Engine turns over, but doesn't start

[gbeaird]

Please refer to the Lounge area and my comments in the Houston members note.

Anyway, I have a problem with our 86. While backing into a parking lot last weekend, the car just quit. Quit like I turned the key off. After a little troubleshooting in the parking lot that determined that nothing had become obviously unplugged, or a popped fuse, the car was flat-bedded home.

After doing some more cursory looks, I have determined that the fuel pump is spinning up, so I should have fuel pressure. The rotor is also spinning, so it looks like the distributor gear is still one with the shaft. When I turn the engine over with a timing light hooked up, however, the light doesn't light. Looks like something in the ignition has gone south, possibly the TFI. Does anyone have some decent troubleshooting steps for determining the health of a TFI? I would appreciate it.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO, dead in the driveway,
Pearland, Texas

[Stinger]

Mine did this right after I got done doing a donut...just quite. I thought I sheared the distributor shaft or something. Took it to the shop and found that everything looked good but I had no spark. I got ready to unplug the TFI harness and I heard it spark (I was at TDC) and decided to try to start it. Still dead. Had my buddy wiggle the tfi harness and it fired right up.

I inspected every bit of the harness and never could find the problem. I just decided that I couldn't fix it until it quite again. Hasn't done it since

[venomizd93]

heheh funny you say that I did the same thing on my cobra backing up. gave it some gas and sheared the nipple off the rotor. Pissed me off that I didn't figure that one out until it was towed. I thought I soaked the plugs down or something. I got the bonehead diagnostic award for the week.

[gbeaird]

Well, took the distributor out and ran it down to the local parts house. PFY behind the counter tested the TFI - FAILED.

I installed a new Motorcraft TFI, threw in a cap and rotor, while I was there, glued everything back together and the car started. I set the timing (12 deg this time to see how the car runs with that) and went for a test drive. Our SVO is back among the living! Ahhh, the sweet sound of a turbo spooling up!! :-)

Thanks for all the recommendations/help.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas