Truck will not start, codes 21, 24 and 82?

Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 FORD F-250
  • 7.5L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 200,000 MILES
I have the truck listed above f250hd 460, that had the automatic e40d transmission. We changed the transmission to a manual T19. Tried to start the truck and it cranked but won't start. The codes we get are 21, 24, 82 you can hear the fuel pump and it sounds normal, we changed the pip and rotor and cap on the distributor, the ignition coil, the TP sensor, new spark plugs and wires and still no start we are getting spark to the distributor but not through it you. I can see that at one point it was sparking from the marks the spark made on the inside of the cap. We tested the spark plugs wires and the had spark but seemed that the spark couldn't make the jump it needed to. Now I'm not getting spark at all out of the wires, not sure why. One time I will and the next I won't.
Wednesday, December 21st, 2022 AT 7:13 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
I don't understand the codes they should be in a p0000 format. This is an OBD2 vehicle here is a guide to help you see what I am talking about.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

Please re-check the ignition rotor because it sounds like it is shorting out. So, you are getting spark from the ignition coil but not to the plugs, correct? Also, I have seen the distributor drive gear roll pin shear off which allows the engine to crank but the distributor not to turn, remove the cap and crank the engine over to check the rotation. Let me know.
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Thursday, December 22nd, 2022 AT 11:51 AM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
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  • 10 POSTS
The truck is a 1997 ford f250 HD with the 7.5 it has 4wheel drive and use to have the automatic e4od in it but now has a Manual T19 transmission. It isn't a obd2 it is the obd1 the port is under the hood on the driver's side In the back corner by the ignition control module and I'm checking the codes through the flashing of the check engine light with a jumper wire to read the codes and they have all been two digit codes the ones I have right now are 21, 24, and 82 these codes are the first set of codes on the second set it flashes code 11 which mean there are no codes for that set and it checks out okay. I checked the distributor and it is rotating and the rotor is good also. I am getting spark to the coil just not through the distributor. I checked the timing several times with the spout disconnected and it's where it should be and still nothing, I checked the coil to make sure it was good and the ohms were in normal range.
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Friday, December 23rd, 2022 AT 12:12 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
If spark is going into the distributor but not coming out the rotor allows the spark to jump to the distributor shaft. You might have a defective part.

21 - Engine coolant temperature (ECT) out of self-test range

24 - Air charge temperature (ACT) sensor out of self-test range

82 - Supercharger bypass circuit failure

The only one that can cause a not start would be the coolant sensor. But I would concentrate on the spark issue. Let me know.
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Friday, December 23rd, 2022 AT 12:48 PM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Not sure how else to test the spark I don't want to keep buying new parts if there not bad could it possibly be something to do with the icm not sending enough power or something I checked continuity on all my grounds and the other wires for all the parts on the ignition system do you know where I could find a diagram of the ignition system with a distributor all the diagrams and stuff have to be for the 1997 Ford f250 HD 4x4 with the 460 5.7 L gas with dual gas tanks I guess it makes a big difference when looking for stuff for the regular 250 as opposed to the 250 heavy duty which is HD they are different I guess and maybe some wiring diagrams so I can make sure all the wires are in the correct places and I read some places that it should have a crank sensor but then other places says that it don't so I'm not sure which one is right and unless it's hidden pretty good or in a completely different location I'm not really seeing it.
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Thursday, December 29th, 2022 AT 11:42 AM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Also, the reverse lights/ break lights are connected to the ignition system I believe is what I read somewhere so could there be an issue with that if it's maybe not working would it not send the right signal to something because as of right now I have tail lights the brake lights and reverse lights don't work at the moment not quite sure why on that either as they worked before I checked all the fuses and they're all good I'm just stuck on what more to check or how to check or what to do next I guess.
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Thursday, December 29th, 2022 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
I don't think the reverse and brake lights are wiring to the ignition system, here are the wiring diagrams for the truck listed. This guide can help you with the testing:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

Images (Click to make bigger)
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Friday, December 30th, 2022 AT 2:01 PM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I was looking into why I don't get spark to the distributor, and I found that when I ground the spark plug wire to the truck it will spark but when the spark plug is on the distributor it doesn't spark.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2022 AT 7:07 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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So, the ignition coil has spark but none coming out of the distributor, correct?
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Saturday, December 31st, 2022 AT 1:28 PM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Correct.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2022 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
The spark goes into the distributor cap (center) and then through the rotor and then out to the individual spark plugs as the distributor turns. Can you please confirm the new rotor, and that the distributor rotor turns when the engine is cranked over? To make sure the rotor is good you can use a pair of rubber gripped needle nose pliers with gloves and hold the coil wire over the rotor center (about 1/4 inch), if the spark jumps the rotor is bad. (Cap off) please let me know.
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Sunday, January 1st, 2023 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Yes, it turns and no there is no spark when holding the coil wire over the rotor.
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Monday, January 9th, 2023 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Okay, so to recap the spark goes into the distributor but does not come out and the rotor is good? Can you double check for spark at the cap plug wire terminals please?
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Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 AT 12:51 PM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
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I have spark there.
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Wednesday, January 11th, 2023 AT 2:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Good, so you should have spark at the spark plugs? If not it sounds like the spark plug wires are bad.
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Wednesday, January 11th, 2023 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
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  • 10 POSTS
Sorry, I miss understood there is only spark coming into the distributor. How do I check the terminals on the cap?
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Thursday, January 12th, 2023 AT 1:22 PM
Tiny
TYAROLEM
  • MEMBER
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Okay, I figured out how to check them and there is no spark there and when I hook the coil wire to the distributor and use a spark plug tester between the coil wire and the terminal on the distributor the spark gets really weak compared to taking it to a ground to test it.
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Friday, January 13th, 2023 AT 11:06 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Can you shoot a quick video of what you are doing? It sounds like the cap is bad.
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Saturday, January 14th, 2023 AT 4:52 PM

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