Trying to help a fellow RV'er, 1996 class B Airstream 460 FordNew fuel pump installed 5 yrs ago, never a problem till 6 months ago.Quits running,....hi speed, low speed, even idling at times,....no set pattern.The one thing that is consistent,....it will always restart, but only after waiting about 20 minutes or so.It has been in a shop twice for this problem.1st time, replaced the "ignition module".....didn't fix the problem2nd time, searched to find "nothing wrong" A month later quit again at hi speed. It has quit twice in a day, but seldom.Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

First things that come to mind: vapor lock(is it hot?) and fuel filter(in tank or on the rail).

collapsing fuel line ?i had an AMC hornet, that developed a crack in rubber fuel line between tank and steel tubing lineit did not leak fuelit would draw air instead of fuel, {NO intank pump} and stop running at inconvenient moments

Someone on you tube had a similar problem, turned out to be a clogged exhaust/muffler

On my older German cars with Bosch CIS mechanical fuel injection, your symptoms were often caused by a tired/failing fuel pump relay or failing fuel pump itself. Electric (in tank) fuel pumps often get noisy (growling) before they fail.Chum lee

Vapor lock is a thing of the past, with high pressure fuel pumps in the tank. With bypass fuel pressure regulator, the fuel is always in motion and doesn't over heat.Those old Fords were world famous for intermittent fuel pump problems. The problem was more prevalent when the tank was below half full. Get a fuel pressure gauge and connect it to the fuel rail. Then you will know if the fuel pump is faulty. The tricky part is figuring out how to observe the pressure gauge while in motion.Richard

(UPDATE) 460 Ford Quits Running......But always restarts

16 Replies

sjholt
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
If you tried all the other remedies, Check the MAP sensor. I had one experience the same symptoms.
One way to check it is as soon as it quits, throw a wet rag on the map sensor to cool it down and try to start it in a minute or two.
RJsfishin
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
UPDATE I just got a note from this 460 Ford problem
They took it to a Ford dealer this time, and they tested and found the ign module that was replaced before at another repair shop was defective. Ford tested other components, and didn't find any other problems.
They do believe that the problem is now fixed, but added that only time will tell. They were also very fortunate to get a refund not only for the defective
part, but also the labor to install it. They didn't get refunded for an hour's diagnostic time.

Thanks for all the replies that tried to help.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
This old thread of mine might give you a few idea's CLICKY
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Wonder if I will ever read the outcome of this...
2Bargos
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Being a longtime ford owner I have had this problem myself..The pickup coil in the distributor is going bad..quits when engine is hot and after it cools down for a while it will restart.

If you will check around you can buy a complete new dist for just a little more than you can buy the pickup .
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jul 18, 2017
like MEX indicted, i guess you checked it for codes eh.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Jul 18, 2017
sgip2000 wrote:
Could be bad caps on the ECM too.

Now there is a really great thought.
Low budget project, if you have a friend with really great eyes and a very small soldering iron.

Richard
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
Cannot imagine this critter not throwing a code.
sgip2000
Explorer
Jul 17, 2017
Could be bad caps on the ECM too.
j-d
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2017
Our much older 460 did that on very hot days and a hard run. We traced it to the ignition coil. But back on an '83 E350, all the systems were different. The coil that quit on me, was the old fashioned metal-can-oil-filled kind.

Vapor Lock and Collapsed Lines are unlikely on a 1996 since the fuel pump is in tank and all the gas is Pushed under Pressure. That pressure reduces chance of vaporization. And, with pressure, a fuel line won't suck closed. Might swell, burst, or leak, but you'd see it dripping gas. The new lines are pretty rugged stuff.