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Topic: Misfire - '88 TC (Read 2606 times) previous topic - next topic

Misfire - '88 TC

My car began misfiring at idle and lower RPM's.  Revved up and in the boost it appeared as if the miss would disappear.

I started with changing the spark plugs (gap .028 to .03), new wires, cap & rotor.  Ran better, but misfire was still present.  Borrowed a smoke machine to check for vacuum leaks and nothing present.

Ran Codes:
10 System Check
11 Pass Code
14 Ignition Profile Pickup Circuit Failure (PIP)
41 O2 code for out of range or low voltage (makes sense with misfire)

I was under the impression if the PIP has a problem, starting the car becomes difficult or impossible?

Could this be simply the PIP going bad?

Side note, a week before this happened my daughter turned 16 y.o. and I was giving lessons with the 'Bird since she claims it is her's when I sell.  She needs some more lessons and how to control the gas pedal without hitting the redline.  Kinda wish i put the MSD in with the rpm limit.





1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #1 –
Check your distributor/aux shaft gears.

I had a set worn enough to cause a misfire at different engine speeds.

Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Mikey97D – on
I was under the impression if the PIP has a problem, starting the car becomes difficult or impossible?

Restarting the warm motor does when the PIP or TFI module goes from my experience with them.
"Beating the hell out of other peoples cars since 1999"
1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage
1984 Ford Mustang GT Turbo Convertible
2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0 EcoBoost

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #3 –
 :frown:
now I am scared......
will try pulling the distributor tonight.  thanks guys!
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #4 –
If it is it aint that big of a deal to replace it like people make it out to be, pulling the distributor and reinstalling it was harder than rebuilding it for me.
"Beating the hell out of other peoples cars since 1999"
1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage
1984 Ford Mustang GT Turbo Convertible
2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0 EcoBoost

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #5 –
Some edges but nothing too bad on the gear.  Phew!


Now to find a PIP!
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #6 –
Look down at the aux gear as well, just to verify.

Mine would drop cyl #3 at idle, but then come back when engine speed came up.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Chuck W – on
Look down at the aux gear as well, just to verify.

Mine would drop cyl #3 at idle, but then come back when engine speed came up.
Thanks for the heads up.

Just checked the motor side and it looks better than the distributor gear.

Tomorrow a new pip is supposed to arrive from Summit.  Had trouble finding one even listed at the local parts stores.
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #8 –
Did you get the PIP sensor?
Was it the right one?
"Beating the hell out of other peoples cars since 1999"
1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage
1984 Ford Mustang GT Turbo Convertible
2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0 EcoBoost

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Ductape91 – on
Did you get the PIP sensor?
Was it the right one?
The sensor came in Friday, but I just didn't find the time to touch the car yet.  From what I can see it looks similar.
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #10 –
Finally found some free time to install the PIP.  Standard LX222 PIP fits and looks almost identical.

The idiot reinstalling the distributor gear though (me) not so good.  Minor chip on 2 teeth while driving it back on.  Don't ask.....I know better.

Where can I get this sintered gear?  Everything I see online looks questionable and made of steel.

1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #11 –
When I did this job I put the distributer shaft in the freezer the night before and heated the gear.
I still had to tap it on, but it may have helped a little.

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #12 –
 :twocents:

I never had to do that, just some wd40 and lightly tapped it down using a deep socket. The first time i did one on my 86 tbird it was taken apart and put back together on my dining room table.
Everybody uses the same stock images for the distributor gear so its hard to tell honestly. Quick look around shows a bronze gear for 80 bucks from esslinger, the kit is over 300.
"Beating the hell out of other peoples cars since 1999"
1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage
1984 Ford Mustang GT Turbo Convertible
2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0 EcoBoost

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #13 –
I got the dizzy put back together over the 4th.......and it still misses.
Used the timing light to see if each cylinder was getting spark and it flashed for each.
Ran a compression test on the first three cylinders and got 100, 50, 50 and stopped.  how can this even start with that low of pressures so I went to AutoZone to "rent" a compression tester.  Same readings to confirm my tester.  Original test were 140-150 so something is definitely up. 

Waiting for my friend's garage floor to be fixed and pull the head over there.  A/C garage sounds too good to pass up.

1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Misfire - '88 TC

Reply #14 –
Oof. :nonchalance:
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo