Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

engine wont fire

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2003 | 07:08 PM
  #1  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

Vehicle, 1986 F150 truck, 5 litre V8 EFI

Problem.. wont start

Symtoms . truck was driving perfect returning good milage and running sweet. Parked up overnight went out (late for work as usual) and it wouldnt start.

Immobiliser working as it should. and engine cranks over at full tilt .

fuel punp is pumping OK.

Back topside, one lead off and with the aid of spare plug inserted check for spark.. NOTHING

I think this could be a crank sensor .. I look, but dont find

check inside distributor and see sensor etc inside.

Question : is this bit inside the distributor ( half round plastic part wtih a few wires, secured to the inside body of the distributor) Does this item act as a pick up (just like a crank sensor). could it be the source of the problem ?

OR

Can it be the coil thats causing my woes, its one of them HEI square type coils/

Chaps im desperate, ive got to get the part ordered ASAP So spare me more than one day having to cycle to work .. ve got to get back on the road like yesterday,, this is my only source of transport barring the bike .. cheers fellas
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2003 | 07:21 PM
  #2  
bremen242's Avatar
bremen242
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 3
From: GANS
engine wont fire

my first place to look at would be the TFI module on the distrubutor. when I had an EEC-IV on my 300, I was driving down the road and it quit. second time (like 40k mi later), it would not start for work after i'd parked it the day b4.

another thing is, watch your CAT when you get it running. if gas lays in it, it will eventually burn up the CAT. (that happens in chebbys, never had a ford with a cat )
 
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2003 | 07:26 PM
  #3  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

Im checkin through the forum just now and it appears this is a common fault with the Fords .. I will order a TFI module and take it from there ... is that the small crescent shaped module inside the distributor body ? Thanks for your reply ..
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 01:49 AM
  #4  
zanny's Avatar
zanny
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
engine wont fire

No, that is the pick up. The ignition control module is mounted on the out side of the dizzy. Its long and rectangular, with a wiring harness connected to it. When you get a new module, you have to get a special wrench to change it out. The wrench is about 6 bucks. Also, if you can, get a spare module to keep in your truck.
I keep a spare with me. You never know. But, since I've kept a spare, I have had no trouble out of the ignition module.
zanny
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 04:04 AM
  #5  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

thanks again .. looks like this is the part ... I managed to track one down today ( not bad for here in Scotland) but wow the cost £100 thats about $140... are they realy that expensive..?
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 04:16 AM
  #6  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

regarding the special tool is this just a torx screwdriver ... or is there something extra special that i have to look out for.. just read the lawsuit thing re this part ... maybee i should think about relocating it to a cooler area .. is there such a thing as an extension harness to do this job? Thanks again .
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 06:07 AM
  #7  
bremen242's Avatar
bremen242
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 3
From: GANS
engine wont fire

ian- i think the tool was a thin walled nutdriver. I have one over at my dads, I can snap a pic of this weekend if you would like.

make sure when you put that thing on, you make sure it is clean underneath, and put a thin layer of goo between it and the dist.

no extension that i know of; it is just a really bad design by ford. I got a class action form in the mail a couple of years ago, but by then i had changed everything (my ignition) over to duraspark II.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 12:47 PM
  #8  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

Bremen I would appreciate a pic of the tool ..

also How much is a TFI module in the USA ?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-2

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-4

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-8

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 03:24 PM
  #9  
beak's Avatar
beak
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

THE TFI MODULE IN THE USA IS $30.00 AND U CAN GRIND DOWN A 7/32 SOCKET TO GET IT TO FIT GOOD LUCK!
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 03:35 PM
  #10  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

Beak, thanks for that .. guess i will ship in a spare from the USA before the new one gives out .. lookin for that 7/ 32 socket now..
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 04:16 PM
  #11  
bremen242's Avatar
bremen242
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 3
From: GANS
engine wont fire

yeah- i forgot to mention that the module was only like $35 here. I'll get you a pic of the tool- over here they are pretty cheap.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 05:05 PM
  #12  
zanny's Avatar
zanny
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
engine wont fire

Why is that part so expensive over there? You can order one on line through one of the auto parts stores over here, and have it mailed to you.
As far as keeping the heat off of it. I put a little bit of aluminum tape over mine to reflect the radiant heat.
zanny
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2003 | 05:21 PM
  #13  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

Zanny. i ask myself the same question .. 100% markup plus tax.. its the UK way .. lol heck our gas is nearly $6 per gallon (5 litres in uk)
 
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2003 | 02:32 PM
  #14  
Ian's Avatar
Ian
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
engine wont fire

Fitted the Ignition module tonight after work, took all of 20 minutes.. Motor fired first turn of the key, just as it always had done before the old module broke.. Thanks to all for advice ..
 
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2003 | 03:29 PM
  #15  
zanny's Avatar
zanny
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
engine wont fire

Don't throw away the old one. It could get you home in an emergency.
zanny
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:57 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-3
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE