Truck will no longer crank over

[fingerflip135]

Need some help here, I am completely stumped. about a month ago I started my truck and sat in it warming it up. randomly the tac that had been installed in the truck before i bought it, started to smoke and the truck started sounding like it was missing in multiple cylinders, and wouldn't respond to any throttle. I shut the truck off disconnected the power to the tac and tried to start the truck, it was completely dead (I figured that the tac had shorted and killed the battery). when i put a booster pack on the battery it didn't crank at all. after spending a bunch off time inspecting all the wiring and fuses i tried tapping the starter and to my luck the truck started (i had no issues with the starter in the past). this morning i started the truck and when i was about the drive away, it started running rough again and wouldn't respond to throttle. I shut the truck off and same thing, it was dead again. tried tapping the starter again and nothing. hoping someone on here has any ideas, the truck is at my house right now and my tools are all at my shop, so I am limited to tests i can do right now. If anyone has a thought i would love to here it before i go through the trouble of getting the truck to my shop, Thanks.

 

[theblindchicken]

Just a shot in the dark, but check the coil. Aftermarket tachometers usually connect directly to the coil for the signal wire. So, if the coil shorted itself it may have caused a voltage spike that fried the tach. Then since the coil boosts the voltage to the spark plugs, it may be barely getting by with enough spark to keep it somewhat firing.

 

[fingerflip135]

I happened to have another distributor cap around, so i swapped it over. I tapped the starter a few more times to be sure and the truck fires up. Not sure if i fixed the problem, i guess ill just have to wait and see... thanks for the help hope its doesn't happen again!

 

[theblindchicken]

Glad to hear you got it going. Time will tell if that was the issue or not.