My '88 Won't Start
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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My '88 Won't Start
Merry Christmas to everyone! 
She sat for a month or so but started right up. I went to the house to fetch something I forgot and she died and hasn't run since. It has plenty of fuel but I'm not so sure there is any getting to the injectors. Furthermore, there's a ground wire that's getting hot to the point of smoking when I crank it.
Some history: at least twice it stalled out while comming to a stop and wouldn't start without sitting five minutes or so.
Any suggestions as to a good starting point? Thanks in advance!
She sat for a month or so but started right up. I went to the house to fetch something I forgot and she died and hasn't run since. It has plenty of fuel but I'm not so sure there is any getting to the injectors. Furthermore, there's a ground wire that's getting hot to the point of smoking when I crank it.
Some history: at least twice it stalled out while comming to a stop and wouldn't start without sitting five minutes or so.
Any suggestions as to a good starting point? Thanks in advance!
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
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From: Belleville, Ontario
Smoking ground wire...
Maybe that ground wire is the only good one left and it's handling the entire load. Check/clean all the grounds and maybe add one from the battery to the body.
AL.
AL.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
Sounds like it's time to repair or replace your battery cables. You'll probably want to order / buy the OEM style ground wire from NAPA. I don't think Autozone, Advance/Schuck's/Checker/Kragen carries them or has them available by order. Worst case scenario is going to a Ford dealership and talking to the folks in the parts department. That would be my last resort, since dealerships usually charge a heck of a lot more $$$ for parts! Start off by checking all of the connections, and if the cable(s) are in unserviceable shape, go ahead and replace them. A little time and maybe money now will save you an electrical fire down the road.
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The battery cables look fine. This ground runs from the fuel injector to the brake booster of all things. One thing for sure though, if it's disconnected, the car's dead. The motor was changed in this vehicle. The wiring is not exactly OEM, but it's been fine up till now.
I think I may be looking at a fuel problem although I can't get it to even fire on starter fluid. I hate fuel injectors. I don't have a clue how to trouble-shoot them.
I think I may be looking at a fuel problem although I can't get it to even fire on starter fluid. I hate fuel injectors. I don't have a clue how to trouble-shoot them.
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Originally Posted by Dealford
Maybe that ground wire is the only good one left and it's handling the entire load. Check/clean all the grounds and maybe add one from the battery to the body.
AL.
AL.
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
Originally Posted by manasota
The battery cables look fine. This ground runs from the fuel injector to the brake booster of all things.
