My 85 Bronco stopped running. It sat over the winter and I just started driving it again a few days ago. The first day it ran fine, drove it a couple times about 30 miles total, no problems. Second day the idle started acting up. RPMs would droop intermittantly and it would act like it wanted to die whenever I wasn't giving it gas. Third day it would die if I wasn't giving it gas, and RPMs would fluctuate even while giving it gas while driving. If I didn't keep giving it gas, it would die every time. It basically wouldn't idle at all. Fourth day it wont start. Its needed a new thermostat for years, it never reaches optimal running temp (runs cool) but I dont see that causing an idle issue (am I wrong?). Today Im going to remove and clean the carb, replace fuel filter and air filter. Is there any other obvious/easy stuff Im missing? Is there a good way to check a mechanical fuel pump? I thought maybe the ignition coil, but those always seem to either work or not work, not slowly die over days... am I wrong? Suggestions requested
ignition module and pick-up coil... both are part of the distributor, module is mounted on the side, pick-up coil is under the cap and advance weights which requires removing the shaft from the housing by removing the roll pin that holds the gear onto the shaft... dura spark II & tfi were such a pian with that problem that i bought a distributor from a junkie, installed new module/pick-up coil/cap/rotor and kept in under the seat on my 88 f150 , when it acted up, i'd pull over and swap the distributor and continue on my way, when i got home i'd rebiuld the bad distributor and put it back under the seat... [an ignition module (fender well mounted) for my '78 mustang cobra II]
