Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Car won't start all of the sudden... (Read 8747 times) previous topic - next topic

Car won't start all of the sudden...

The Thunderbird won't start. It turns over for a split second, then dies immediately. I swapped the ignition switch simply because I have a new one and was going to anyway. No change. I pulled a spark plug, wet with fuel. SO, I swapped the ignition module, but was nearly frozen by then, so, had to call it a night. I'll try to start it tomorrow after work and make sure the timing is correct since I had to pull the distributor to swap the module. If that works, great, if not, could it be the coil? Very strange.

It tries to start, and does for a split second, then dies, I can try over and over after that, and it won't start, if it does, it's for a split second, then dies.My tach jumped when it dies. Weird. Again, maybe the ignition module or coil?

It truly sucks. EVERY single cent I get for the car has gone right back into trying to make it run right. I have to get Kitz paid for the heads, but the car will not stop needing something. Hopefully I'll get this right tomorrow. I REALLY want to ditch all the EFI stuff and get super basic with it. It's not in the forecast to have it dyno tuned or leave it with a shop. The only shop around here has cars for about 3 weeks. WAY behind always. SO, I have the honor of doing it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #1 –
Air, fuel, ignition. Without one of those, it won't run. Since your plugs are wet with fuel, I think you're on the right track by checking the ignition.

By ignition module, you mean the TFI? Did your rotor break inside the cap? Have a known good coil to put on? Just a couple simple things that won't cost anything but time to check/rule out as not being the issue.

Good luck..
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #2 –
What codes do you get?

Google sbftech efi no start. Know what's wrong without spending a dime.
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

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #3 –
Get back to basics. Check spark. Check fuel pressure and injector pulse. Sounds like spark. You have to do some trouble shooting. Also important is the fuel pressure but with wet plugs you are most likely ok there. But still check it. Without some trouble shooting we can not help you. relax and do some investigating and post back. You said it turns over for a second!! Does that mean it starts running?? If so it sounds like a fuel issue . Get a can of starting fluid and give it a little squirt and see what happens. But check the Fuel pressure Good luck
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #4 –
When I try to start the car, fuel pressure is around 38 to 40. The rotor and cap looked great. Brand new MSD parts. Not that a new part can't go bad, but they look perfect and have about 30 miles on them. I'm hoping for TFI or coil. Updates after work today. 

Tom, upon initial startup, the car starts for about 1 to 2 seconds. After that, it turns over but won't start. Like I said, the plugs are wet with fuel, so, I was thinking no spark to ignite as it should, or, not enough spark. I'll check it after work and see if the TFI module made the difference. If not, I'll swap the coil and try again. I will report in this evening.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #5 –
As discussed in marianadeeps' thread...perhaps a PIP issue...anywhere local you could get a spare dizzy to stab in?
Fuel pump relay...as Tom said..check with starting fluid. Rig up some wires or just use the screwdriver trick and start it from the engine bay with the air charge hose off, spray and see what happens. You're probably mass air, so disconnect some tiny vac line that you can fit an aerosol straw into. Starting fluid carb cleaner anything that says danger EXTREMELY flammable lol. Then MAYBE it'll burn well enough. Never thought I'd be disappointed with something that was "extremely flammable" but I have!
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #6 –
As was already mentioned, check for spark, go from there.

Also, I don't know if you have a MAF conversion, but my turbo cougar acted like that when the hose was loose on the back side of the MAF.
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #7 –
If it worked fine before the head and cam swap then you probably put something back together wrong, which has been causing all this grief. Check for codes and also check all the wiring. Maybe you pinched something, forgot a ground, etc.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #8 –
If you have another EEC swap it in and give it a try. Ford used to have a portable break out box that they could hook up to the EEC-IV cars and perform diagnostics.  I was having all kinds of weird issues when I converted my Coupe to a V8 and the break out box was used to determine my EEC was toast.  Swapped in a buddies and it started right up.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Aerocoupe;442646
If you have another EEC swap it in and give it a try. Ford used to have a portable break out box that they could hook up to the EEC-IV cars and perform diagnostics.  I was having all kinds of weird issues when I converted my Coupe to a V8 and the break out box was used to determine my EEC was toast.  Swapped in a buddies and it started right up.

Darren

I couldn't believe the IAC circuit on my black cat's A9L was truly fried. A guy at Moates told me via email that it's a really rare event but not an impossible one. Found this guy in FL on eBay that does all sorts of ECM's, a Benjamin later and I had a truly refreshed ECM. Works great, does all of the things it's supposed to.
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #10 –
The Bird has been running pretty well lately (last week or so), then this happened without warning. Heading home shortly to dedicate a litle time to it and see what happens with the replacement TFI module. If that doesn't do it, I'll swap the coil. After that, I'll head to the computer probably. I can't help but think it's spark. The plug was soaked in fuel. That has never happened before.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #11 –
Dont forget the PIP. Also stay away from those aftermarket ignition parts. THEY SUCK. Good luck brother hang in there we will get you through this.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #12 –
Yeah, to echo Tom, I prefer Motorcraft replacement electronics as well. Might be a bit more costly than the cheapo oreilly stuff, but it will last longer.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #13 –
Very sad but true. ^^^
The stuff is ubiquitous but garbage. I guess it'll get you home in a pinch.
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Car won't start all of the sudden...

Reply #14 –
I have been replacing all the sensors and electronic parts with Motorcraft pieces. I installed the TFI module two days ago, then it was too bloody cold to stay out, so, today I started the car, and it runs again. I made sure the timing was O.K. I probably need to do the idle set again since I swapped the throttle body a while back and the TPS had to be adjusted. It's a Professional Products piece with the adjustable TPS top. I'll take it out tomorrow and see what happens.

Maybe unrelated...on normal driving days, even up to highway speeds, the car doesn't smoke, but on hard acceleration, it tossed out some grayish smoke. What the .
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..