New 4 Eyed Owner here

[Metalbass1979]

Hello, all

My name is Terry. I have been a Mustang aficionado for a long time. I first had a 97 convertible, then traded it for my 2002
GT, which I've now had for over a decade. I recently picked up a killer deal on a 1985 lx convertible for my wife.
44,000 original miles and no rust. I picked up a set of turbine GT wheels for it. Once I find out what the electrical problem is,I have a feeling it will make for a fun project.

I quite honestly didn't know that they put a v6 in Mustangs in 1985. I was shocked when we found it for the ridiculous low price, then even more shocked when the guy popped the hood to reveal the 3.8.

[82GTforME]

Nice score! Welcome to the site!

[Metalbass1979]

Thank you, sir. I have always loved the 4 eyed look and even changed the headlights on my 2002 to a set of 4 eyed looking ones.

[4eyewanabe]

Welcome to FEP!!! Congrats on the purchase.

[Metalbass1979]

I'm trying to get the car to run. It fires up with starting fluid sprayed into it, but isn't getting good fuel from the tank. I replaced the ignition switch, pump relay and inertia switch. When I use a paperclip to jump past the relay box, the pump kicks in, so I know it is good.

I'm thinking I have a wiring issue somewhere before the relay. If you guys have any suggestions, I'd be super grateful. I wanna have this thing going for spring, then start making it look even cooler.....before talking my wife into a v8 swap next year.

[bull-vette]

Welcome aboard! I'm sure the helpful suggestions will be rolling in any time...

[rkuhn]

Welcome, and nice car! When you turn the key on do you hear a hummmm sound coming from the trunk? That is your fuel pump. If you don't hear that sound then your fuel pump isn't turning on.

[rkuhn]

Welcome, and nice car! When you turn the key on do you hear a hummmm sound coming from the trunk? That is your fuel pump. If you don't hear that sound then your fuel pump isn't turning on.

Fuel pumps in the gas tank, not the trunk lol. It just sounds like it's coming from the trunk when your in the car.

[Metalbass1979]

I can hear the pump kick on when I use a paper clip to jump the terminals on the relay clip, but not with the relay in place. The relay is new. I'm thinking it is a wire between the ignition switch to the relay under the seat. I kinda wonder if there is a bad fusible link in the wires, somewhere. It has just been so ridiculous cold here that I haven't had the time to trace every wire.

[rbohm]

I can hear the pump kick on when I use a paper clip to jump the terminals on the relay clip, but not with the relay in place. The relay is new. I'm thinking it is a wire between the ignition switch to the relay under the seat. I kinda wonder if there is a bad fusible link in the wires, somewhere. It has just been so ridiculous cold here that I haven't had the time to trace every wire.

check the wire that energizes the relay, and also check the relay ground. and last check the terminals for proper connections.

[Metalbass1979]

I'm gonna try to check the wires this week.

I figured I would throw a few more pictures up. I don't have the new wheels on it yet, as I need to buy tires for them. It also has road salt all over it from the guy towing it to my house.

[mustangxtreme]

Welcome to FEP. It looks like you have the start of a beautiful ride. I'm going to assume that your car has cfi on it. Check to see your ecu power relay is working.The ecu needs to be functioning or it won't activate your fuel pump.

[Metalbass1979]

Thank you, sir. The car has a throttle body fuel injection setup. I've never messed with anything with a system like that. I think the ECU is on the passenger side, right?

[IDMooseMan]

Welcome to FEP, Terry. That's a very nice starting point you found there. Wiring diagrams are available from here: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...79-1986-in-PDF for your reference. I have found them quite helpful.

Edit:
Yes, the ECU should be located in the passenger-side kick panel. I have a carbed, non-ecu car, so correct me if I'm wrong gang.

[rbohm]

Edit:
Yes, the ECU should be located in the passenger-side kick panel. I have a carbed, non-ecu car, so correct me if I'm wrong gang.

that is correct.

[Metalbass1979]

Oh! Thank you! I tried looking up the wiring diagram and couldn't find it.

[Metalbass1979]

I finally had a warm enough day to mess with it. I had about 20 minutes after work and got to the ECU relay. Wow! Talk about a tight space to get a socket into. I finally got the relay unbolted from there........after yelling a few harsh names at it.........then sweet talking it. Haha.

I'm probably gonna replace it and do some wire tracing this weekend. I also realized that the injectors aren't spraying, even when I use the paper clip to jump the fuel pump. That has me thinking that the ECU relay could be the culprit.

[rbohm]

I finally had a warm enough day to mess with it. I had about 20 minutes after work and got to the ECU relay. Wow! Talk about a tight space to get a socket into. I finally got the relay unbolted from there........after yelling a few harsh names at it.........then sweet talking it. Haha.

I'm probably gonna replace it and do some wire tracing this weekend. I also realized that the injectors aren't spraying, even when I use the paper clip to jump the fuel pump. That has me thinking that the ECU relay could be the culprit.

sometimes it helps to stick your tongue out the right side of your mouth, while having one foot on the ground, and the other as high up in the air as possible. add to that the typical car repair payer in between curse words and sweet talking.

[IDMooseMan]

sometimes it helps to stick your tongue out the right side of your mouth, while having one foot on the ground, and the other as high up in the air as possible. add to that the typical car repair payer in between curse words and sweet talking.

This works more often than you might think.

[rbohm]

This works more often than you might think.

i know, i developed that technique when i was drag racing years ago.

[Metalbass1979]

Now that is hilarious.

[rbohm]

its only stupid if it doesnt work.

[IDMooseMan]

...and it's funny, because it's true.

[Metalbass1979]

I just replaced the ECU relay and no luck. Grrr...........

Down by the relay, I noticed a green clip of wires that seem to not connect to anywhere and a gray clip that only has a wire going in one side of it.



I have no idea what these do, if anything. I'm trying to go through the wiring diagrams to figure out what they are, but haven't found it yet.

I want this thing to start so bad that I think I'm starting to go crazy. I know it will be something stupid simple. So far, everything else looks connected and well grounded.

Even the new ECU relay doesn't click when I turn the key. Jumping the terminals with a paper clip did nothing there. I'm thinking that maybe it isn't getting fed any power.....but I seem to have misplaced my electrical tester and cant be sure.

[84StangSVT]

I had the same identical problem with my 84 LX vert with the 3.8L. I will almost guarantee that your throttle position sensor is bad. When the TPS fries, it puts the car into a flood mode that prevents the injectors from pulsing and hence no fuel delivered for startup. The TPS is a pretty cheap part so I would try that before you dig any deeper into the electrical system and replace any more parts that are probably not bad. OH....one more thing....on mine I had to replace the voltage regulator also cause I was overcharging and I fried the first TPS I put in but the second one has lasted a long time now. Hope this helps cause I could have about torched my car before I figured that one out!

Let me know if that works.