Hi everybody, I've known this site for as long as I've owned my '85 Cougar, (about 1 and 1/2 years now, my first car!), but this is my first time posting on the forums. I'm having trouble starting it, and my father, a mechanic for 25 or so years, is having trouble repairing it.
On a cold morning I started my car up just fine and let it warm up for about 10-15 minutes. After it had warmed up, I drove it about 15 feet and it suddenly died on me. It hasn't started up since.
My dad already replaced the ignition coil, and checked the distributor, fuses and all wirings, but to no avail.
Any help would be truly appreciated!
make sure it has fuel... and spark... and have all modules and check for voltage. (ie ignition switch)
does it crank? have you checked fuel pressure/spark/etc as stated above?
I've seen EEC IV modules melt themselves... when all else fails, visit a ford dealer with an SBDS, pay them 1-2 hour diag then fix the problem yourself
The same thing happend with my 84 crown vic. I think it was the ignition module but I don't remember. It is the part mounted on the distributor and you need a special tool to change it. I actually think haystack is going through the same thing right now. If your car is a 5.0 then the engines in the crown vic and your car are the same thing.
Sounds eeirily similar. Dont worry you are in good hands here. They have saved me several times. Here is the link to my thread with similar problems
http://foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?p=13742#post13742
guys comeon the guys dads a mechanic nothing like that is going to get past him i hope. You said you warmed it up so im going to assume you live somewhere cold? If so had you put the car in the snow or submersed the exhaust system in anything cold. I had heard froma friend who unfortunatly drove his car into a pond, that the rapid change in temperature had had an unexpected effect on his exhaust system the car could not clear the exhaust gasses and would not start. if you live somewhere cold might be worth checking out.
ignition module and check the coil pickup in side the distib. I had what the called a electric melt down had to replace both after spack plugs, wires, coil,
mine did the same thing, check the plugs
TFI module
I HAD A SIMALAIR PROBLEM ON MY 1988 I WAS DRIVING TO PA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO JERK AND JUMP AND BACK FIRE THEN DIED AND I COULD NOT START IT WHAT I FOUND OUT IT WAS IS THE CATALIIC CONVERTERS COLAPESED IN THE HEADER Y BEFORE THE CENTER CONVERTER SO I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY HOLLOWED THEM OUT NOT TO MY KNOWING WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN MARYLAND AND THEY REPLACE THE CENTER ONE SO WHEN EMMISSIN CAME AROUND IT WOULD NOT PASS . AND I REPORTED THEM TO THE EPA BUT THEY NEVER WROTE DOWN WHAT THEY DID ONLY THAT THEY REPLACED THE CENTER CONVERTER SO PERHAPS YOU MAY HAVE A SIMILIAR PROBLEM . THE THE CONVERTERS COST AROUND $600. NEW AND I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD NOT USE A USED ONE BUT AS LONG AS IT'S NOT COLASPED IT SHOULD BE OK ALSO CHECK YOU'R OXYGEN SENSORS THEY CAN MAKE YOU CAR RUN ROUGH . AND YOU MAY LIVE IN A STATE WHERE EMISSIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED SO I WOULD PUT DUAL EXHAUSTS ON IT FROM THE HEADERS !! :dunno:
ok cat eyes next time u post make sure yor caps lock is off :slap: :brick: thanx.
ok ok sorry first time doing this give me a break !!!
ok ok give me a break first time doing this !!
most stock t-birds dont have headers their called exhaust manifolds just to inform you , im not being sacrastic
Aw, c'mon, be nice. After all, he's from Aberdeen, and we all know about those Aberdeen guys!!! :crazy:
Mine did that sort of thing, where it died, then it would turn over, but not start. It was the "inertia switch" for the fuel pump. It had somehow engaged, and cut the power to the fuel pump. The is a round access hole in the trunk liner where you can stick your finger in and press a small white button on top of the inertia module. When you press it, it won't "click" or anything. Mine didn't even feel like it pressed in, but once I did that, the car fired right up! Happened about 3 times in the past 4 years. Hope this helps...