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Topic: Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN! (Read 19093 times) previous topic - next topic

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

So, I'm driving to work yesterday like I do most days. I've gone about 10 miles from home and everything is fine. Then without any warning, the engine just dies on me! I'm doing a about 40mph in moderate traffic and then it just dies. I hear the warning tone from the Electronic Cluster go off and the see the RPM's are at zero. Of course the steering practically froze up on me as did the brakes. I was in the far right lane and coasted a little bit before coming to a stop right in front of a circle k. Unfortunately for me the road was uphill and when I tried to push the car into the Circle K, it was  near impossible. Without help, I was screwed.

I got back in the car and put it in park, and tried to restart it. After a few cranks, It came back on. I gunned it into the circle K parking lot. As soon as I got into the parking lot the engine died again, and I coasted into a parking space. I sat for about a minute, and tried to restart it. Sure enough, it turned right on. So, I decided to take a chance and try to make it to work.

I left the circle k and headed back onto the main boulevard. I got about 100 yards before the engine died yet again. I coasted into another parking lot.

Once again, I was able to restart it and headed out. (I shouldn't have.)

This time I made it much further. About 5 miles. However, as I pulled up to a red light, the engine died once again. This time it wouldn't restart. I kept cranking it, but to no avail. After 5 minutes of waiting in the middle of the street, and cranking, the engine turned on. I floored it to make it across the intersection but as soon as I did, the engine died again, and I coasted into an apartment complex and parked the car there. Not wanted to be late for work, I locked up the car, and walked the remaining 2 miles. No fun at all, being in rather bad area of town.

Anyway, I get my dad to pick me up after work and we head over the the apartment complex to get the car. Luckily it was still there. The car fired right and and strangely enough, it made it all the way back home, a nearly 20 mile drive.


This morning I immediately pulled the fuel pump out and replaced it with a new one. Also changed the fuel filter. So far, it hasn't died on me, although it continues to have that  idling problem (the engine keeps fluctuating up and down between 6 and 800 rpms while sitting). What's bugging me is that the car didn't seem to sputter when it died. I was just driving along and the engine just died. I mean, I figured if the pump did cut off, there would still be enough fuel in the lines so it would sputter a little bit before dying. But it didn't. So now, a week and a half before I'm supposed to be trading this car for a turbo coupe, this nasty problem comes up.

Now, I'm not going to tow the car up to Phoenix and then just drive around the corner to his house and claim everything is fine, that wouldn't be right. He'd probably come hunting for me after discovering this disturbing problem.

Any idea what might cause this. Keep in mind I changed the pump and filter this morning, and so far, it hasn't died.

Also, I figure the inevitable question of "did you check your codes" will come up, so how can I check them using a regular volt meter?
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #1 –
Quote from: DMC24guy;122748
Also, I figure the inevitable question of "did you check your codes" will come up, so how can I check them using a regular volt meter?
http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13

Immediate cutout screams ignition problem, not fuel. I'd suggest troubleshooting the ignition system. The ol' TFI is a likely culprit.

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #2 –
Problem sound electrical. Reminds me of my '73 Charger, kept blowing voltage regulators. When it would go out the car would die, it would start right back up but as soon as you gave it any gas at all it would die again.

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #3 –
Quote from: DMC24guy;122748
I mean, I figured if the pump did cut off, there would still be enough fuel in the lines so it would sputter a little bit before dying. But it didn't.


I'm not too sure about that.
When the fuel pump in my '88 XR7 decided to poop itself, the car just quit running at 40 mph. No sputtering of any kind.
It would appear that the fuel injectors need pressure; any drop will kill the engine.

You should be able to check the codes with a basic 12v light bulb or LED if nothing else, but a voltmeter will also work.
Don't you have a CEL in your cluster? I think there's a way to jump two terminals in the code harness and make the CEL flash the codes.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #4 –
I know when they check my codes at auto zone, I see the check engine light come on and blink. How do I do this?

Also, Jeremy, I changed the TFI module back in late july. I doubt it would go bad that quickly.

EDIT:(Nevermind about checking codes, I just read the link in Jeremy's post)
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #6 –
You cannot use a digital volt meter to pull codes.. It cannot go from 0 to a reading and back to 0 fast enough.  buttstuffog all the way.

And zach is correct.  If your check engine light works then all you have to do is connect the two pins to put the car into self test mode then get in the driver seat, turn the key and count the flashes on the check engine light.  Easy as pie.
One 88

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #7 –
I changed the TFI module back in July, so I doubt it's gone bad between now and then.

The codes I pulled could have been either (11) SystemPass or (22) Map Sensor out of Range. The intervals between blinks didn't exactly seem to be 2 seconds or 1/2 second, and it was rather confusing, but I did record either a 22 or 11.

If it's 11, I don't know what to do now. If it's 22 "map sensor out of range", I don't know what to do with that either.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #8 –
How many total blinks were there?

The KOEO codes will repeat twice...then pause for 6 or so seconds...give the KOEO/CM separator blink...then go through your CM codes.

The KOER codes also repeat twice.

I'm not sure if you did a KOER or a KOEO.
Standard procedure is to do a KOEO, then a KOER.

I'm guessing you did a KOER, since you didn't mention the separator pulse or CM codes.  Thus, if you had 4 total blinks, you got a 11-11. A 22 would have a total of 8 blinks.

Which is it?

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #9 –
No, I had more than 4 blinks. 8 blinks sounds about right.
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #10 –
I agree with Eric  TFI or ignition switch, but you do need to pull the codes.  You said you changed the TFI, but if it was  a 25 buck autozone special it could explain alot even some of your other odd issues.

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #11 –
Quote from: DMC24guy;122768
No, I had more than 4 blinks. 8 blinks sounds about right.

A 22 code points to needing a new MAP sensor (as was alluded to earlier in another thread).

I don't think it is the cause of your 'current' problem though.

Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #12 –
It was a 40 dollar special. I suppose if it's under warranty, I should change it. If that's not it though....
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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Changed EGR...Now I wait and See....READ LAST POST BIRDMAN!

Reply #14 –
Autohole, can check your TFI and your map sensor and tell you if they need replaced.
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