Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Topics

This section allows you to view all Topics made by this member. Note that you can only see Topics made in areas you currently have access to.

Topics - jpc647

46
Misc Tech / EGR System and EGR Tube Operation Questions
Is there an operation explanation of this anywhere? I don't see one in my shop manuals. I'm looking to find out if the EGR system is even functional in Park/Neutral, is the exhaust gasses even recirculate under these conditions. Or if they are supposed to, and they are not, what would cause this. I got the check engine codes, we all discussed in other threads, but I'm trying to look outside the box on this one.

Some of you may know, or could just point me in the direction of the information. I tried an advanced search, but didn't come up with what I was looking for.
47
Misc Tech / Build Sheets
Does anyone have a build sheet for their 87-88 Thunderbird in really nice shape? Anyone with access to a decent scanner? Mine is dilapidated and in pieces to say the least, and just so have, I wanted to use the computer to make one. I don't want to claim it as the original or anything, not that it would be worth anymore, it wouldn't. I just want to transfer whats on the tattered paper to a nicer one.
48
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars WANTED / Power Door Lock Relays from 87-88
I need a set of power door lock relays. They are the two black plugs which can be found underneath the passenger seat. I thought I had a set, but I can't find them. Anyone got any? Preferable ones that can be tested right quick before removed?

Let me know. It's either the relays or the switches, and I have the switches, so It'd like to have these in case it turns out to be the problem.
49
Electrical Tech / Door Locks locking by themselves-Problem Solved
My door locks on my 88 thunderbird keep trying to lock by themselves. The door locks themselves don't even move up and down, but I can hear the actuators trying to engage by themselves. Is there some kind of a computer which controls them? I tried disconnecting the battery to no avail.

If I try to lock the doors, it does the same thing, the door locks don't move but you can hear the actuators trying to move, happens on both doors.
51
Engine Swapping / Anyone Swapped an 1987 5.0 into a bird/cougar originally with a 3.8l?
As the title states I'm looking for anyone who has an 1988 Thunderbird or Cougar and who swapped in a 1987 Thunderbird or Cougar 5.0. Hopefully there is someone on here. I have a code 67 and I'm wondering if someone else did the same swap and got the same issue. I don't know if it was there before the swap.

It's a shot in the dark, but I thought I would try.
52
Engine Tech / Idle Problem-Again
I thought I posted a thread about this, but I can't seem to find it. Maybe it was deleted. I have a 1988 Ford Thunderbird with a 1987 Thunderbird 5.0 swapped into it. I used an 88 harness from a 5.0 and everything plugged right it. But my problem is my car does not want to idle. the problem has been getting worse and worse as time goes on and now it is rendering the car almost un-driveable.

When the car is warm(after running for 5 minutes of so), sometimes when I shift out of park and into reverse or drive, the car will die. It'll start right up. Other times if I am sitting at a red light, the car starts to shake and the engine will die. It'll start right up, but its rather annoying. The car shows no problems while  maintaining speed, or accelerating. Even during deceleration, until I hit about 5mph you would not know where is a problem with the car.

I have changed the TPS, and reset the base idle. I have change the IAC with a known good one, and the problem persists. I know the car needs a tune up, but could this cause this problem? I need to try to fix the car this weekend, as I live at school and will be home this weekend. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Engine codes are only one for a neutral safety switch, which has been there since the engine swap, and I would bet it not that, because I wouldn't think that problem can get worse as time goes on.

Code 33 I believe, which is the EGR valve is not opening. I got one TPS out of range, but since I swapped the TPS that went away.
53
Engine Tech / Idle Surge Problem
The typical idle surge problem many of us experience has recently gotten a lot worse in my car. It used to only do it in park or nuetral when the car was first started, but not it is starting to do it in drive as well. The idle rolls enough to sort of jolt the car forward and if you dont hit the cars when it's doing this the car will die. It fires right back up, but I can't be doing this in traffic.

I got a TPS code 23 i believe and I replaced it, cleared codes and it never came back. I do not have any other codes except the EGR valve opening not detected and one for a nuetral safety switch(which I have had for years). Tapping on the IAC doesn't change the problem either, its sparatic, but happens usually at least twice a day.

Thought someone else might have the same problem.
54
Engine Tech / Random High Engine Idle
I took my EGR valve off the car today to clean it out and inspect it. I cleaned it out with carb/brake cleaner, and put it back on. When I started the car a couple of hours later, the engine spikes up to like 3000rpm. I don't have a tachometer in the car, but its high, its more than the car would be running at doing 70-75 mph on the highway. Any thoughts? What with the EGR could cause this? It got dark before I could really inspect it, but I know everything was connected again. I'll look at it tomorrow, but thought I would post here tonight, just to get a couple of ideas in the right direction to go it.
55
Engine Tech / Spout Connector Differences. HELP!
Is there a difference between a spout connector for the 3.8l fuel injected cars, and the fuel injector 5.0, standard output engines? Mine was taken out today to check the timing one more time and lost. My father had a hole in his pocket and when the dog took off, it fell out somewhere. I can't find one from the parts store, but still have the one from the 1988 3.8 engine harness. Anyone know?

Please chime in.
56
Engine Tech / Fuel Pressure on a 1987 5.0 SO
If one were to test the fuel pressure on a 1987 Thunderbird 5.0 SO, at the little nipple valve on the fuel rail, what should it be? I tested it with the car running. I'm trying to figure out if i'm not getting enough fuel into the injectors, hence the injector clicking noise. And I did get a code relating to a fuel pump problem.

Anyone know? I tried looking in the book, but I didn't seem to find it.
57
Drivetrain Tech / Rear End/Speedometer Gear Question
I'm sure this question has been asked, but a search didn't show me what I was looking for.

When I swapped in my 87 thunderbird engine and AOD tranny from the car, I left the stock rear end. It is a one leg, 3.08 rear end, which came mated to the 1988 thunderbird 3.8lv6.

I have a vss signal error message when I run codes, and I'm guessing I have the wrong speedometer gear, so either vss thinks the car is going faster or slower. Having a 3.08 rear as opposed to the 2.73 limited slip rear the v8 came with, I would assume the speedometer would read higher than my actual speed, correct? What gear would I need to put in the tranny to make it accurate for the 3.08 rear? Is it hard to change a speedo gear? Are they expensive?
58
Misc Tech / Got some more engine codes today
Well I've been getting a clicking noise from possibly and injector, so I decided to run codes. I got:

67: Which I know has to do with a nuetral safety switch, I always have this, and we can't seem to figure it out. So I'm not worried, I guess.

Saved Codes:

51:ECT sensor signal is greater than the Self-Test maximum of 4.6 volts.
63:TPS circuit below minimum 0.6 volts.
87:Fuel pump primary circuit failure. When the FP relay was activated by the EEC, voltage was not detected on the control circuit. Or : Voltage was not detected on Fuel Pump Monitor while the engine was running.
33:EGR valve opening not detected.
29:Insufficient input from vehicle speed sensor.

 Now, codes 33 and 29 have showed up before. I think 29 is because the transmission and motor were swapped into a car with a 3.08 rear end, but the speedometer gear was not changed so my mph might be a little off. The EGR valve seems to be okay, I swapped in a known good one I got from Vinnie, and it's still there, not sure what that means.

As far as the TPS is concerned, could this have anything to do with my rolling idle? What causes this problem?

Anyone got any suggestions for the fuel pump one? Does this mean it's not putting out the needed pressure? I'm thinking maybe this is related to the clicking in my injectors?

Where the hell is the ECT? Is this the temperature sender for the gauge inside the car?
60
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars WANTED / 1987 or 1988 Emissions Manual
Does anyone have one? It seems everything I try to look up recently in the shop manuals refers to this extra book, and I can't seem to find it. Does anyone have one for 87 or 88? It'd be interested in buying it.