HELP!!!!! No spark.

lx5091 · 12-07-2002, 05:39 PM

Hi all, I'm in trouble. I can drive the car around, but the car stalls when it gets up to about 200&#176. It will not start until it has cooled. I have a very new fuel filter, I don't think its fuel starved. The plugs, wires, coil, distributor, cap & rotor are all new.

This sounds like the classic TFI getting hot problem, but it is new, came included with the MSD Pro-Billet Distributor I just put on a month or two ago. I felt it when it stalled and the sucker was hot! Could this be the problem? How do I get a new one, return the whole dist. to Summit? I gave away my old distributor and TFI. This is my daily driver, can't wait for parts.

When I bought the distributor, I didn't take the TFI off it and check if they put dielectric grease. Would that have anything to do with it?

Thanks for any replies!

lx5091 · 12-07-2002, 07:24 PM

I just wanted to eliminate a couple of suggestions that I know it wouldn't be.

fuel pump relay: changed couple of months ago. It works, the fuel pump turns on and primes proprerly.

charging system: all components work just fine the starter and ignition get full power.

bigred90gt · 12-07-2002, 07:50 PM

When it doesn't start, does it turn over fine or is it slow like a weak battery. I had that problem with an 86 f-150 and it was the starter. When it would get hot, the truck would die. I would have to wait like 45 minutes before I could start it. It would act like the battery was dead. I replaced the starter and never had another problem with it. Just a thought.
Caymon

lx5091 · 12-07-2002, 08:01 PM

thank you for replying, but the starter is new(a couple of months old) and turns quick.

PKRWUD · 12-08-2002, 12:01 AM

Sure sounds like the TFI to me. You can call Summit, but I'm sure it's not covered. If it's not getting spark when the stall occurs, it's obviously not fuel related. It's the TFI.

Take care,
~Chris

PKRWUD · 12-08-2002, 12:02 AM

And yes, forgetting the grease will fry the module. Check and see if it has any.

lx5091 · 12-08-2002, 10:36 AM

Thanks Chris,

I needed that. I did call Summit and they will accept it back, but they gave me the number to MSD Tech and want me to call Monday and verify with them that that is the problem, to save me time (shipping back and forth if it isn't the right thing).

I appreciate your wisdom, and I will test a few things with the multimeter today and yank out the distributor and check if the module was ever greased, that's probably the culprit.

I'll post the results.

PKRWUD · 12-08-2002, 10:53 AM

Wow! I'm really surprised that they are willing to take it back! It is a widely accepted rule of thumb that there is no warranty on electrical items. That's good to know!

Take care,
~Chris

lx5091 · 12-20-2002, 01:58 PM

I have received a new distributor and TFI from Summit. This time I took off the TFI and wiped off the little bit of dielectric paste they had there and loaded it up with nice serving of dielectric grease. I then installed it and the car runs fine.

I set my electric fan temp to max (basically turned it off) and let the car heat up a bit just to test it and the problem is fixed.

Basically MSD does not treat the TFI module to enough dielectric to keep it from frying. And they use a strange paste type. I learned that you can't trust anything or anyone. Just because it was assembled by the manufacturer doesn't mean it was done right! I'm going to check things like this in the future.

Happy motoring!

PKRWUD · 12-21-2002, 08:15 AM

Excellent!!!

Take care,
~Chris

88fivepointoh · 12-21-2002, 10:48 AM

Buddy sounds like your TFI module to me.. I had the same issues with my car... its a 30 dollar part well worth the swap. good luck!

12-07-2002, 07:24 PM	#2
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	I just wanted to eliminate a couple of suggestions that I know it wouldn't be. fuel pump relay: changed couple of months ago. It works, the fuel pump turns on and primes proprerly. charging system: all components work just fine the starter and ignition get full power. __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

12-07-2002, 07:50 PM	#3
bigred90gt 2 Stangs in the Stable Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 1,209	When it doesn't start, does it turn over fine or is it slow like a weak battery. I had that problem with an 86 f-150 and it was the starter. When it would get hot, the truck would die. I would have to wait like 45 minutes before I could start it. It would act like the battery was dead. I replaced the starter and never had another problem with it. Just a thought. Caymon __________________ '90 GT Under construction Best E.T. = Fast @ High Speeds - OK So I Lie. So What!!! 04 F-150 STX 4.2L 5 spd Rice Haters Club Member #128

12-07-2002, 08:01 PM	#4
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	thank you for replying, but the starter is new(a couple of months old) and turns quick. __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

12-08-2002, 12:01 AM	#5
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Sure sounds like the TFI to me. You can call Summit, but I'm sure it's not covered. If it's not getting spark when the stall occurs, it's obviously not fuel related. It's the TFI. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

12-08-2002, 12:02 AM	#6
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	And yes, forgetting the grease will fry the module. Check and see if it has any. __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

12-07-2002, 05:39 PM	#1
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	HELP!!!!! No spark. Hi all, I'm in trouble. I can drive the car around, but the car stalls when it gets up to about 200&#176. It will not start until it has cooled. I have a very new fuel filter, I don't think its fuel starved. The plugs, wires, coil, distributor, cap & rotor are all new. This sounds like the classic TFI getting hot problem, but it is new, came included with the MSD Pro-Billet Distributor I just put on a month or two ago. I felt it when it stalled and the sucker was hot! Could this be the problem? How do I get a new one, return the whole dist. to Summit? I gave away my old distributor and TFI. This is my daily driver, can't wait for parts. When I bought the distributor, I didn't take the TFI off it and check if they put dielectric grease. Would that have anything to do with it? Thanks for any replies! __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford! Last edited by lx5091; 12-07-2002 at 07:20 PM..

12-08-2002, 10:36 AM	#7
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	Thanks Chris, I needed that. I did call Summit and they will accept it back, but they gave me the number to MSD Tech and want me to call Monday and verify with them that that is the problem, to save me time (shipping back and forth if it isn't the right thing). I appreciate your wisdom, and I will test a few things with the multimeter today and yank out the distributor and check if the module was ever greased, that's probably the culprit. I'll post the results. __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

12-08-2002, 10:53 AM	#8
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Wow! I'm really surprised that they are willing to take it back! It is a widely accepted rule of thumb that there is no warranty on electrical items. That's good to know! Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

12-20-2002, 01:58 PM	#9
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	I have received a new distributor and TFI from Summit. This time I took off the TFI and wiped off the little bit of dielectric paste they had there and loaded it up with nice serving of dielectric grease. I then installed it and the car runs fine. I set my electric fan temp to max (basically turned it off) and let the car heat up a bit just to test it and the problem is fixed. Basically MSD does not treat the TFI module to enough dielectric to keep it from frying. And they use a strange paste type. I learned that you can't trust anything or anyone. Just because it was assembled by the manufacturer doesn't mean it was done right! I'm going to check things like this in the future. Happy motoring! __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

12-21-2002, 08:15 AM	#10
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Excellent!!! Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

12-21-2002, 10:48 AM	#11
88fivepointoh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rochester Posts: 553	Buddy sounds like your TFI module to me.. I had the same issues with my car... its a 30 dollar part well worth the swap. good luck!

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