Ahh, Car won't start?

icantdo55 · 11-19-2002, 07:44 PM

I have a 88 cougar that all of a sudden at a 7-11 we stopped went in and when we returned it won't start? It turns over but won't start, no spark. Than a few minutes latter it starts and runs fine. WTF? I can't duplicate the problem all the time it just seems to come and go by itself. Can this be the infamous TFI? I have heard of many problems with them but (knock on wood) I have never had a failure on any of my 5.0's Does the TFI problem come and go like this or does it just work or not? I thought the failures of the TFIs were heat related? I just tried starting it and no dice, it had not run in two days and its 50* out. Ok one more for ya, Do I need a special tool to remove this thing??? Can I build a "special" tool? Sorry for the many questions but I have owned many 5.0 ford products (have 3 now) and have never seen one of these things go bad but I know it happens from what I have read Any ideas?

The car has had nothing done to it lately. But its a 88 cougar with the non-HO 5.0. I have put on it:
E-7 heads
stock HO TB, intake and after market sortie headers and a cat back system.
HELP Thanks
Mike

nickj8685 · 11-19-2002, 09:49 PM

Yes it is very possible that it is the TFI that is going bad. No you don't need a special tool to remove it. It just requires a small socket, but I don't remember which one it is.

84LX89GT · 11-20-2002, 08:29 PM

Yeah i've heard that TFIs will tend to do that. If you do replace it, i believe it is recommended that a dielectric grease is used to insulate the module from heat (heat transfer) and provides a good ground. If you're going to replace it, you may also want to replace the stator since i've heard those tend to go out at high mileage as well usually when the TFI module goes. Good luck,

PKRWUD · 11-21-2002, 07:40 AM

Sounds like the TFI module to me.

icantdo55 · 11-22-2002, 09:34 AM

Found it. The coil was bad!
Thanks

11-19-2002, 07:44 PM	#1
icantdo55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: virginia beach Posts: 11	Ahh, Car won't start? I have a 88 cougar that all of a sudden at a 7-11 we stopped went in and when we returned it won't start? It turns over but won't start, no spark. Than a few minutes latter it starts and runs fine. WTF? I can't duplicate the problem all the time it just seems to come and go by itself. Can this be the infamous TFI? I have heard of many problems with them but (knock on wood) I have never had a failure on any of my 5.0's Does the TFI problem come and go like this or does it just work or not? I thought the failures of the TFIs were heat related? I just tried starting it and no dice, it had not run in two days and its 50* out. Ok one more for ya, Do I need a special tool to remove this thing??? Can I build a "special" tool? Sorry for the many questions but I have owned many 5.0 ford products (have 3 now) and have never seen one of these things go bad but I know it happens from what I have read Any ideas? The car has had nothing done to it lately. But its a 88 cougar with the non-HO 5.0. I have put on it: E-7 heads stock HO TB, intake and after market sortie headers and a cat back system. HELP Thanks Mike

11-20-2002, 08:29 PM	#3
84LX89GT Mustangs Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 1,938	Yeah i've heard that TFIs will tend to do that. If you do replace it, i believe it is recommended that a dielectric grease is used to insulate the module from heat (heat transfer) and provides a good ground. If you're going to replace it, you may also want to replace the stator since i've heard those tend to go out at high mileage as well usually when the TFI module goes. Good luck, __________________ 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300-R 1980 Ford Thunderbird - 255 V8 ported heads, 5.0L ported stock headers, O.R. H-pipe and Flowmaster 2-chambers, dual roller timing chain hi-po Mack Truck hood emblem 1985 Mustang GT 5.0L T5, F-303, GT40p, headers, off-road h, flowmasters, MSD stuff, etc. Sold 02/06/04 1989 Mustang GT ET: 13.304@102.29 mph (5-24-03) Sold - 1998 Mustang Cobra coupe, 1/4 mile - street tires: 13.843@103.41 (bone stock)

11-21-2002, 07:40 AM	#4
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Sounds like the TFI module to me. __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

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11-19-2002, 09:49 PM	#2
nickj8685 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Russellville MO, where men are men and sheep are scared Posts: 66	Yes it is very possible that it is the TFI that is going bad. No you don't need a special tool to remove it. It just requires a small socket, but I don't remember which one it is.

11-22-2002, 09:34 AM	#5
icantdo55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: virginia beach Posts: 11	Found it. The coil was bad! Thanks