Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else has r

skiwesser · 03-20-2007, 11:36 PM

Okay, about every 2 weeks or so the car won't start after I've driven it and it has cooled down (hasn't happened while hot yet at least). Tonight is the 3rd time it's happened, after between 5-30mins it will fire right up, didn't have a test light but the coil wasn't firing, went to find an old coil (couldn't), went back and she fired right up.
Again it has never happened the first time I start it for the day.

Ignition module??

USMC302 · 03-21-2007, 11:22 AM

What did you do to make sure the coil wasn't firing? I would keep trying to swap it out, if that doesn't work, you should try pulling codes when it happens to see if there is anything we can point at.

Jeff Chambers · 03-22-2007, 11:33 AM

TFI module is probably the culprit.

skiwesser · 03-28-2007, 10:03 PM

Checked the coil with a screw driver close to ground and no spark, didn't have a test light , but when I'm working on the car say to check compression I usually unplug the wire to the coil and I have to put a rubber cap on the coil terminal because it'll arc to the fender so definetly no spark.
I changed the module on friday and it has aready happened 3 times since. I am going to try a coil the next time it does it, probably tomorrow

I got a new (rebuilt) distributor a couple of months ago because on the dyno at high RPM the graph got a little sqiggly, but I am almost sure the first time this problem occured was before that, then it was a few weeks before it happened agian, dist. swapped in between, and it has gotten progressivly worse, but I suppose it could very well be the new dist.?

USMC302 · 04-10-2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Chambers

TFI module is probably the culprit.

Good call yet again Jeff.

skiwesser · 04-17-2007, 09:32 PM

Nope, it was the distributor.

skiwesser · 04-04-2007, 10:51 PM

Well distributor was warranted so I changed it out yesterday, so I hope that's the end of it. Still haven't tried a coil but I'm gonna get one to carry with me so I can try it if it happens again, as I can try it without mounting it so if it doesn't work I'll take it back.
We'll see

Dog5ohfun · 04-10-2007, 12:47 AM

Okay, here is something to check. My car did the no start thing a couple of years back. But once it didn't start that was it. There is a temperature sensor on the passenger side of the lower intake right behind the thermostat, on the hard line for the coolant to go to the heater core. It tells the computer if the engine is hot or cold. The next time your car doesn't start hold the pedal on the floor like it is flooded and see what happens. If the car starts then that could be your problem. I actually removed the hard line with the sensor in it. Once I put the sensor back in the car was fine. Hope this helps.

skiwesser · 04-10-2007, 12:50 AM

Swapped dist. no probs yet

USMC302 · 04-10-2007, 08:30 AM

Are you using a different TFI module on it or the one from the bad dist?

skiwesser · 04-10-2007, 10:18 AM

New TFI, pretty sure we got it.

03-20-2007, 11:36 PM	#1
skiwesser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: rock hill,S.C. 29730 Posts: 420	Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else has r Okay, about every 2 weeks or so the car won't start after I've driven it and it has cooled down (hasn't happened while hot yet at least). Tonight is the 3rd time it's happened, after between 5-30mins it will fire right up, didn't have a test light but the coil wasn't firing, went to find an old coil (couldn't), went back and she fired right up. Again it has never happened the first time I start it for the day. Ignition module?? __________________ 88 GT: subs,pullies, 1 3/4 longtubes, flowmasters, AFR 165's,T,F #1 cam,Thyphoon intake, 24# inj., 73mm C&L,65mmT.B., 190LPH pump, Eagle sir rods, forged pistons in a newly rebuilt 306. DYNO TUNED TO 300.97 RWHP 337RWTQ

03-21-2007, 11:22 AM	#2
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h What did you do to make sure the coil wasn't firing? I would keep trying to swap it out, if that doesn't work, you should try pulling codes when it happens to see if there is anything we can point at. __________________

03-22-2007, 11:33 AM	#3
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h TFI module is probably the culprit. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

03-28-2007, 10:03 PM	#4
skiwesser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: rock hill,S.C. 29730 Posts: 420	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h Checked the coil with a screw driver close to ground and no spark, didn't have a test light , but when I'm working on the car say to check compression I usually unplug the wire to the coil and I have to put a rubber cap on the coil terminal because it'll arc to the fender so definetly no spark. I changed the module on friday and it has aready happened 3 times since. I am going to try a coil the next time it does it, probably tomorrow I got a new (rebuilt) distributor a couple of months ago because on the dyno at high RPM the graph got a little sqiggly, but I am almost sure the first time this problem occured was before that, then it was a few weeks before it happened agian, dist. swapped in between, and it has gotten progressivly worse, but I suppose it could very well be the new dist.? __________________ 88 GT: subs,pullies, 1 3/4 longtubes, flowmasters, AFR 165's,T,F #1 cam,Thyphoon intake, 24# inj., 73mm C&L,65mmT.B., 190LPH pump, Eagle sir rods, forged pistons in a newly rebuilt 306. DYNO TUNED TO 300.97 RWHP 337RWTQ

04-17-2007, 09:32 PM	#6
skiwesser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: rock hill,S.C. 29730 Posts: 420	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h Nope, it was the distributor. __________________ 88 GT: subs,pullies, 1 3/4 longtubes, flowmasters, AFR 165's,T,F #1 cam,Thyphoon intake, 24# inj., 73mm C&L,65mmT.B., 190LPH pump, Eagle sir rods, forged pistons in a newly rebuilt 306. DYNO TUNED TO 300.97 RWHP 337RWTQ

04-04-2007, 10:51 PM	#7
skiwesser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: rock hill,S.C. 29730 Posts: 420	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h Well distributor was warranted so I changed it out yesterday, so I hope that's the end of it. Still haven't tried a coil but I'm gonna get one to carry with me so I can try it if it happens again, as I can try it without mounting it so if it doesn't work I'll take it back. We'll see __________________ 88 GT: subs,pullies, 1 3/4 longtubes, flowmasters, AFR 165's,T,F #1 cam,Thyphoon intake, 24# inj., 73mm C&L,65mmT.B., 190LPH pump, Eagle sir rods, forged pistons in a newly rebuilt 306. DYNO TUNED TO 300.97 RWHP 337RWTQ

04-10-2007, 12:47 AM	#8
Dog5ohfun Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Arlington, Washington Posts: 92	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h Okay, here is something to check. My car did the no start thing a couple of years back. But once it didn't start that was it. There is a temperature sensor on the passenger side of the lower intake right behind the thermostat, on the hard line for the coolant to go to the heater core. It tells the computer if the engine is hot or cold. The next time your car doesn't start hold the pedal on the floor like it is flooded and see what happens. If the car starts then that could be your problem. I actually removed the hard line with the sensor in it. Once I put the sensor back in the car was fine. Hope this helps. __________________ Black 1990 LX DSS Racing Super Pro Bullit 331, AFR 185, Anderson B31 Cam, 1.6 DSS rockers, Cobra Intake w/ 2 phenolic spacer, Aluminum DS, 3.73 gears, Tremec 3550, Lakewood SFI Bellhousing, MSD Digital 6+, Spintech Side Exhaust,

04-10-2007, 12:50 AM	#9
skiwesser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: rock hill,S.C. 29730 Posts: 420	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h Swapped dist. no probs yet __________________ 88 GT: subs,pullies, 1 3/4 longtubes, flowmasters, AFR 165's,T,F #1 cam,Thyphoon intake, 24# inj., 73mm C&L,65mmT.B., 190LPH pump, Eagle sir rods, forged pistons in a newly rebuilt 306. DYNO TUNED TO 300.97 RWHP 337RWTQ

04-10-2007, 08:30 AM	#10
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h Are you using a different TFI module on it or the one from the bad dist? __________________

04-10-2007, 10:18 AM	#11
skiwesser Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: rock hill,S.C. 29730 Posts: 420	Re: Need help, car won't start-sometimes, wierd can't figure, wonder if anyone else h New TFI, pretty sure we got it. __________________ 88 GT: subs,pullies, 1 3/4 longtubes, flowmasters, AFR 165's,T,F #1 cam,Thyphoon intake, 24# inj., 73mm C&L,65mmT.B., 190LPH pump, Eagle sir rods, forged pistons in a newly rebuilt 306. DYNO TUNED TO 300.97 RWHP 337RWTQ

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Getting Really Wierd !	surfbeast	Modular Madness	3	07-20-2003 10:54 AM
WoW! THIS is wierd!!!	RedLilPony	Blue Oval Lounge	5	01-29-2003 07:47 PM
wierd fan problem	gofastmercury	Built Ford Tough	5	09-06-2002 10:56 PM
Very Very Wierd???	Joe50	Windsor Power	2	05-24-2002 09:46 PM
wierd noise!	Thad	Windsor Power	10	01-23-2001 11:19 PM