Can anyone help. My truck was running just fine and then it stopped running. I can turn the ignition over and the trunk tries to start. I checked and there is no spark going to the spark plug. Any ideas and or inexpensive way to check. What could be causing this problem and how can I fix it.

 

Sounds like possibly the TFI Module died ? How many miles on your truck ?

 

>Can anyone help. My truck was
>running just fine and then
>it stopped running. I can
>turn the ignition over and
>the trunk tries to start.
>I checked and there is
>no spark going to the
>spark plug. Any ideas and
>or inexpensive way to check.
>What could be causing this
>problem and how can I
>fix it.

Old Red did the same thing to me years ago when I had 75 thousand miles on it. There was a young Ford mechanic at my place, we were leaning over the hood, brewski's in hand, he reached over to the fender and unplugged a wire, then told me to try and start it. It fired right off. He told me to put in a new TFI module, it's mounted on the bottom side of the distributor.
Don't remember which wire that was anymore, that was quite a few years and beers ago.


LeRoy Wolff, original owner of
1984 Ford F150
300 six 3 speed with overdrive
optional dual rusted out fenders
truck's nick name "Old Red"

 

do you have spark coming out of the coil? when the key is in the on position is there power at the coil? When a vehicle loses power all of a sudden it could be because of a short so the best way to find out is to back track over your circuit. get a good ommeter and make sure your wiring is solid and secure befor you start replacing good parts. did your distributor get loose and now the timing is way off? hope that helps.

 

Thanks for responding. The truck has 120,000 original miles on it. How expensive(part) and hard is it to replace this module. I will do the labor myself. Can I do some type of diagnostic? Is there a code for this problem? My neighbor said something about the pick up coil in the distributor. Some say ignition coil. UUUGGGHH! I hate electrical problems. Thanks again, for all you input.

 

My friend's 89 F-150 had a very similar problem. He stopped at a stop sign, and when he went to take off the truck died. It would turn over, but not start. His TFI (Thick Film Ignition) module went out. It's mounted on the side of the distributor, which is a bad spot because of engine heat, etc... but thats a whole nother story. The module cost around $50 (from AutoZone), and be sure to get a Ford TFI module wrench at Napa... well worth the $12 bucks, as we couldn't find a 5/32 socket that had a narrow enough diameter to fit in the holes. But other than that, it was easy for us to change out.

 

Not to sound snooty, but before you get carried away changing components, don't forget to go thru your connections and make sure they are all seated properly. With a career in the electronic field and a list of times I've been fooled by a bad connection, I felt it necessary to write. I hope I did not offend and that good truckin' comes soon.

 

Richusa, 99% chance it is the module. Newer trucks with it on the distributer, older ones with it mounted on the fender. Either way, it always seemed to be the module. I have seen this over and over and over again. It is something that always seems to happen out of the blue. It should be simple. Two little screws that hold it to the side of the distributer. You may need a special mini-deep socket to get to the screws. Pop the old one off, and pop the new one on. Good luck

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

Also , If you do find that the TFI Module is the problem , before you reinstall the new one apply a light coat of Dieelectric grease to the back of the module , it helps disipate the heat . I know the Ford Tfi Modules come with grease ...Not sure if the aftermarket modules supply it or not ?

 

Thanks everyone for all your help. It was the TFI module. I learned the hard way. You have to buy a special tool, and move the distributor around to get to the lower bolt of the module. It takes a long 7/32 socket. The truck is now running great. Thanks again. This is a great place to get ford advice.