After it has been started and shut down, when you go to restart it, don't pump the gas. If you do, the choke will come on again and the fuel mixture will be too rich and flood the engine. I hope things work out.

 

Things to check...Carb: Accelerator pump could be shot, floats may be going as well. You might even need a basic rebuild on the thing.
Fuel line: Has it shifted towards any heat sources? You may be getting some vapor lock, which leads me to ask you about your fuel pump, and the condition it's in.

 

check your timing

 

DON'T LISTEN TO ANY OF THE OTHER RESPONSES!!!...IT IS YOUR FORD IGNITION CONTROL MODULE(ABOUT 18 BUCKS AT AUTO ZONE)....when it heats up, it shuts down spark, THUS FLOODING OCCURS....i promise you, replace it and it will run beautifully again -mike

 

Mike I have changed that contol modual a few years ago. What was happening then, was I would be driving along the road, and it would just stall. It would not even turn over, untill it sat awhile. This new problem is after it has been turned off it will turn over, but if it does not fire right up, your in for a long wait or dead battery. Do you still think it is the ignition controll ?
Dave

 

Okay, so now maybe it's time to listen to us other guys...Another thing to check is to see how your coil is doing. Next time your truck dies, see if you are getting vehicle power to it (between 12 and 14 volts). next check the output, and see if you are getting any spark output. Your primary or secondary windings could be going. The heat could be making a weak connection in the windings turn into a complete separation.

 

dave, hey man....the ignition module will not keep the truck from turning over. it should turn over just fine. (it has no relation to the starter primarily). therefore, it should turn over even though the ignition might be out. so i will conclude by telling you that i still believe that it is the ignition module, because that is what i believe it is. oh and ron-bo...(sic).....just because i may have a diff of opinion than you, and i got enthusiastic about my answer, it doesn't justify you being such a socially inept pessimist about the whole ordeal....next time you reply to one of my posts, don't get your panties in such a bunch -mike

 

Mike are we talking about the same thing? the thing I am calling the controll module is on the drivers side, small aluminum box about 5 inches by 4 inches, with cooling fins on it.
Dave

 

Hey Mike, the only one getting excited is you. You have an excellent suggestion, and I hope you're right since it's a cheap, easy fix, but just realize that every problem you have ever come across is not the exact thing happening to everyone else, every time. I wasn't hammering your idea, I was inferring that it isn't the only possible solution to Dave's problem.

 

Dave-

I had the same problem with my Bronco. I checked everything and ended up replacing the ignition module with a MSD 6A and Blaster 2 coil and the problem was gone. I think you will like the MSD better as well.
Chris

 

I'd do some basic trouble shooting next time it wont start and then come back with more info and we might be able to help more.

Got Spark? Got Fuel? Got too much Fuel?

Got Spark: Take a timing light with you, a remote starter switch helps if your alone. Crank the engine. Got spark? if so, you can probably rule out the ignition module and a slew of other stuff.

Got Fuel? Pull the air cleaner and pump the gas once. Can you see a squirt of fuel? If no squirt, will the engine fire with a quick blast from some starting fluid? If this works, time to hunt down an intermittent fuel starvation problem. Could be a crack in a fuel line that opens up when hot, could be a bad fuel pump, could be vapor lock. Could be the vent on your tank isn't working, could be alot of things.

Got too much fuel? pull the Air cleaner and climb up so you can look down the carb with a flashlight. is it wet in there? Slowly open the throttle and look in. Do you see a squirt of fuel from the accel pump going in? Does it vaporize (if the engine is hot it should). Is there a puddle of fuel in the intake? Pull a plug. Does it smell of fuel? These are signs of it flooded.

anyway, it really helps to know what problem your trying to solve.

- Dan

99 4Runner (wifes grocery getter)
My Bronco is sold.
What trail rig will be next...

 

hey dave, we are talking about the same thing...(the description seems correct...but the cooling fins i'd have to check) but, even though you replaced it a while back, i would still believe it to be the culprit, and am willing to back that up with twenty bucks...so...dave, spend 20 bucks on it...if it doesn't solve your problem, i will send you a money order for 20.00 ...i am a student, and not made of $, but when a point has to be proven, a point has to be proven. oh, and dave...i'll leave my phone # on your private mess., so that you may call me to let me know that if it hadn't worked, where to send the money order. oh, and ron-bo...(hehe)...letz just see where this one goes... -mike

 

BBS betting. YAHOOOO, a new sport.

If we had a web-based Paypal system we could send our money in and the winner takes the pot.

Seriously, you can do shot-gun replacement of parts all day long and keep missing the mark. Who knows, maybe mike is right on in this case, but IMO, basic troubleshooting is a skill and an art that will pay off much better in the long run in both time and money.

- Dan

ps: I'd put my money on fuel starvation when the engine is hot. If your going to go to the auto store anyway, spend 1.99 on a can of starting fluid and when it won't start, fire a 3 second blast into the air cleaner, turn the key and Vroom, send me the pot of money J/K.


99 4Runner (wifes grocery getter)
My Bronco is sold.
What trail rig will be next...

 

A volt meter for testing outputs would be better money spent than random part replacement. Mike if you're right, congratulations, you get the Gold star.

 

Is the choke open or close when you start under hot engine conditions?

 

Hey guy's thanks for the input I will try out some of those things. Mike this is Canada that module cost me about 50 Bucks! A few years ago
One last thing. If the Bronc turns over, how can it be the ignition module?
Dave

 

Dan I agree with you on checking those things, but this just started and it is my daily driver. But the weekend is almost here, and I will check some of those ideas you had out. One thing I did leave out now I think of it, isthat there is a smell of gas when this happens. Dose this rule out some of those ideas.
Dave

 

If you have a bad ignition module, you'll still get juice to the starter, so yes, the engine will turn over. That is why it is critical that you check for spark output from your coil. If you are getting spark from the coil, check for spark out from the distributor (reverse the steps if you want, but check to see if any spark is getting to your plugs). If you are getting spark to the plugs, check their condition out. If you aren't getting spark at the plugs, start checking parts. Find out the point where your system stops working, then investigate the suspected part. Dan had excellent suggestions for checking fuel if your electrical system is up to snuff. By the way, where in Canada do you live?

 

Dave,

I've got alot of different ideas what it could be, but its really hard to start guessing The fuel smell can be from flooding, or it could be from a leak. When do you smell fuel? all the time, just when its hot and won't start? before it won't start? after you try to start it?

I'm not certain on the 82s setup but I think its a 2BBL carb, mechanical fuel pump, a one piece steel fuel line from fuel pump to the carb. I'm guessing the choke is a mechanical choke with a ceramic heater that heats a spring that moves the choke.

I had this setup on my 78 and had hot start problems and I could always get it going with a quick blast of starting fluid. I'm not saying this is or will be the problem, but on my 78, fuel would boil out of the carb into the intake and leave me with an empty fuel bowl. (carb was on its last legs). The fuel pump was weak. and it took too many cranks to get the fuel bowl full again. Given the age and poor condition of everything else, if I cranked it too long, I'd be out of battery, starter would be hot, and I'd be out of patience.

I would smell fuel every time I shut off the rig but could never see a leak. Finally i saw fuel just dripping onto the top of the closed throttle plate and puddling after it was shutoff. I was sure this meant "Flooded" but I could never get it to start with typical flooded engine tactics and finally resorted to the 2 second blast of ether (starting fluid) and It fired. It ended up replacing the carb and changing the steel fuel line with rubber to insulate the fuel from the heat of the engine. This worked great until the fuel pump died a couple of months later.

Another scenario is you smell the fuel after you try to start. If so then this could be the choke closing even though the engine is warm. The choke is electric heated (I think) and power to the little heater comes when the key is on, but it takes a bit to open. So lets say its closed, or partially closed, but the engine is real hot so it doesn't need/want choke, combine this with a rich idle setting, a weak spark and this can cause a flooded condition. Then you wait, the engine and the choke both cool, the extra fuel vaporizes away fairly quickly since the engine is hot and 20 minutes later it starts like a champ.

I'm sure I could dream up a bunch more scenarios, but each problem will be a little different and none of them are likely to be exactly your problem. The intermittant ones are really the hardest.

Good luck, I hope you nail this one. It could be the controller, it could be the carb, it could be the fuel pump, it could be the High tides in Madras, La Nina in the pacific, The Russians not winning a gold in Gymnastics or even a wire broken somewhere inside of the insulation. Just be thankful in this case that its not EFI or it could be 50 other things to go wrong.

- Dan

99 4Runner (wifes grocery getter)
My Bronco is sold.
What trail rig will be next...

 

Dan thanks for your help. You are right it could be any of those things you wrote about. It dose smell like gas after it won't start. And your description of the choke problem does sound closest to what happens. Today it was better had no problems which leaves me with creases on my forehead and a headache from thinking about it. Mabye it is the weather it was cooler here today about 4 or 5 degrees. I guess mabey it is time to pay some money and get it checked out. I like to fix this stuff myself, but it is the trouble shooting that hangs me up. Thanks again,
Dave
P.S Ron I live in Alberta, the Red Deer area.

 

-mike throws in the towel

 

Mike, don't throw in the towel. It very well could be the ignition box. I probably would have forgotten about that. - Dan

99 4Runner (wifes grocery getter)
My Bronco is sold.
What trail rig will be next...