Distributor mounted TFI module situation
04-09-2006, 09:37 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Posts: 27
Distributor mounted TFI module situation
Hi, I have a 92 lx convertible and in my quest for knowledge about my car, I've come across some fairly disturbing information regarding TFI modules that are mounted to the distributor (which my car has). Apparently this design is dangerous as distributor mounted TFI modules are susceptible to intermittent failure caused by thermal stress. Is this something I should be worried about?
04-09-2006, 10:14 PM
#2
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Howard City, MI
Posts: 5,956
RE: Distributor mounted TFI module situation
Drove my car for 4 years, no problems with it yet...have never heard of that being a big deal. I wouldn't worry about it. I don't know what would be dangerous about it either.....
04-09-2006, 10:17 PM
#3
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 9,587
RE: Distributor mounted TFI module situation
those were problems with the old rangers, because the dizzy was in the back next to the firewall so they got really hot, its not a problem with the 5.0's
04-09-2006, 10:29 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2005
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Posts: 27
RE: Distributor mounted TFI module situation
Apparently it's dangerous because the vehicle can stall and die on the highway at any time causing the driver to loose control. Here's a link: http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=&did=362
04-10-2006, 12:05 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Puerto Rico
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RE: Distributor mounted TFI module situation
ORIGINAL: Intense
Apparently it's dangerous because the vehicle can stall and die on the highway at any time causing the driver to loose control. Here's a link: http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=&did=362
Apparently it's dangerous because the vehicle can stall and die on the highway at any time causing the driver to loose control. Here's a link: http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=&did=362
."distributor mounted TFI modules are susceptible to intermittent failure caused by thermal stress"
I know many distributor mounted (internal and external) designs that haven't been exposed to that type of judicial mumbo jumbo, with the same failure rates as the TFI modules. GM's HEI module is distributor mounted, '84+ Hondas are distributor mounted....yeah, ricers too. Same failure possibilities....they can stall and die on the highway and at intersections too. BTST....I always follow a basic rule of thumb I learned from the electronics industry......"an electronic component/device has a 5 yrs. useful life designed into it".....and the basic law all attorneys tend to forget.....
Murphy's Law:....if it can fail, it will fail....if it can't fail, it will fail.....therefore, everything is susceptible to failure.
04-10-2006, 12:28 AM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 394
RE: Distributor mounted TFI module situation
To feel better, look at some of the mileage threads on this site. Most of the 5.0's appear to have around 150,000 or more on them. Yes, TFI's do fail without warning. So do coils, batteries, fuel pumps, hoses, radios, etc., etc., etc. Frequency is not so much though. As others have mentioned, similar failures can occur on ANY vehicle from ANY manufacturer and yet there are millions of cars still on the road with many of them having the annoying tendency to get in my way. No reason for undue concern.
04-10-2006, 01:00 AM
#9
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Puerto Rico
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RE: Distributor mounted TFI module situation
One detail I forgot to mention, TFI failures due to excessive heat, is also caused by not using the dielectric grease/heat sink compound you have to apply to the contact surfaces of the module and the distributor housing.
