JPJP

Hello my '86 Mustang spent its first 60K in Phoenix (heat cycles). It now has about 96K on it.

Last week after heat soaking within the first few minutes of the next ride it died while idling at a light. After about 4 tries the car started right back up. The ambient was around 84° F.

I figured I would look into this apparent heat related issue later and drive in lower temp's.

Today the ambient was around 77° F. Going home from work I parked the car for about 1/2 hour to do an errand. The car would not start after multiple attempts. I could hear the fuel pump priming. The coil was cool to the touch. Seems/feels like no spark.

Walked home had dinner and came back about 1.5 hours later. Car started right back up.

Once home (short trip) I let car sit for a few minutes to heat soak and the car still started just fine. I put a blow dryer on the TFI module to get it good and hot to the touch. The car still started just fine.

I am planning on pulling the distributor and having the PIP on it checked at the local parts store. I will also have them check the TFI module.

Any thoughts or experiences with this apparent heat related no start? Will parts store be able to detect this intermittent problem?

JPJP

Oh, forgot to mention the TFI is almost new (about 1.5 years old and 7K on it). It is a High Energy brand (LRS-F504) from Late Model Restoration.

Also the ignition coil is an Accel high output version.

Ignition components are all fresh including a tune up only about 3K ago.

88 orangepeel notch

I'd pull the TFI first, and have the parts store test it 3 times in a row. I'll bet it will fail on the third. A hair dryer won't get hot enough to fail the module. And I'd spend the extra money on a Motorcraft original replacement.

mjr46

you need not go any further until you verify a no spark condition.........."seems" is not valid in the world of troubleshooting..........when the prob occurs, verify such with an inline spark tester or used spark plug, if no spark, next check for inj pulse via a noid light, if you have no spark and no inj pulse, often that'll lead you right to the distributor where PIP is generated via the stator and aplified by the tfi, loss of Pip means cylinder Id does not occur thus ecm doesn't know when to fire inj's......verify!! don't guess

JPJP

The problem is it is intermittent.

Now that the weather is getting hotter it will probably be show up again. I will let you know what I find. Thank you.

JPJP

UPDATE:

I replaced BOTH TFI module and the PIP module.

The TFI module tested bad and I replaced it with yes, a new MOTORCRAFT ignition module.

I replaced the PIP as preventative maintenance.

Cool link on replacing PIP:

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-foru...pickup.823694/

Thanks for everybody's help!

JPJP

Oh, forgot to mention the PIP module I picked up at Napa:

Echlin #MP711

Seems to be recommended by a lot of Ford guys.