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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

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Old Nov 16, 2002 | 05:22 PM
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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

My brother-in-law tells me that I need to find the "brain Box" - but I don't know where it is or what it is??

The pick-up will run for a little while, then die, after it cools down it runs for a very short time. It is getting gas - but no spark thru the distributor wire when trying to start it again. Can anyone help or at least point me to the "brain Box" Thanks, Kevin
 
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Old Nov 16, 2002 | 06:05 PM
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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

Reach under the dash just left of center of the firewall.
There are a couple of hundred thousand (at least 80) wires coming out of it.
If you have cruise control that is down there too.


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Old Nov 16, 2002 | 06:07 PM
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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

If it's fuel injected, you can try the module on the side of the distributor. The computer under the dash gives this module instructions on timing, and the module actually fires the coil.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2002 | 10:31 PM
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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

Franklin's probably right.
TFI module on distributor most probable.
2.Magnetic pickup inside distributor.
3.Coil
4.Ignition switch
First of all make sure coil wires are all tight and clean.
 
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Old Nov 17, 2002 | 12:48 PM
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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

It's most likely the coil considering the heat issue, but the TFI ignition module on the distributor is also a known problem. It's probably less than $60 to replace both with lifetime parts, but I'd avoid the Zone!

The "brain box" (aka EEC, PCM, computer) is behind the driver's kick panel beside the e-brake pedal on your truck. You get to it from the engine compartment under the L hood hinge. (The cruise servo is there if you have cruise, and the cruise module is under the middle of the dash beside the ash tray.) I strongly doubt that the EEC is the problem, buy you should pull the codes anyway if only to clear them.
http://www.broncodata.com/tech/codes.htm
 
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Old Nov 17, 2002 | 07:52 PM
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1988 Ford 150 "brain box"

 
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Old Dec 30, 2014 | 08:48 PM
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so, if I had a bronco that was having the same issues should I check this out too? it'll start for a minute, then die, got fuel, but spark is fading and the code I'm getting is that my throttle position sensor is out of range (which I understand is fading spark)


I've got a great truck sitting here and I'm dyin not being able to run around in my midlife crisis mobile.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2014 | 07:56 AM
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Throttle position is a different issue. If you are sure you are losing spark, the first thing I would do is change the module bolted to the side of the distributor. I am assuming you have a late 80's, early 90's Bronco?

Some of the later models had the module remotely mounted on a heat sink away from the dist. That's because they had so much heat problems with them mounted on the dist. When you replace it, make sure you use a good smear of the special white heat sink grease on the module. Radio Shack carries it if the new one doesn't come with any.
 
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