it there a way to test the IM om the truck? to take it off for testing looks like i have to open tape around the wire harress too pull it, right? I put test light at coil it lights that is if i got it right, I have the square coil, it dosen't have the 2 liitle post it has a wire connecter

 

that's not been my experience. The store I go to has friendly, knowledgeable staff who are happy to help. If they don't know, they'll try to find out. I'm suprised you haven't heard about the 4WD wiper thing.

Buying parts from AZ isn't a mistake if you buy brand names and stay away from store brands. I've purchased Bilstein shocks for both my vehicles, and LOTS of Motorcraft parts as well; almost everything has a warranty of some kind-try that at FoMoCo. I've never had anyone at AZ try to SELL me a warranty, either; but if they did, I'd tell them to pack sand. In addition, oil and sealants are the same as any other store, and often less expensive. They can also check your ignition parts, alternators, and starters for free. Try that at FoMoCo. I also find it handy to have a parts store open until 9 PM.
That said, I buy nearly everything at my Ford dealer, if I can.


I began using thermal paste at the urging of the parts counter employee at Greiner Ford in Casper, who told me that there was a TSB on it. I've looked in alldata, and can't find it. I'll keep looking and post it up when I find it. The point is that thermal paste is always better than dielectric grease for transferring heat away from the module. If you'll open the box on a TFI module from AZ, it comes with a white paste, not dielectric grease. But if you like grease, please use it.

 

Yeah, that's pretty funny, especially when you know that up until 2006, Jeep Wranglers were not even offered with 2wd.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I just checked the AutoZone website and they do NOT have "LOTS" of Motorcraft parts, Chief. In fact, the ONLY Motorcraft parts I could find for my vehicle (1985 Ford F150) were spark plugs and an oil filter. If they did sell more Motorcraft parts, I would buy from them. I agree with you on shocks, oil, fluids, and cleaning products, but I have learned my lesson on their ignition parts, alternators, and starters.

I bought an alternator from my local Ford dealer a month ago and it came with a 3 year warranty, and the Motorcraft battery I bought for my Taurus also has a 3 year warranty.

I never said AutoZone would "sell" you a warranty; I said AutoZone would "sell you on" a warranty. Meaning a good bit of their parts come with a lifetime warranty that they will honor, and that is what fools most people into thinking they are getting a "quality" part. When you have to replace your in tank fuel pump or power steering pump more than once in the same year, you will find that the warranty isn't worth more than paying a little extra for a quality part the first time.

You are correct that FoMoCo does not have a service that checks the parts you mentioned, so yes, AutoZone does have them beat in this area. That is why I suggested NAPA or CarQuest. They do have that service, have much better quality parts than what AutoZone, etc. carry, and are a good alternative to OEM Ford parts. You can also find a good bit of Motorcraft parts at RockAuto.com.

I believe you when you say this, but I can promise you that the ignition module you got from AZ is not the same ignition module you get from Ford, and that is my point. When I opened up the box on my Ford Motorcraft TFI ignition module back in 1999, it didn't come with any paste at all. It did, however have instructions that said to apply a film of dielectric grease to the back of the module prior to installation.

 

He is refering to a thermal paste that is used on computer processors. The paste is applied between the CPU and the heatsink to transfer heat. Even with smooth surfaces on the CPU and heatsink the processor will overheat very quickly without thermal paste to transfer the heat between the two surfaces. It is advertised that it isn't conductive, and it won't dry out from heat.

I don't know if transfering heat from the spark plugs, to the components in the spark plug boot (and the boot itself..) is a good idea. I would bet that dielectric grease itself does the same thing though.

 

I'd like to apologize to the board for my (now edited out) post. I especially apologize the OP.