Title says it all. The motor will be running fine and then right out of the blue the motor will die. it will not cough or sputter like its running out of fuel. some time it will start right back up and sometimes it would be awhile before it starts again. I have changed the coil and it will still do it. I'm thinking of changing the condenser and or a new key switch. I have also thought about a new fuel pump but its not acting like a fuel problem. Anybody else have this problem? Any thoughts?

You may want to check the wire going from the switch to the coil, and others before replacing parts that may not be needed.

It might be loose wire somewhere or a wire that is grounding out.  Check all your connections including at the starter switch.  Check inside the distributor to see if a wire might be grounding out.

If it's a new condensor, that could be your problem.  Got an old one around the worked ok?


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Curious what you may have done to engine before this started happening ?


  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I replaced the plugs and wires a few week before this started. I have had the truck for 26 years and no other work has been done other then plugs, wirers, cap, and rotor about four years back and it has not been running for the last 3 years. I was doing some what of a resto to it>

Add this to the list.  Check the ground wire within the distributor.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

IH have unwrapped the wires from the fire wall plug to the plug that leads to the coil and oil and coolant sending units Dint see anything that would cause any problem except the brittle insulation. Up inside the dash looks like it may be impossible

I was thinking of running a wire from the battery to the coil to give it own power supply to try a rule out any problem from the coil to the truck I'm also thinking it could be a hair line crack in the Distibutor that could be grounding itself out.

Point sets can be tricky like that also. I looked at some while engine was removed from vehicle and easy to service. Although they had been inactive for a few years they looked new so I wiped them with a clean cloth, adjusted gap and left them alone. The result was intermittent ignition failure very similar to what you describe. So now if I am going to take time and effort to do anything at all to them I do a replacement. The cost of replacement is less on the wallet than on my patience.



Tom from the chiggerfarm located in the beautiful Heart of Central Texas

When you cannot dazzle others with your brilliance, baffle them with bullcorn!

Thanks for the help guys> I'll let you know when I find the problem