1984 Ford F-150 Engine stalls in gear

JNIED

MEMBER
1984 FORD F-150
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

My problem is simple: my truck starts just fine, and will run indefinitely in park or neutral. However, as soon as I put it into gear (either drive or reverse) it immediately dies. At first I could simply rev the engine up a little before putting it into gear and get it going, but now that doesn't work either. I haven't tried anything yet because I don't know where to start.

Saturday, January 9th, 2010 AT 8:31 PM

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Were you able to keep the engine running when you stopped and in gear or was it like the clutch was popped on a manual transmission? Also, has the check engine light come on?

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Monday, January 11th, 2010 AT 10:37 AM

JNIED

MEMBER
1 POST

At first I would just rev it up a bit before putting it into gear and that would get it going. While that trick was still working, I would simply use my left foot to break and keep my right foot on the gas just a bit, allowing me to stop without the engine dying. Once I had been driving around for a while it would stop dying and I could break like normal and sit at a stop light for several minutes with it still in gear and my foot off the gas with no problems.

But again, that doesn't even work now; I can't even get the truck moving.

Like I said, starts up just fine, runs just fine, heater works, radio works, lights work, the whole 9. Until it's in gear.

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Monday, January 11th, 2010 AT 5:22 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

It sounds like either an Idle Air Control (IAC) or throttle position sensor (TPS) but they should have set the check engine light. Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Fuel pressure?

Let me know.

Joe

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Monday, January 11th, 2010 AT 5:33 PM