I have a problem with my 1988, 3.0. It will start with some trouble, then idles fine. When I go to push the gas, it just wants to die. It has no power whatsoever. I've changed the fuel pump and filter, the cold start timer and injector, the coil wire, checked all the vacuum solenoids on the right fender, messed with the timing and TPS settings and have almost pulled all my hair out. There are no codes on the diagnostic. Any suggestions out there? Thanks.

Check the tube from the air cleaner to the TB for cracks/holes. Pull it off and check it real good, happened to mine. If it is cracked, buy a new one.

No, the intake tube is in perfect shape. So are all the vacuum hoses. The only thing I did that may have caused this is installing a stereo and amps. It started to run lousy after the first start after that. It would only go 25mph at first and now it won't even take any throttle input. Might just be a coincidence. I'm stumped.

Unhook the power to the sterio and amps and see what happens.

Unhooking the power from the stereo equipment had no effect.

Well, I've also now changed the TPS, the fuel pressure regulator, and tried another O2 sensor, to no avail. I'm ready to push this thing off a cliff. Anyone have anything similar to this before?

try doing a leak down test. i am having the same problem and i think part of it might be a burnt valve. i'm leaking through my 3 cylinder exhaust valve.i just got done taking the heads off it for the second time this year. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Think of it from the computer's point of view. If a sensor or combination of sensors are telling the computer not to add fuel then it won't add it. So you could have some other sensors giving bad information to the computer or there could be something grounding out. Does the truck rev up slowly as you are in park/neutral and you give it gas slowly?

Timing belt??? Air, fuel and spark if you know you have all of those in good measure then start looking at things internally.

Solved! It was the fuel pressure damper, located under the upper intake manifold at the fuel rail where the fuel line enters. Must have been plugged. Replaced that and now it runs like new. It's a rare problem and was the LAST thing I suspected. There had been intermittent fuel pressure but it seemed OK after the fuel pump and pressure regulator were replaced. Checked pressure again after lots of fiddling around, and found it to be low again! Then I knew that there was still a blockage somewhere. It was expensive, but I'm glad to be driving again and not riding my motorcycle in the cold.