Help!

Topic: Help! (Read 2282 times) previous topic - next topic

Help!

August 24, 2010, 09:28:14 PM

My Father just called, He broke down several miles from our house on the way home from work...
We have insurance, And a Tow Truck should be covered to bring him home.

This is our only road worthy vehicle of the moment, And he doesn't know whats wrong with it...

It's not back yet, But I'm probably gonna need some help diagnosing whats wrong, Would be greatly appreciated.

The vehicle is a 1989 Aerostar Automatic.

I've just recently put a bunch of work into it (with not much success for the main concern) by having to change out all the solenoids, lines hoses, tranny filters, fluids etc~Because the tranny has a VERY late shift into 3rd.
Also had to change out several other things, Rotors, Pads, Squirrel wheel, etc.

Anyway,
I went out with him last night and I did notice while it was sitting in park, The idle was erratic~Doing what i would call "pulsing".

Is there anyway at all the tranny could be stopping it from running?

It does need an oil change and a new pan gasket, as it has been leaking pretty bad, But we keep it topped up.

Anyway,
More details when he gets back and i dive into it~Just getting this started 'cuz im sure I'll need some help.

*Update:
Tow truck place said hour and a half to get there because they are very busy. >.<

Help!

Reply #1 – August 24, 2010, 09:37:27 PM

Need to know what it was doing when it stalled. Was he decelerating? Did it sputter or just shut down?

Help!

Reply #2 – August 24, 2010, 10:28:49 PM

Pull codes if you can. there isn't much anyway to make a tranny live behind those.

Help!

Reply #3 – August 24, 2010, 11:36:24 PM

Tow Truck just pulled in with it.

Dad says all it did when it did was this:
He was driving along normally, Then all the dash lights lit up and it just died and rolled to a coast~No sputtering or anything, Just all the dash lights lit up and it calmly died."

When i try and start it, It makes a loud clunk (Like the starter is is sticking?) and nothing happens.

I've got a code reader, I'll go plug that in~But i cant start it.

*Update:
Got code "18 c - Loss of tachometer input/IDM circuit failure/SPOUT circuit grounded"
WTF? *Googles*

Help!

Reply #4 – August 25, 2010, 12:07:52 AM

Dist Module Again?
Had one go bad a few months ago, Took the one off the Thunderbird and put it on~Now apparently it's bad again?

Everythings closed now, $40 for a new one... I'll probably just walk down to the JY tomorrow.
Anything else I might be missing?

Help!

Reply #5 – August 25, 2010, 12:57:33 AM

BAD news...
Took the module off, Terminals were corroded~Cleaned them and re-installed.
One of the module screws broke off.

It started for 2secs, made clunky noises from the distributor/crank area and died~now it just turns over when you try and start it.
HOWEVER,
It is now clunking as it turns over... The clunking sound is from the bellhousing area roughly.

Help!

Reply #6 – August 25, 2010, 01:18:54 AM

Ok...
After trying to start it a few more times with it clunking something moved/grinded in the thunking area...
2more codes showed (14 and 96, Which have nothing to do with anything ATM).

Assuming its catastrophic and not worth fixing at this point. I'm sick of this thing.

Help!

Reply #7 – August 25, 2010, 07:24:06 AM

sounds like the pinion gear on the dizzy is got no or very worn teeth on it. The 3.0's with the dizzy do have this issue. id say pull it and take a look.

Help!

Reply #8 – August 25, 2010, 03:04:42 PM

I was thinking that it might be something like that, Thanks!
I'll try and figure out how to pull it today, It did NOT look easy with how that engine is crammed in there.

Help!

Reply #9 – August 25, 2010, 04:21:02 PM

*Bangs head on desk*
Got the Distributor out, Gear looks great...

Any other ideas? I'm about out of guesses.

Help!

Reply #10 – August 25, 2010, 06:40:32 PM

>.<
I've just gone out and played with the distributor some more, Then tried hand cranking...
It cannot make a full revolution without getting caught up on "something" but with alot of force it can force through it, But just continually gets caught on whatever it is.
It takes so much force that the battery cannot even move it now, I'll back it off enough and try and start it~The it just gets stuck on the "spot" and kills the battery~Have to keep fixing my radio station. ;-)

Crankshaft broken maybe?... :punchballs:

Help!

Reply #11 – August 25, 2010, 06:50:16 PM

If you can, check to see it a torque converter bolt has backed out .

Help!

Reply #12 – August 25, 2010, 08:34:37 PM

Quote from: hypostang;333445

If you can, check to see it a torque converter bolt has backed out .

Is it still making a racket from the bell housing area? Sounds plausible if so.

The only other time I had trouble with cranking like that was when I was screwing around with the distributor, so I would definitely reset your timing to zero by TDC'ing Cylinder 1 to be sure.

It's amazing what a few degrees of timing will do to the cranking of your engine. Mine wouldn't even turn over at a certain setting.

Help!

Reply #13 – August 25, 2010, 09:04:37 PM

I'm on to something, But i cant get this oil pan off~Supposedly i have to unbolt and move the tranny back 6mm. >.<

Here some advice on Aerostars: STAY AWAY. LoL.

Help!

Reply #14 – August 25, 2010, 09:23:40 PM

Pull the spark plugs and try to turn it over, I had a fuel pressure regulator go bad once and it filled the cylinders with gas, the starter would not turn the engine over because of the hydraulic force the full cylinders caused, if that is the problem you will need to change your oil, it will have gas in it.