engine cut out

Reply #15 – May 27, 2009, 04:49:36 PM

Hello- i just read at All Ford Mustangs forum that a black TFI is not interchangeable with a grey TFI. The one that i removed from my cougar was grey. the one i installed, sold to me by Autozone, is black. However, the engine runs fine. i cleared the codes, re-tested, and no longer get code 18. do i have anything to worry about?

engine cut out

Reply #16 – May 27, 2009, 05:27:52 PM

Quote

Hello- i just read at All Ford Mustangs forum that a black TFI is not interchangeable with a grey TFI

[SIZE="5"]
So if I make one and paint it [COLOR="yellow"]yellow[/COLOR], what then? [/SIZE]
Different aftermarket companies make them in different color plastic I would imagine.....

engine cut out

Reply #17 – May 27, 2009, 05:56:58 PM

ok. i failed to remember that i didn't buy a motorcraft part and that is what the black / grey thing refers to (pin 4 is different between the black and grey). i shoulda thought this thru earlier before typing.

engine cut out

Reply #18 – May 27, 2009, 06:28:32 PM

Interesting. I researched this a little bit and found the following:

And starting at the bottom of page 2 HERE explains the differences in detail.

Seeing as I always just asked for the one I needed, I never knew about this anomaly. I knew of the difference between the distributor and remote mount mounted ones, but not the pin difference.

From the article:

Quote

IDM is a feedback signal generated by the ignition system and is monitored at pin #4 of the ECM. Its purpose is to diagnose missed ignition primary pulses at the time the ECM commands the Spout signal to fire the coil. Since it is used solely for diagnostic purposes, if this circuit is not operating properly, it will not affect vehicle driveability.
Both "Push Start" and "CCD" systems produce an "IDM" signal, however, they do it in different ways. The "Push Start"system uses an external 22K ohm resistor (22,000 ohms) that is usually taped to the wiring harness that is connected to the negative terminal of the ignition coil. This resistor is used to lower the voltage of the Tach signal being supplied to pin #4 of the ECM. This external resistor is not used on the CCD system since it is part of the internal circuitry of the module, which produces the IDM signal. So, the IDM signal travels from pin #4 of the module directly to pin #4 of the ECM. Oddly enough, the "Start" pin on the "Push Start" module is the same pin as the IDM pin on the "CCD" module. While the connectors are identical, interchanging the modules may or may not create a driveability problem , while tripping a fault code of #18, or # 212 (IDM code). These are problems consistent with interchanging one type module in place of the other.

engine cut out

Reply #19 – May 27, 2009, 06:32:27 PM

Many of the after market modules are different colors and it doesn't mean anything...

I have a red Holley unit on mine...

engine cut out

Reply #20 – May 27, 2009, 06:35:32 PM

Apparently there are 4 different part types though....