Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

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Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

March 19, 2009, 09:10:05 AM

I'm sure many have experienced this happening, but I just wanted to share my own experience of this frustrating and very scary occurrance.

Yesterday I had to take my 16y/o son to the ER for abdominal pain, which turned out to be an abdominal hernia requiring him to see a surgeon. As per family tradition following a medical visit, I took him to McDonalds for a chocolate shake. In order to get home, we had to get on the highway to make the 1/2 mile journey to the connector. About 1/4 mile from the stop light, the car shuddered and jolted then the engine completely cut out at 40 mph. Thankfully at the time there wasn't any traffic so I was able to put in neutral and coast to the stoplight, where we were at the head of the line. Repeated attempts to restart the engine failed, but due to this being a busy intersection, knew we couldn't stay there until the car chose to restart.

Still wearing a hospital gown over jeans, my son had me leave it in neutral and told me to cut the wheel so he could push the car when the light turned green. I don't know how he did it, under the influence of morphine and still in pain, but ignoring it, my son managed to push me until I'd maneuvered around the corner and was able to coast back into the the front entrance of the hospital. Even though he said he was fine, I had him rechecked. According to the ER staff, there were no problems so we went back to our parked car (amazingly between the lines) to try to restart it, which of course failed to respond. Frustrated, we caught the bus and went home.

Later in the evening after my daughter got home from work, we went back to the car to see if maybe it would start and get it home. Woohoo, it started up on the first try and made it the 4 mile journey home with no issues. Once there, I got online and looked up the pricing for the TFI module. Gawds was that a c as most auto parts stores have it listed as the Ignition Module (being such a newbie, it took me about 30 minutes to figure that out..duh). Nothing like confusing a person. Anywho, the price I settled on was $36 from Autozone.

So, the long short of it is, Saturday after getting my tools and the in-stock module, I plan on changing it out along with plugs and wires. Wish us luck!

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #1 – March 19, 2009, 09:34:55 AM

Glad you got it all figured out. Hope your son is okay.

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #2 – March 19, 2009, 10:36:04 AM

Make sure you use heat sink compound on the new module. If none comes with the new module, make a stop by a Radio SHack or the like to pick some up. Don't use dielectric grease.

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #3 – March 20, 2009, 03:29:05 PM

Thank you 86XR7 for the well wishes..hardest thing to do is keep a 16y/o from being active..ugh..lol.

Thanks to you also Chuck W. on the guidance concerning the heat sink compound..greatly appreciated!

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #4 – March 20, 2009, 11:00:09 PM

The alumminum looking tfi tool sucks just so you know. You will need one, or a thin walled 5.5mm socket I think. Its not a bad job, but always happends at the wrong time.

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #5 – March 20, 2009, 11:48:01 PM

i used a deepwell thin walled 7/32 6 point socket when i did my this week .

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #6 – March 21, 2009, 03:48:30 AM

I didnt see where you concluded its a TFI. Im sure a new TFI would be nice but if on a budget the its money wasted. Just because a web site says this is the problem doesnt mean it is (but I hope your right). It is very easy to change and you might get lucky.

any 7/32 can be grinded down to thin wall,, make you a TFI socket for a car specific tool.

if its a v6, your going to need to remove some things out of your way in order to get in there,maybe not but good luck.

There is no crime if you loosen the distributor hold down bolt as to rotate the distributor in order to get to the two bolts.
YOu must first mark where the distributor was located by marking the shaft to the intake with something you have like a sharpie, lipstick:hick: , or just a pencil ect.

Dont want to scare you but it has been my experience that when your car takes a dump like that,, its not the TFI,, its the "stator assembly" or "pick up" or "PIP" or "Hall Effect" assembly down inside the distributor. Yes, that has that many names.

If that needs changed,, you will know because a TFI did not fix it.

You should really pull codes first.

A bad TFI ususally produces weak or orangish looking spark at your plugs. A no spark condition usuallly points to a bad stator, which in turn requires the dizzy be pulled out and broke down and stator installed. I dont suggest you do this,, not that you cant,, its just that this is something best done by someone who's not the least bit uncomfortable or else you just ate your expensive distributor.

Another part that would cause your car to just up and stop like that would be a failed fuel pump. Another test all together different as you probably know. One good way to eleminate if it is a fuel pump is when the car is failing to start, have someone beat on the bottom of the tank like hell with a block of wood, rubber hammer ect while you are cranking. If like magic it starts up, the likelyhood of a bad pump has just presented itself.

Next item up for bid,,, dont rely on aftermarket parts for the following items...........
TFI
TPS
Stator
Map

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #7 – March 22, 2009, 11:35:50 AM

Thanks for the info jcassity, daddybair7, and Haystack. More information is always welcome, especially to someone like me..just starting out with learning to fix my own car. (snot, I'm still learning what all these tools are for.)

I wasn't solely relying on a website to diagnose my engine problem, but instead from other members of this forum with the same issue and upon the word of a trusted mechanic that took a look at my car when i had problems with it earlier in the week. I also spoke to the original owner who stated they'd never changed out the TFI or acted upon the class action recall by Ford of this part. They had changed out the starter and fuel pump, but the problem persisted. The owner said it was 'just something he learned to live with'. I don't want to just live with it, I'd like to try and fix it, even though I know that this particular part and placement tends to be a repeat offender concerning engine problems.

And you're right, it may not be the TFI, but the only way I'm going to find out, is to systematically work my way through it..starting with the TFI and harness. I know I didn't mention the harness being replaced in my earlier post, I just assumed that it would be natural to replace both at the same time.

Thanks again and enjoy the weekend!

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #8 – March 22, 2009, 10:10:19 PM

I'm glad you managed to stop safely. It happened to me twice. Once when I was going 45 up a slight incline, and once when I was going 35 down a steep one with a red light at the bottom. It's a heart-stopping experience. I'm amazed that with the class-action suit and with all the vehicles that were affected by it that no one came out with a relocation kit. I'd buy one in a second.

Finally experienced TFI failure on the highway

Reply #9 – March 22, 2009, 10:20:01 PM

If you pull the codes, it might help more.