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

:confused:

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.

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,

Sounds like the TFI module to me.

Found it. The coil was bad!
Thanks