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Topic: Intermittent no-start (Read 2707 times) previous topic - next topic

Intermittent no-start

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
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1988 T/C body with a 5.0 transplant. Motor has a Vortech V-2 supercharger, Edlebrock Performer RPM II intake, heads, FRPP F-303 cam, Comp Cams roller rockers, Power Pipe, LMAF, full Mac exhaust, lowered, Koni's, 5 lug conversion, Cobra wheels, 13" Cobra brakes, etc.
SOLD September 2020. Will miss this car after 19 years of building/driving/showing it off. Time for a new chapter in my life.
Dynoed 446 horse/409 torque at the wheels.
2003 Tenth Anniversary Cobra Convertible. 1 of 369 Torch Red made.
2021 Chevrolet 3500 dually, crew cab Duramax.

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #1 –
Sounds like your starter solenoid is starting to go south
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #2 –
Might be time for a new TFI module. :ies:
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #3 –
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
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #4 –
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:
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Paul Flockhart
Sounds like your starter solenoid is starting to go south


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

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #6 –
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:
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #7 –
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?

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #8 –
I put my money on the PIP (profile ignition pickup).

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #9 –
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

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #10 –
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.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1988 T/C body with a 5.0 transplant. Motor has a Vortech V-2 supercharger, Edlebrock Performer RPM II intake, heads, FRPP F-303 cam, Comp Cams roller rockers, Power Pipe, LMAF, full Mac exhaust, lowered, Koni's, 5 lug conversion, Cobra wheels, 13" Cobra brakes, etc.
SOLD September 2020. Will miss this car after 19 years of building/driving/showing it off. Time for a new chapter in my life.
Dynoed 446 horse/409 torque at the wheels.
2003 Tenth Anniversary Cobra Convertible. 1 of 369 Torch Red made.
2021 Chevrolet 3500 dually, crew cab Duramax.
 

Re: Intermittent no-start

Reply #11 –
95  (O) Fuel pump: open, bad ground or always on - Power / Fuel Pump Circuits

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/OBD_I.html