Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: DVP on May 05, 2006, 10:50:09 AM

Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: DVP on May 05, 2006, 10:50:09 AM
when i sit at an idle for any time and i put it into gear it dies. I did a tune up about 5 months ago and i think the wires were not on right to begin with and i might of messed some  up. i need a piture of the way they should be or a detail easy explaination of who to fix it. 86 5.0 not h.o.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: Haystack on May 05, 2006, 11:24:10 AM
Does it back fire or idle low?
(http://www.sunflower.com/~vervaecke/images/fo-289302.jpg)
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: DVP on May 05, 2006, 03:36:09 PM
It idles at about 900 to 1000 in park and neutral and at is in between 600 and 800 in gear. im going to try and take all the wires off and but them back on like the are in the diagram.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: Haystack on May 05, 2006, 04:02:45 PM
It could still be a number of diffrent things. Like the TPS(Do a search it will come right up) or IAC.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: 91tbird on May 05, 2006, 04:46:38 PM
haystack do you have a diagram for a 91 tbird 3.6 or do you know where i can get one. thanks
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: V8Demon on May 05, 2006, 05:52:38 PM
Firing order for the 3.8 is:  1-4-2-5-3-6
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: Haystack on May 05, 2006, 06:27:59 PM
(http://www.moddedmustangs.com/reference/images/ford-firing-orders.jpg)
that was a two second google.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: Tbird232ci on May 05, 2006, 06:44:26 PM
NEVER follow those diagrams. If the distributor has been removed, if the timing has been adjusted, or anything, the diagram will be off.

Hell, the one from the haynes manual for my 3.8L was completely wrong.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: Slinky on May 06, 2006, 10:35:34 AM
Check out this thread, this may be your problem too.http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=7575
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: DVP on May 06, 2006, 08:35:27 PM
I checked the wires according to the diagram and they are correct. when i frist start it and leave the end of my street i push the gas and its like it struggles to moveor like it isnt getting spark and wants to die if that helps
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: DVP on May 06, 2006, 08:40:44 PM
i think the distributor has  been replaced when the old lady had it before me. she got screwed over by the shop she when to many time so who know if the mess something else up when they did that
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: softtouch on May 06, 2006, 08:54:08 PM
Plugged up exhaust? Potato in the tail pipe. Cat converter plugged up.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: DVP on May 08, 2006, 04:01:10 PM
No potato. how could i tell if the cat is clogged?
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: BillWert on May 08, 2006, 07:50:38 PM
Quote from: Tbird232ci
NEVER follow those diagrams. If the distributor has been removed, if the timing has been adjusted, or anything, the diagram will be off.

Hell, the one from the haynes manual for my 3.8L was completely wrong.


Hm.  The relative position of the distributor shouldn't acutally effect the firing order any, should it?  Unless the cam has been swapped to something which requires a different firing order, can't you just find TDC for #1, find the tower that points at, and key off that?  I mean, sure, the distro might not be oriented exactly like the picture in the book, but that doesn't mean the firing order in the book is on drugs..
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: softtouch on May 08, 2006, 08:06:11 PM
A symptom of a clogged exhaust would be low manifold vacuum. But the only way to tell for sure is to disconnect it.
You could also have very low fuel pressure. Clogged filter maybe.
Timing being way retarded would also give the same symptoms. Timing chain jumped over a tooth.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: DVP on May 10, 2006, 09:03:26 AM
im starting to get highly pssed off. today when i was pulling into school it bogged down to 400 then jumped up to 1000 and then droped to 200 while i was braking and almost to a stop. i had coasted down the hillt this stop so it wasn't like i just flew up there and slammed on the brake. Where is the TPS or IAC so i can see if they are clogged. im afraid im going to f@*$ something up if i don't fix it soon.
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: MasterBlaster on May 10, 2006, 10:34:49 AM
Quote
Where is the TPS or IAC so i can see if they are clogged.
Here they are.....
.
(http://www3.telus.net/neat/pics1/iac_tps.jpg)
Title: dies at idle and think the wires are on cap wrong
Post by: V8Demon on May 10, 2006, 05:08:20 PM
Using Tom's motor as a reference guide, are we?