TC -out

Topic: TC -out (Read 1785 times) previous topic - next topic

TC -out

March 27, 2012, 06:12:20 PM

So after a $100 trip to the car dr, I found out that my problem is a misfire, not a vacuum leak or spark plug problem (since I did a tune up). The problem is still unknown and another $100 will fly out of my wallet to find it

So unfortunately it's not something simple like I put my intercooler back on wrong or a spark plug is bad..I guess I find out tonight.

Oddly enough, this precise (me thinks) problem happened to my 1983 TC..I guess it's a thunderbird thing? It cannot be the ECM because the 83 has a new ECM and still does the same thing. Hardcore hunt. Car misses hardcore at idle and warming up, doesn't want to take off from a stop, and if I press down the gas pedal too much it surges like mad. T5 tranny I should mention. Any thoughts/ideas? I don't want the shop BSing me. I could a video of cold idle and driving if you wanna listen

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Reply #1 – March 27, 2012, 06:30:12 PM

Have you checked for codes?

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Reply #2 – March 27, 2012, 09:07:23 PM

I am betting it is the TFI if you already did everything else in the tune up. Its the sensor that is on the distributor.

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Reply #3 – March 27, 2012, 10:01:44 PM

Its probably the TFI.....it could also be the Pip.

Travis

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Reply #4 – March 28, 2012, 02:08:02 AM

It can't be the TFI..when the TFI went out on my 83 Tbird the entire car wouldn't start =P It wouldn't even turn over. It's hard to say..my 83 has this exact same problem that popped up with my 87 after the tune up. on the 83 i replaced the entire fuel system (almost literally), the MAF, air filter, most the sensors, the TFI, spark plugs, spark plug wires, cap, rotor, fuel pump, oil, oil filter, but we did check the compression and one of the cylinders was on the lower side of the still okay zone...hopefully not low compression. But if it is in fact the TFI I'll be so pissed cuz I woulda dumped $200 into something as simple as that, and those things are easy to replace

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Reply #5 – March 28, 2012, 02:14:34 AM

Also the guy said my EGR valve was leaking a bit but it wouldn't cause any of the symptoms I'm having with my car

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Reply #6 – March 28, 2012, 03:12:06 AM

What brand TFI? I convinced myself for 2 months, the drivability issues I had was not the new generic TFI, swapped on the original from my 86GT, no more problems!

(the generic works fine on the 86) Go figure

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Reply #7 – March 28, 2012, 09:22:29 AM

Have you checked the timing belt and tensioner? I am not 100% sure what you mean by misfire but my '85 TC never had the umph I thought it should. Had a friend who is pretty good with turbo cars take a look at it and found the timing belt slipped a tooth. After replacing the timing belt and tensioner it was like night and day.

Darren

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Reply #8 – March 28, 2012, 01:44:20 PM

Well with my car the TFI was slowly going out. It wasnt an all of a sudden thing. Sitting idling i could hear it and when i drove around it would jerk alot. When i floored it, it seemed fine. When i got the TFI changed, it ran as smooth is butter. I bought a brand new TFI from ford.

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Reply #9 – March 28, 2012, 11:55:30 PM

Okay folks here are the results! Ford Motorcraft sucks, new spark plug was a dud..the part you put the spark plug wire on (I guess it's called the insulation) was lose (sucks I didn't notice that!). Here is the other things I found out from the tests that will be of future concern.

1) EGR valve is leaking past stem. What exactly does that mean? Does it mean I have to replace that EGR part?

2) exhaust leak..that's very obvious..going to do a patch job at some point. Going to replace maybe 3" of pipe in between the cat and exhaust for now, cut off the tailpipe past the ler and put and angled tip to the ground...sound good to keep it holding a few months?

3) Car died during KOER test...maybe the computer is going bad? If I have to replace the computer can i put the 88 TC comp in the 87 TC and will I get full boost n stuff in the first 2 gears?

4) Code 25 - No knock signal during self test (suspect code set when vehicle stalled)...not sure why that popped up...again probably the computer?

5) Code 76 - MAF too low. Does that mean that not enough air is being let in? The shop thinks this is happening b/c the computer is sending improper codes to the MAF.

Finally, there is a loose yellow wire that pops out near the intercooler, along the left side of the engine bay. Not sure where it goes, but there is a connector. I could post a photo of what it looks like.

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Reply #10 – March 28, 2012, 11:56:46 PM

Oh, the timing belt is cracking so that is going to get changed ASAP

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Reply #11 – March 29, 2012, 12:03:17 AM

If the porcelain was broken, could have been dropped at one point, or maybe socket was not square on the plug. Easy to happen!

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Reply #12 – March 29, 2012, 12:36:02 AM

Unfortunately so...but it wasn't dropped, over tightened or anything. I blame it on Ford haha