I'm working on my son's '92 5.0 Mustang GT. It will die and not restart with out warning. Sometimes it won't start cold, later it will. While driving it will die. I have replaced the ignition switch, distributor, rotor, cap, coil, coil wire, ignition module, and have checked all connections I could find, cleaned all grounds, even added another from block to fender well. The fuel pump is running, it's getting fuel, the coil isn't losing power, the alternator is putting out 13.2 volts idling at 700 rpm. After replacing all of the above parts, it started and ran for about 15 minutes and died. Would not restart. This is where it gets real interesting....I pulled the coil wire off of the distributor, stuck a phillips screwdriver in the cap and placed it about an 1/8" from ground, cranked the engine and got great sparking. I put the wire back on the distributor and cranked, it started and ran another 10 or 15 minutes and died. I did the screwdriver test again and it started, ran 20 or 30 minutes and died. Screwdriver test again and it ran. What is going on here? I don't understand what is happening. You guys have helped me considerably with my Powerstroke, I hope someone has the answer to this, thanks!

 

pull codes before you start replaceing stuff further. www.fordfuelinjection.com will show you how. i would also check the fuel pressure at the rail , test it at idle and while driving. might also be a bad TFI module as well.

 

Thanks, I will check that link.

 

Some threads that *may* help you:


http://www.my5oh.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=524
http://www.my5oh.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190
http://www.my5oh.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70

There is a ton more in the member section on there..

 

Thanks! This is very helpful.

 

Great info. I did pulled codes and got the following:
31, 1, 14, 29, 96, 14, 29, 31, 96

I know... the single digit #1 is weird. I repeated the test 3 times and still had the single flash between the 31 and the 14. The smog stuff is deleted. Code 14-"PROFILE IGNITION PICKUP CIRCUIT FAILURE", is this telling me that the new distributor is bad? The code 96 is from checking the FP relay I hope, Thanks again for your help.

 

that website should contain the codes descriptions as well. 14 does sound like a bad dizzy though.

 

It does, in the members section. It's free to register and become a member though if anyones interested. There are also "how to solve code x" threads on there too. That list is updated as time allows the guy who writes them for my5oh is "well know" on the mustang sites as being a EFI guru.

 

I think the problem is solved. The new distributor had bad pickup in it. Third distributor has worked for two days without a glitch. Thanks for all the help, and never assume a new part is always good.