I bought a non running 1988 turbo coupe with a 5 speed, I also had a 88 TC but auto. The auto bird sat for 5 years and when I when to start it it wouldn't so I got rid of the 5 yr old gas and with a little starter fluid it fired right up. It ran for 15 min and died and would not start. I heard the door in the VAM bouncing around and at the time did not know what it was. The only way it would start is if I held the VAM door open. So I throuhgt it was junk and I could not get a nother one from ford so I bought a nother 88TC 5 spd rust free. I did a motor transplant because the auto tc only had 65,000 and the new one had almost 200,000. Well I went through the motor with all new gaskets and sensors get everything together and the car wont start. Well I decide to hold the door open on the VAM that came with the new car and it fired up. Why wont it start on its own has anyone else had a problem with a VAM will converting it to mass air from moderperformanceinc.com solve my problem. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!
Nothing from Modern Performance will help you.
First, run codes (at least the KOEO since you can't do a KOER w/out the car running), check timing (cam and ignition), check FP.
Also, pay a visit to TURBOFORD (http://www.turboford.org)...for your more 2.3T-specific questions....
When cranking the engine should pull enough vaccum to slightly open the VAM.. Possibly you have a leak in the intake track or a bad VAM... Also weak fuel pressure could be a problem, or a bad temp sensor can cause starting problems(so possibly the problem is not VAM related).
As Chuck stated it would be a good idea to start with the codes