newbie help
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: fallbrook ca
newbie help
1989 e 250/351 I was rolling down the freeway and my van shut off instantly. pulled to the side, would turn over but not start. towed home, pulled plug, used screwdriver to check for spark ( did not see). how do I check coil and what else should i be looking for ???
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: fallbrook ca
thanks for responding Ted! Newbie is the key word here so bare with me please
so far i have checked for spark at the plugs and coil ( no spark) the rotor spins. I'm waiting for wife to get home so I can get test light. what is the TFI and where is it located, how do i check it??? thanks in advance
so far i have checked for spark at the plugs and coil ( no spark) the rotor spins. I'm waiting for wife to get home so I can get test light. what is the TFI and where is it located, how do i check it??? thanks in advance
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
thanks for responding Ted! Newbie is the key word here so bare with me please so far i have checked for spark at the plugs and coil ( no spark) the rotor spins. I'm waiting for wife to get home so I can get test light. what is the TFI and where is it located, how do i check it??? thanks in advance
so far i have checked for spark at the plugs and coil ( no spark) the rotor spins. I'm waiting for wife to get home so I can get test light. what is the TFI and where is it located, how do i check it??? thanks in advanceTFI is the ignition module. It's either mounted on the side of the distributor or remotely mounted on a heat sink.
It requires a special thin wall socket/tool to remove it. You can get these at just about any parts place.
Here's a website that describes testing it.
SBFTech.com TFI Module/Hall Sensor Testing Procedure
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
Which MSD distributor are you running? Are you also running a MSD ignition box?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: fallbrook ca
honestly i dont know what type... i just purchased the van in November. how do i find out model?
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: fallbrook ca
so i went to the auto parts store and didn't feel good about the results
they didn't know of the special wrench needed to remove the TFI (i need the wrench to remove the part so that they can give me the right part) they ended up telling me that it's probably my coil? ...is the TFI whe part that send the juice to the coil???
they didn't know of the special wrench needed to remove the TFI (i need the wrench to remove the part so that they can give me the right part) they ended up telling me that it's probably my coil? ...is the TFI whe part that send the juice to the coil???
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
so i went to the auto parts store and didn't feel good about the results they didn't know of the special wrench needed to remove the TFI (i need the wrench to remove the part so that they can give me the right part) they ended up telling me that it's probably my coil? ...is the TFI whe part that send the juice to the coil???
they didn't know of the special wrench needed to remove the TFI (i need the wrench to remove the part so that they can give me the right part) they ended up telling me that it's probably my coil? ...is the TFI whe part that send the juice to the coil???The tool you need isn't a wrench it's a socket with a little hand wheel on the end. You can use it with a wrench. Have the morons at the part store look up "Lisle" part # 64650.
Lisle Ignition Module Wrench for Ford at Arizona Tools
The TFI sends a signal to the coil. when it goes bad the coil won't fire. And when the TFI goes bad it just stops working. It usually fails from heat. So you'll be driving down the road and the engine just dies when the TFI craps out. Sound familiar?
If you think it's the coil then take your test light and put it on the power in wire on the coil ( noth the TACH wire ) and have someone crank it over. If it flashes your coil is probably bad. If it doesn't then the TFI is most likely toast.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: fallbrook ca
so i got a stock TFI they confirmed old was bad. i installed new and set dist. to mark i made ( not perfect mark) no when i try to start it has hard time turning over??? do I need someone to help me and move the dist. while turning over or did i do something wrong perhaps???
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 286
From: Eastern TN
I'd take that as a good sign. It sounds like the distributor is too far advanced and there must be spark if it's putting more of a load on the starter. Retard the distributor a twitch and try again. Or your battery is tired.
Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 185K miles
Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 185K miles