Need CFI help!

[Dugzy33]

Ok, my 83 t-bird has a 302 with CFI.

First started to notice a problem every now and then.
This is what it would do.
Driving along on the freeway I would notice a little hesitation/surging, then when I come to a stop at a light or coast for an extended period of time the engine would die.

I would get her started back up and she would die if I didnt keep feathering the gas pedal.

Then I would take her out on the highway and run the piss out of her.
This almost always worked. No more stalling at idle.

So , Then it started doing this more often.

Now it does it all the time.
Will not stay running at idle, and is hella hard to feather the pedal and keep it running.


repalce wires, cap and rotor, fuel filters, tried the tps(throttle position sensor.

Took the whole cfi unit out and cleaned it up really good.

Still does it.

The egr valve looks a little cruddy so I cleaned it. No change.

The car was origanlly my grandfathers and he babied it.
Oil changes every 3000 and I do the same.
I got it with 90k on it and now it has about 115k.

The engine and body are in new condition so I would like to keep the cfi
for now.

Dont think the o2 sensors have ever been replaced.

I just would like to be able to narrow down the possiblities.
hecka new egr and egr sensor is like a 100 bucks.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Marz]

My 85 LTD LX is doing the same thing... I'm still looking into this... LTDScott may be of some help with this also.

I'll telll yuo more when I find out....

[Dugzy33]

Yes LTDScott, HELP!!
I am clueless when it comes to cfi.
I am keeping the car the way it is right now because it has sentimental value.
When the engine goes south I will probably change to some other combination.
Here is a pic of her...


And another...



I put 86 Grill and Tail Lights on it.
But other than that is is stock.
Grandpa like the 302's so it has the 302 without a/c and the heavy duty Handling package
with 14.7:1 steering rack.
This sucker handles!

Anyway, any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[Marz]

You also may want to look over James Petersons site. It's mainly for the CFI V8 LTD and LTD LX ... But the CFI should be similar if not the same.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jopeterson/

[zak]

My $0.02, I think its the TFI module on the side of the distributor. Gets hot, you get intermitant spark. Turns out the distributor is not a great place for an electronic heat sink. Anyhow, you need a special tool to R&R.

Interestingly, I had been contacted regarding a class action lawsuit against Ford for all the failing TFI modules ('85 original owner).. Sent them back the data they requested but never heard back.

zak

[LTDScott]

Try looking at the throttle position sensor or TFI module like zak said. Pull trouble codes from the computer to see what comes up.

[Dugzy33]

It's an 83... No tfi on the dist.
It has the larger ign. box on the firewall.
Could that be a culprit? I thought those type are the kind that just quit.
My problem has progressed form a little problem to a big problem.
Also, I tried the tps.
Thats not it.

I will try the map sensor next.

[Dugzy33]

also the scanner I got (actron for ford eec-iv and mcu systems)
Does not list a 302 for 1983???

[MasterBlaster]

New here, same username on several other boards.

also the scanner I got (actron for ford eec-iv

If I'm not mistaken, as an 83 you don't have eec-iv, you have (OH MY GOD, NOOOOOO!!!) eec-iii.

[LugNutz]

My sons 84GT CFI was doing the same thing, turns out I wasn't getting power to one of the injectors.

[Dugzy33]

This is the scanner I have.
Right one?

[LTDScott]

Wow, this is pre EEC-IV? In that case it's all Greek to me!

[Dugzy33]

Wow, this is pre EEC-IV? In that case it's all Greek to me!

I think the 83 t-bird was the first ford 302 cfi/aod combo
My scanner book calls the Pre eec-iv systems "MCU systems"
And states that they only have one plug to connect to my scanner.
The triangular one.

[Dugzy33]

Yes I have EEC-III and this is the MAP sensor I need...



The parts store wants 200 bucks!
Yikes!

[MasterBlaster]

The parts store wants 200 bucks! Yikes!

That's why they invented wrecking yards, baggy pants, and stretchy socks.

What??? Who said that????

Remember, an error code (22? 72? MAP sensor out of range?) doesn't always mean "change this part", it's just a starting point for further diagnosis. Could be a leaking vacuum hose, a corroded connection, a bad ground.....

[Dugzy33]

Well I looked at 8 diff wrecking yards in my area and no luck.

Also, my car has no plug for a code scaner because it is the eec-III.

LAME.

CFI is Lame!
My Version of CFI is the Lamest!!

[Marz]

Well I looked at 8 diff wrecking yards in my area and no luck.

Also, my car has no plug for a code scaner because it is the eec-III.

LAME.

CFI is Lame!
My Version of CFI is the Lamest!!

Yes... CFI kinda sux.... specially EEC-III. But there are Three options for you...

Keep your stock EEC-III system.
Convert to EEC-IV
or
Convert to SEFI

To convert to the EEC-IV follow this link:

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/article85.html

Me? I have the EEC-IV and plan on converting to SEFI sometime.

[Marz]

Good news... I found the I had a bad MAP sensor and the LX running noticably better. There is still a slight bit of the surging and hesitation... but now where near as bad as it use to be.

Buying a Ford one was out of the question when they want 175 (or so) bux for it. Even the Ford Parts guy helping me was suprized when he found the part was that much.... He said last he checked they were 30 bux!

A borg warner was 77 bux.

[Chuck W]

You can actually run codes on a EEC3 system. It's kind of remedial compared to the EEC4, but when my 83 Tbird was a 5.0 CFI car (now 2.3T) I was able to pull codes on it.

I can dig up the procedure if you need me to. It may help.

Chuck

cwarren@indy.net