I don't know whats wrong

[50 Proof]

I was driving the 86 GT yesterday. I was slowing down getting ready to make a right turn and I downshifted to first because the light turned green right as I was almost to a complete stop and then went to accelerate and the car started bucking back and forth as if your giving it gas and letting off but my foot was steady on the gas pedal. Hmm strange. I went to accelerate more once I got out of the turn and the engine started bogging then it would go away and accelerate and then bog again, as if the gas pedal just isn't working or something. It's like the car is surging.
Finally the car died and it just cranks over and never starts. Fuel pump still primes, fuel pump relay isn't the problem, I already checked that. Any idea's what this could be? Possible that solenoid thing on the side of the distributor(I can't remember what it's called)?

[noslofiveoh]

hmm....this started doing this when u downshifted? was it a hard downshift, cuz that can bend pushrods. maybe top end gasket possibly??

[50 Proof]

hmm....this started doing this when u downshifted? was it a hard downshift, cuz that can bend pushrods. maybe top end gasket possibly??

No not a hard downshift, I was going probably less then 10 miles per hour and I didn't pop the clutch out or anything, just kind of eased my foot off the clutch.

[Evil86lx]

TFI...

Check to see if you are getting spark. You just explained exactly what happen's when a TFI take's a crap. That has happend to me several time's and I keep a spare TFI and tool in every mustang I own.

kyle

[50 Proof]

TFI...

Check to see if you are getting spark. You just explained exactly what happen's when a TFI take's a crap. That has happend to me several time's and I keep a spare TFI and tool in every mustang I own.

kyle

What kind of tool removes the TFI module with out having to loosen the distributor and screw up the timing? I don't have a timing gun on me right now so I have to make due with what I got since I don't have any way of getting around right now :evil:

[85stang]

That's exactly what it sounds like, it could be the module on the side of the distributor or the stator inside the dist. The stator went on mine and I replaced it with a borgwarner 100 miles later it went, got another same thing. I got my money back from the parts store and got one from Ford, been running ever since.

[Capri50]

50proof, most autostores like pepboys or autozone will sell the small $6 tool to get off the TFI module.

it's amazing how long it took ford to own up to this major problem.

http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=93&did=362

Ford TFI Module Failure

Twenty-two million Ford vehicles made from 1983 through 1995 have defective ignition modules that may cause the vehicle to stall and die on the highway at any time. Failure at highway speeds can cause the driver to lose control or even result in a stalled vehicle being hit by a truck. Some models had failure rates as high as 90%. According to Ford, two-thirds of the failures were of the "die on the road" type.

The models affected have ignition modules mounted on the distributor and are listed below. When its temperature goes above 257 degrees Fahrenheit, the module is likely to cut out and cause the vehicle to die on the road. When the vehicle cools down, it can be restarted and will run until it again exceeds the design temperature. This is a hard problem to diagnose because by the time the vehicle gets towed to the dealer or sits in the shop waiting for repair, it has cooled down and no cause can be found for the stalling.

Ford Motor Company has known about this problem since it began, yet concealed it from consumers and government regulators for well over a decade. Just as in Firestone tires on Ford Explorers, a prime instrument in Ford's cover up was secrecy agreements in product liability lawsuits. Over 900 product liability lawsuits have been filed against Ford on these vehicles with protective orders and confidential settlement agreements entered in many.

edit: how do you like this little statistic from the NHSTA..

"Vehicles with the distributor mounted TFI module have a 9% higher fatal crash rate than those with a different module system. "

[50 Proof]

50proof, most autostores like pepboys or autozone will sell the small $6 tool to get off the TFI module.


Very interesting information you posted, thanks.

As for the tool. I seriously hate it when parts stores high people who don't know jack. I called up autozone asking if they have a tool to remove the TFI module on a ford mustang. He goes uhh can't you just use sockets? I have no idea what your trying to do or what kind of tool you'd need, sorry. :evil:

[Clarko]

50proof, most autostores like pepboys or autozone will sell the small $6 tool to get off the TFI module.


Very interesting information you posted, thanks.

As for the tool. I seriously hate it when parts stores high people who don't know jack. I called up autozone asking if they have a tool to remove the TFI module on a ford mustang. He goes uhh can't you just use sockets? I have no idea what your trying to do or what kind of tool you'd need, sorry. :evil:
5.5mm deep socket!

[MurPHy]

50proof, most autostores like pepboys or autozone will sell the small $6 tool to get off the TFI module.


Very interesting information you posted, thanks.

As for the tool. I seriously hate it when parts stores high people who don't know jack. I called up autozone asking if they have a tool to remove the TFI module on a ford mustang. He goes uhh can't you just use sockets? I have no idea what your trying to do or what kind of tool you'd need, sorry. :evil:
5.5mm deep socket!

I hate metric. Its an American car, damnit! It should use the American system of measurement! Not 5.5mm! 1/4! Yeah! Although...every part that I have pulled/replaced on my Mustang has "Made in Canada" on it....so I guess the entire car was made there. Grrrrr. It is impossible to buy American these days. But it was bought used, in America, so no foriengers got that money.

[Clarko]

50proof, most autostores like pepboys or autozone will sell the small $6 tool to get off the TFI module.


Very interesting information you posted, thanks.

As for the tool. I seriously hate it when parts stores high people who don't know jack. I called up autozone asking if they have a tool to remove the TFI module on a ford mustang. He goes uhh can't you just use sockets? I have no idea what your trying to do or what kind of tool you'd need, sorry. :evil:
5.5mm deep socket!

I hate metric. Its an American car, damnit! It should use the American system of measurement! Not 5.5mm! 1/4! Yeah! Although...every part that I have pulled/replaced on my Mustang has "Made in Canada" on it....so I guess the entire car was made there. Grrrrr. It is impossible to buy American these days. But it was bought used, in America, so no foriengers got that money.
Don't worry, I hate metric too. That's why I prefer working on my 65 over my 82. Ain't no metric on that bastard. Metric all started in Mustangs with everyone's favorite, the II.

[347BLKCAT]

So you are certain that your fuel pump is running at the correct psi under load? If so then I would have to agree that the TFI module is a likely culprit. Oh and by the way...the metric system isn't such a bad system. It is know as a global standard much like the English language. Other than the U.S. I believe Liberia and Burma are the only counties whom have not adopted the system. I have to agree it took me some time to adjust myself. :D Good luck getting to the bottom of your problem.

[50 Proof]

the fuel pump is less then a year old. It's possible but doubtful that the problem is the fuel pump. I just unplugged the harness from the TFI module and tried to start it, same thing, wouldn't start and just cranks over. I'm pretty sure thats what the problem is.

5.5 mm socket? Where the heck do you get a 5.5 mm socket? I didn't know there were metric sockets in half sizes

[Clarko]

5.5 is the only one that I know of that is a half-size. Almost every Craftsman tool kit has one although not it deep.

[Evil86lx]

Buy the tool.

Mark your dizzy so that you can put it back IF you have to move it.

Every store that I have gone to has stocked the tool.

kyle

[85saleencoupe]

TFI...

Check to see if you are getting spark. You just explained exactly what happen's when a TFI take's a crap. That has happend to me several time's and I keep a spare TFI and tool in every mustang I own.

kyle

[50 Proof]

Well the problem still is not fixed.
I replaced the TFI module with one that i know works. Car still doesn't start.
I checked for spark and I'm getting spark to the distributor.
The fuel pump was replaced less then a year ago, I doubt thats the problem.
The fuel pump primes so the fuel pump relay isn't an issue.

Any other ideas? I have no way of getting to work tomorrow so I'm pretty screwed right now.

[347BLKCAT]

Did you check your fuel pressure? You could have developed a leak at one of the pump hoses. I've seen them crack if the hose clamp is over tightened...just a shot in the dark. What brand of pump did you use for the replacement?

[50 Proof]

Did you check your fuel pressure? You could have developed a leak at one of the pump hoses. I've seen them crack if the hose clamp is over tightened...just a shot in the dark. What brand of pump did you use for the replacement?

I have not checked for fuel pressure yet. I'm stranded at home and don't have anything to check the fuel pressure with at the moment. The fuel pump was replaced with some napa brand fuel pump and filter.

Would a bad throttle position sensor keep the car from starting?

[GT350R]

Did you check your fuel pressure? You could have developed a leak at one of the pump hoses. I've seen them crack if the hose clamp is over tightened...just a shot in the dark. What brand of pump did you use for the replacement?

I have not checked for fuel pressure yet. I'm stranded at home and don't have anything to check the fuel pressure with at the moment. The fuel pump was replaced with some napa brand fuel pump and filter.

Would a bad throttle position sensor keep the car from starting?

A bad TPS could keep the car from starting only if it was pegged at WOT.

I am thinking fuel also. Sounds like how a car runs when you run it out of gas. So many things could have happened.

[v8only]

Hey, Tony mentioned to check your intertia switch in the back, try resetting it, perhaps it's gone bad.

also, let me know if you want me to pick up one of those fuel pressure readers from brothers.

[AaronATX]

Disconnect your 10 pin connector, regrease it and try again. Had the exact same thing happen to me after a helluva axle hopping launch once.

[Travis T]

Have you replaced your fuel filter yet? You'd be surprised, I've had that keep a car from running.

[Capri50]

corey how did you make out? did you find the problem?

[anthonydalrymple]

corey how did you make out? did you find the problem?

Yes, he did get it fixed. he checked the fuel pressurec & it was zippo....
So, the new Walbro pump went in & the NAPA unit went into the garbage....