I've got an 88 T/C body with a 5.0 HO transplant. Car has been running great for two years. One day last week the car wouldn't start. It cranked fine. I didn't have time to investigate so I let it sit for a couple days, then I tried it and it started right up. Let it sit for a couple more days, again it starts right up.
Today, being a nice day, I thought I'd take it to work. It started right up. At lunch, I went out to run a few errands and it started right up. Stopped to get gas and when I went to start it again, it wouldn't start. Cranks hard and strong, just won't fire. Didn't have any tools with me and I haven't checked for spark yet.
Depressed the shrader valve on my adjustable fuel pressure regulator and fuel sprayed out. All my grounds appear to be clean and tight. Any ideas on where to start looking? Car only sees dry roads and nice weather and always garaged.
Thanks,
Rick
Sounds like your starter solenoid is starting to go south
Might be time for a new TFI module. :ies:
Hmm didn't even think of that. could br one or the other. I've never actually had the intermittent start problem where the cause was the module, but others here have.... Mine always just die without warning at highway speeds. Last time I was in my little 92 Topaz doing 40 and it just stalled out and wouldn't start back up. I'm selling it soon. Will post pics
Yea, a friend of mine had an old Escort that would start and run for about 20 min. then die. We had to let it cool down for a few min. and then it would start again..LOL. PITA. :ies:
well,,,, maybe but not likely cause it starts and turns over real strong.
id go with a TFI module but more likely it sounds like the stator assy / pickup module.
or.........
those two temp related components that work to shut down spark for you in an overheating situation,,,,,,,,,
coolant temp sender
intake air charge temp sensor
I had the exact same problem. When I got the other cougar I switched out tps sensors thinking that mine was bad. Didnt change anything. Later that day I got stranded at a freinds house overnight. Went out and it started right up.(My dad still dosent belive me even though it happend to him too) Later I realized that I didnt switch them back. After that no problems with starting from either of them. :wtf:
It could also be the inertia switch. It seems like when they get old and the weather starts getting colder, the spring pops up and won't stay down, cutting off the fuel to the engine. When you turn the key forward, but not to the 'start' position, can you hear the fuel pump turn on at all?
I put my money on the PIP (profile ignition pickup).
If its a tfi or pip chances are a code would be set. It might not be a bad idea to pull codes at this point
Finally made time to look at the car last night. Before I started to troubleshoot, I figured I'd try starting it. F@#$%n thing started up!! Well, since I just came back from Pep Girls with a fuel pressure gauge ($40) I figured I'd run fuel pump diagnostics on the car. I started at the EEC TEST connector. Fuel pump relay responded and the pump would run fine. I checked fuel pressure and it was right at 40 lbs.
Well, let's see if I can get any error codes out. I jumper from the Self-Test Input connector to the Signal Return and with a test light attached to the Self-Test Output the tester starts to flash. There were 4 or 5 single flashes followed by 9 then 5 then 9 then 5 again. then they stopped. I cycled the ignition switch and re-did the test with similar results.
Anyone recognize these codes??????
Figured I'd try starting the car and let it run then check the fuel pressure with it running. Car starts then stumbles a couple of times and dies. It restarts once then it won't start again. Back to testing at the EEC connector. Trying to pull codes and I only get a "dull" response from the test light bulb. WTF!!!. I try checking my jumper wire and move the EEC connector and the fuel pump relay and fuel pump start to cycle. I think I have a bad wire connection in my harness where the EEC/STI connectors break out. It was late and I didn't feel like tearing into the harness. I'll let everybody know how I make out when I get back at it.
95 (O) Fuel pump: open, bad ground or always on - Power / Fuel Pump Circuits
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OBD_I.html (http://)