Impossible to start when warm and stalled. May 09, 2011, 09:15:25 AM My stock 85 5.0 with cfi has been giving me trouble, but no CEL(can there be codes without a CEL?). After maybe 20 minutes of normal driving it's impossible to restart for 10 minutes. It cranks fine at first but won't start, if you keep trying it cranks slower. Let it sit for awhile and fires right up. That was tolerable, I could deal with that no big deal.However yesterday after a 100 mile trip back from my parents for the weekend it stalled at a light and was of course as always impossible to start. I will admit I had it in neutral and was revving it a bit, let it get back to normal idle before putting it back in drive(learned from my escort neutral drops are very bad).Before the stall I had thought maybe my starting system wasn't getting enough voltage due to corroded cables, but I now question that. Next time it gives me trouble starting I'm gonna pop the hood and open the air cleaner and see if the injectors are firing or not. Any other suggestions? Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #1 – May 09, 2011, 09:53:49 AM What about the starter or starter solenoid? How old are they? Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #2 – May 09, 2011, 10:01:09 AM probably original...or at least pretty old lol. Was gonna get the solenoid first since it's cheaper only $13. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #3 – May 09, 2011, 10:01:21 AM My first question is why is is stalling out? The starting issue would not be an issue if it was not stalling, correct? Fix the stalling problem and then move on to the starting problem. The stalling problem could be due to low voltage and that could be caused by battery, alternator, wires, etc. If the voltage is good then start looking at spark or fuel issues like a bad coil or ignition module. Then move on to the fuel system i.e. the fuel pump, filter, or injectors not firing. I cannot remember if the distributor on the CFI cars have the hall effect sensors but if they do check the pick-up in the distributor as it may be on the way out. You may have already checked or replaced some of this stuff so make a list and start working through it, cheap/free stuff first then move on to what will cost you $$$.A DVM is your friend so if you don't have one get one.Darren Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #4 – May 09, 2011, 10:55:24 AM Aerocoupe is probably right on. If voltages are bad it will stall and not restart especially if the TPS isn't seeing the correct voltage. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #5 – May 09, 2011, 10:58:08 AM Sounds like its flooding out. I had that problem when one of my o2 wires burned through on the exhaust causing the computer to think the left bank was always lean. To fix it I used to disconnect the salt and pepper shakers and start the engine. It would crank and run for a few seconds and die (burned up the excess fuel). Not sure how to do something similar on a CFI.I would try to track down why it is stalling first however. Check for vac leaks as I seem to recall that CFI engines are particularly finicky about fluxing manifold pressure. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #6 – May 09, 2011, 11:05:19 AM Those distributor modules on the CFI cars were problematic due to heat and led to a recall back in the day, if I remember. Although when the one died on my Colony Park it just quit without warning and never restarted. Ignition timing advanced too far can make a hot engine hard to restart / turnover slow. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #7 – May 10, 2011, 12:54:31 AM Pull codes. You don't have a CEL. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #8 – May 10, 2011, 08:17:55 AM I was going to say maybe the PIP or the TFI module, if the CFI have those things. Get the codes pulled before you start throwing parts at it. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #9 – May 10, 2011, 11:41:03 PM I'll call around to get codes read tomorrow if I don't work which is likely.edit-I ran it with out the air cleaner top on to see if I could see anything obvious. The fuel puddles on the butterflies...is that normal? Should I shoot a video so you see exactly what I'm talking about? It hasn't stalled at all since the one time, it does sound like it's missing when I let off the gas and slow down before a stop. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #10 – May 11, 2011, 07:17:44 AM Buy a spark tester. They are pretty cheap. Then, next time it stalls, jump out and put the spark tester on and crank the engine and see if you have spark. That will help determine if the problem is in the ignition system. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #11 – May 12, 2011, 09:35:48 AM I called around yesterday and most places said you can't read the codes but I know different...if I don't find a place today I'll use my test light. That should work right? I did notice the distributor was loose...so going by pictures I had taken the day I got the car I adjusted it back as close as possible to that position and that helped a lil. The idle still fluctuates a lot when cold, so I'm hoping to have the time to check things out more today. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #12 – May 12, 2011, 09:47:44 AM Get yourself a chunk of wire and an buttstuffog volt meter (or test lamp) and follow these instructions:http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13Connect the test light to selftest out. Ground STI and turn the car to on. Should start pumping out blinks. If you miss blinks, don't worry, It will repeat eventually.Its for SEFI but I believe it works on the CFI as well.-DZ Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #13 – May 12, 2011, 09:59:38 AM Quote from: Nytedragon;359759 I did notice the distributor was loose...so going by pictures I had taken the day I got the car I adjusted it back as close as possible to that position and that helped a lil. The idle still fluctuates a lot when cold, so I'm hoping to have the time to check things out more today. You have to get your timing set properly before you do anything else. You cant just eyeball it. Quote Selected
Impossible to start when warm and stalled. Reply #14 – May 24, 2011, 09:21:34 PM Solved...don't know if there is anything throwing codes no place in town will read eec-iv codes. I changed the fuel filter since i had one on hand, and checked the battery cables...the ground terminal at the battery was corroded as hell. No more stalling, idles smooth as glass. I will get codes read asap. Quote Selected
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