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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

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Old Dec 14, 2001 | 10:26 AM
  #1  
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Please Help

I have a 87 with a 2.9 and an automatic with roughly 130K on it. I have replaced the ign mod., distributor, plugs and wires. A couple of days ago the truck wouldn't start. It was running fine 5 min earlier. I went back in 20 min and fired right up. Has I started home quit while driving and left me stranded in intersection. About 30 min later fired right up and drove her home 40 miles no problem. Went to start her this morning no start. I checked and fuel is good but there is no spark at the plugs and the coil is not sparking to the distributor. What do I need to do?

Thanks,

Jesse
 
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Old Dec 14, 2001 | 11:58 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Try checking the computer grounds that are located near the negative battery cable at the battery. Usually has 2 black wires connecting to a single black wire at a plastic connector. Pull it apart and look for conection problems.
 
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Old Dec 17, 2001 | 12:53 AM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

i would still check the green fuel pump relay on the passanger side behind battery. it is only a few dollars. mine would do the same though...it would run fine and i would come out a few minutes later and it would just turn and turn and turn and not start. it did this until finally i got stuck at work. had to get towed home for a 3 dollar part. good luck

George
 
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Old Dec 22, 2001 | 09:55 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Viper, this sounds like classic symptoms of a bad "pick-up" coil that is inside the distributor. They tend to fail when they heat up, and then will work for a while after they cool.
 
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 02:36 AM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

First , chech all the ignition component connections thoroughly. if you dont find any problems there, my guesse would be the coil. good luck!
 
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Old Dec 24, 2001 | 02:42 AM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Forgot to mention in previous post that you may want to check out the neutral safety switch on the linkage area of the tranny. you can jumper this for diagnostics and you will know for free if it's the culprit. BE CAREFULL!!!! with this safety device disabled you can easily have an accident!!!
 
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Old Dec 28, 2001 | 11:37 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Get a NOID light and install it into one of the injector wiring harness end connectors. Crank engine and see if the NOID light blinks, if it does not blink and you have no spark, suspect highly a pickup assembly in the distributor, if it does blink and you have no spark turn key on and check for power at the ignition coil, if you have no power at the coil repair wiring harness, if you have power at the ignition coil, backprobe into the other side of the ignition coil and crank engine over, (can't remember colors of wires), if it does not blink install a new ignition module, if it does blink, install a new coil assembly.
Reasoning, the pickup sets up both the injector pulse and spark, through the ignition module, so check both.
You can use a test light for the NOID light, but be careful that you don't touch the terminals together, it will pop the computer fuel injector driver, use straight pins to get into the connector of the injector, or just get a NOID light. Hope this helps, Electric1
 
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Old Jun 30, 2002 | 01:57 AM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Jun-02 AT 03:00 AM (EST)]my grandfather had the same problem and it was his crank sensor wire was loose but the crank sensor ended up going after it was fixed so try replacing or atleast checking ur crank sensor should be somewhere on the back of the block goes for about $20
 
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Old Jul 1, 2002 | 09:37 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

>Please Help
>
>I have a 87 with a 2.9 and an automatic with roughly 130K on
>it. I have A couple of days ago the truck wouldn't start. It
>was running fine 5 min earlier. I went back in 20 min and
>fired right up. Has I started home quit while driving and
>left me stranded in intersection. About 30 min later fired
>right up and drove her home 40 miles no problem. Went to
>start her this morning no start. I checked and fuel is good
>but there is no spark at the plugs and the coil is not
>sparking to the distributor. What do I need to do?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jesse


Was it doing this before you replaced the ign mod., distributor, plugs and wires? Or did it start afterwards?
 
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Old Jul 4, 2002 | 11:51 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Check your alternator!

It might just be missing the contacts, Every time you turn the key it rolls to a different contact. If that contact is good it will fire up if not then it won't. Check it out. Also this sounds odd but if it doesn;t start up "knock" the alternator with a hammer a coup[le of times this will lossen the "oil, crap, rust" from the contacts and it will start.

Just a place to look.

 
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Old Aug 18, 2002 | 07:02 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Start your engine, get out, raise the hood, locate 1 to 3 small fusable link wire coming off the starter solinoid, jiggle and bend them individually. If the engine shuts off, replace the culprit link.
 
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Old Aug 21, 2002 | 11:59 PM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

I had a problem exactly like yours. The connector to the coil was bad inside the connector (no spark). So, when I pressed the probe in, it closed the gap and appeared good. When I removed the probe it pulled the rotted connector apart enough to nuke the connection. After HOURS of everything appearing normal and still no start I got the bright idea of testing the connector itself from both side when removed from the coil. Bingo! Live and learn.


 
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Old Sep 10, 2002 | 08:29 AM
  #13  
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

Check FUEL PUMP RELAY!!!!!! FOor for what they cost go buy one and when acts up change it and see if it works. My 88 B II 2.9 was doing same thing and that is how I fixed it. My 91 Aerostar had similar problem, found corosion in relay(was not mounted properly and water was getting in side). One other test you can try when it acts up is ck. for fuel pressure at valve in fuel rail, use pen or small screw driver to press valve, release pressure and then try turning key on, listen for fuel pump, and ck. for pressure.




88 B II
91 Aerostar
78 F-150 SC
64 Mustang
 
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Old Nov 3, 2002 | 12:52 AM
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

 
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Old Nov 3, 2002 | 11:51 AM
  #15  
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87 Bronco 2.9 starts when it wants(no spark) Help!!

I hate to be the baron of bad news but it may also be the TFI module under the distributor cap. They have this problem when they get hot, the dielectric grease separates and the current to the spark plugs stops. Once it cools, it will start and run again. The good thing about this is if it is your TFI just write ford about it and they will pay for the parts, replacement and the tow if you have to get a tow. That is the good thing about ford. If they relized they messed up, they set it right.

'88 Bronco 2
 
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