90 Bronco won't start

[busbo]

Allright, here it is...90 Bronco, 351w, EFI , auto

Won't start. Starter, battery, distributor, wires, rotor, coil and fuel pump all new. Connections clean, etc. I am not getting a spark. I have read alot about the TFI module failing. Anyone think this is a possible cause? Is there a way to test it? Any other suggestions?

THANKS!

 

[bearbybow]

had the same problem with my 85 EFI. turned out to be a bad distributor

 

[Seabronc]

The TFI is a very likely suspect. Here are the Ignition troubleshooting pages from a 92 EFI which is the same system you have.

Good luck,

>-

 

[busbo]

Thanks for the help. Turns out the TFI module was bad. I replaced it and now I am getting spark, but it still won't start! When attempting to start, the starter turns, but VERY sluggish, like something is keeping it from turning. Oh yeah, it (the starter) is new as well! I don't know what to do next...this is really starting to get to frustrate me. javascript:emoticon(' :excl: ')

smilieAnyone had a problem like this? I would really appreciate any ideas. Thanks again.

 

[Seabronc]

Unless this is a new battery, I'd suggest that you have worn it down trying to start the truck while troubleshooting. Either that or you have a bad connection opn either or both the positive lead and the ground lead that connects to the engine block. There is nothing else in the circuit except battery, leads, solinoid and connections. Try jump starting it.

>-

 

[busbo]

I thought the same thing about the battery, so I took it to the auto parts store. They did a slow charge and said it was o.k. The connectors on the battery are brand new, and so is the negative cable that grounds the battery to the engine. I will try again to jump it. Hope it works!

Thanks again.

 

[busbo]

Well...jumping it did not work. The starter acts is if something is holding it back. Is it possible I got a bad starter or have burned it up? Is there a way to bench test a starter without taking it to a parts store? DAMN TRUCK!!

 

[gungho]

You can test it with a pair of jumper cables. Hook them up to the battery, hook the ground side to the starter housing, and the positive side the the big post on the starter. take a screwdriver and jump the big post to the little post. Only for a couple of seconds though, because it will burn out the starter in a hurry if you do it for to long.

If the spur gear kicks out and it turns, but sounds really rough, you probably have bad bushings in the starter. If the bushings are really bad it will not start. I just went through this like two weeks ago.

I had an auto parts store test my starter, and it worked just fine, but the damn truck wouldn't start, all you could hear was a loud clicking noise. Well i went to a junk yard and found a starter for 20 bucks and threw it in, and the truck starts fine now.

 

[brian_n_texas]

I saw a problem like this once that was caused by incorrect spark plug wiring...saw where you said you changed the wires, wouldn't hurt to double check.

BNT

 

[busbo]

Well...I still can't get this thing to start. When attempting to start it is still acting very slugish. I pulled the distributor out and attempted to replace the actuator...well, I ended up replacing the entire distributor (screwed it up because of lack of correct tools)!!! I have a feeling the timing may be a little off...but it still acts the same as it did before I removed the distributor. When I crank it a few times, the battery cables get extremely hot. Is this normal? I am going to try the solenoid later tonight.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[busbo]

The solenoid did not work.

I tried checking the codes and it flashed what I believe to be several. Does anyone know how to deceifer these codes?

Here's what I got:

BLINK-3 sec-BLINK -4 sec-BLINK-2sec-BLINK-9sec-BLINK-6sec-BLINK

-2sec-BLINK-4sec-BLINK-2sec-BLINK

ANY ideas?

Thanks for any info.

 

[gungho]

So did the truck turn over at all before you took the distributor out? It sounds like an electrical issue with the battery getting hot. Check the positive cable down to the starter. Did you take a ground strap off that goes from the engine to the frame by chance? That will cause low current to flow to the starter. Check the battery ground too.

 

[busbo]

The truck did turn over before I repaced the distributor, but very sluggishly. I replaced the cable from the battery to the starter and it is not grounding to the frame. I did not know that it would matter. I will try that.

Thanks!

 

[grande_guerre]

You might want to make sure the distributor isn't in 180 degrees backwards, i've heard it is possible to do. and make sure the plug wires are going to the correct cylinder.

 

[busbo]

Still no luck. I made sure the # 1 cylinder was at TDC of the compression stroke and tried to point the distributor to fire at the # 1 plug and got nothing. Now the engine wont turn at all! Anyone have any ideas or know of a cliff I could push it off of? Thanks for the help.

 

[BLADE262US]

I am thinking that you should have gotten another starter to try right after you changed it . If the battery is good and the cables are good and the starter solenoid is good that thing should have rolled over just fine reguardless of the timing unless its really out there then just unplug the coil so that the timing would have no effect on the motor rolling over. If it still rolls over that hard something is wrong with the starter . I would pull it back out and look at the face of the bendix ( the part that flys out with the gear on it ) If there are marks on it from the flywheel like it has been touching it they may have sold you a starter for a stick it will bolt on but the throw of the bendix is longer causing it to bind on the flywheel . Keep in mind that just because a starter spins when power is applied doesnt necesarily mean its good I have seen where the armature in the starter or brushes are hanging up and the motor will spin but it doesnt generate the power it should , I use one of the gear reduction starters from Jegs and have had no problems I think that thing would literally roll the truck over . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />