1988 LX 2.3 Won't start. Ignition problem?

71mach172 · 10-18-2009

A buddy of mine just bought an '88 2.3 EFI Mustang, five speed..

The car had a blown head gasket, from cyl. #1 and out in front.
I took the head of, pressure tested it, did a Serdi-job on it, and milled the head.

We got the car started by turning the distrubitor back and forth,
and it's running really nice. We used a timing light and adjusted the timing to 10 degrees BTC. If we then stop the car, and try to start it again(with or without the spout), the car won't start again, and no sign of fire. The car cranks, but won't start. On the timing light while we crank the engine, it does not show any spark. Only a few times it will show a spark, often when we turn the key to off position after cranking.

If we loosen the distrubitor, and move it back and forth while cranking, it will start, and run very nice. But when we tighten the distrubitor after adjusting the timing, it will not start again

What do you think can be wrong?

Thanks,¨
Thomas

turboeeyore · 10-18-2009

this could be many things the first thing i'm thinking is the ignition switch, my first question is is there a bulb in the check engine light? in canada ( between me and my friends) weve had several 2.3l's and none have come with a bulb in the check engine spot. if there is when you turn the key to on does it light up? when the ecm turns on the light comes on for bulb test, if it doesn't come on the ecm's not on. after testing this theroy of mine, try starting it off the solinoid instead of the key, there may be a dead spot on the ignition switch. the other thing is either the harness @ the tfi, or the pick up under the rotor, there has been times i've seen the wires fall out of the harness, the pins in the tfi bend and push out the wire.
the pick up sensor or "hall effect" sensor uses 4 "windows" on the dizzy to send signal to fire the coil, start the fuel pump running.( if you crank the dizzy back and forth you'll hear the f/p engage breifly. ) this could be the issue, but if you get "tach bounce" when cranking it over the spark signal is good and your coil is shot. i jumped around here alot but there is alot of things it could be. hope this helps.

TOM RENZO · 10-18-2009

OK HERE IS THE DEAL. If you crank and there is no spark then when you turn the key off and get one the pip is not working properly. The coil is not being pulsed. There is only two things that controll that. TFI or PIP. Crank the motor over and see if you have spark at the coil??? Do you have spark??? If not check fore battery at the +side of the coil while cranking. DO you have voltage??? If so then install a test light 12 volt across the primary coil wires with the coil disconnected. Crank it does the test light blink??? If not check all the voltages at the tfi connector. Are they OK. If they are grab a good dizzy and connect it to the car. Ground the housing turn the ignition on and with a spark plug or air gap at the coil wire spin the shaft of the test DIZZY. Do you have spark??? If so the dizzy in your car is shot. Replace the PIP and the TFI module.

TOM RENZO · 10-18-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboeeyore

this could be many things the first thing i'm thinking is the ignition switch, my first question is is there a bulb in the check engine light? in canada ( between me and my friends) weve had several 2.3l's and none have come with a bulb in the check engine spot. if there is when you turn the key to on does it light up? when the ecm turns on the light comes on for bulb test, if it doesn't come on the ecm's not on. after testing this theroy of mine, try starting it off the solinoid instead of the key, there may be a dead spot on the ignition switch. the other thing is either the harness @ the tfi, or the pick up under the rotor, there has been times i've seen the wires fall out of the harness, the pins in the tfi bend and push out the wire.
the pick up sensor or "hall effect" sensor uses 4 "windows" on the dizzy to send signal to fire the coil, start the fuel pump running.( if you crank the dizzy back and forth you'll hear the f/p engage breifly. ) this could be the issue, but if you get "tach bounce" when cranking it over the spark signal is good and your coil is shot. i jumped around here alot but there is alot of things it could be. hope this helps.

Always look for a SES light when keying a car. If you dont get one and the lamp is ok the EECIV power relay may be bad. I always listen for a fuel pump timeout to confirm that the ecm is ON when keyed. You may just have a defective power up relay EECIV relay. Good luck tom

71mach172 · 10-20-2009

Thank you for your answers.

I have tried to start the engine by the solinoid instead of the key. Won't start

There is no check engine light when I turn the ignition on - does this mean that the ECM is dead, if there is a bulb there? Sorry, haven't checked if there is yet, have not been in the garage until to day (Will check if there is soon).
The fuel pump starts right away after turning the ignition on.

The tach bounces when cranking the engine.

I have checked if the coil has spark when cranking, and it has.

I have an '86 2.3 LX, can I try with the distrubitor from my car? Or is it different from mine to the EFI's? As far as I know, the PIP and the TFI is good on my car.

I have not gotten much time to work on the car, so I haven't checked the voltage at the TFI connector yet, and it's getting late here now.

I appreciate your answers, not many with experience on the fox-body cars in Norway. According to the Mustang registry in Norway, only 160-170 alive :S At least 30 are wrecked.

Thanks,
Thomas
http://www.frantzenracing.com/Treff/...eff%20(14).JPG

TOM RENZO · 10-20-2009

Hold UP on that car young gentelman. You said you have spark while cranking and the tach shows pulses???? That would mean the dizzy is OK. Did i read your post correctly ??? You have spark at the coil tower?? If you do then do you have spark at the plugs?? If so you have a fuel delivery or timing problem Cam or ignition. I am assuming this motor ran before you installed a new head gasket right??? IF SO YOU HAVE TO RECHECK YOUR TIMING ON THE CAM AND DIZZY. The SES light should come on if the ECM is being powered UP. The EECIV POWER RELAY SUPPLIES POWER TO THE ECM AND FUEL PUMP. Hope this helps