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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
88
Ford Bronco, Complete Shutdown
Q:
I have an '88 Ford Bronco with a six cylinder engine that has 117,000
miles. After a mile or so the vehicle will completely shutdown. After
a 5 to 10 minute wait it will restart. I have had all of the following
parts replaced with no change in performance. Relay assembly fuel pump,
ignition coil, ignition module, distributor parts, EEC relay, from fuel
pump, intake fuel pump, and oil pressure gauge. What is the next step?
Any help will be appreciated... Robert.
A: What
did any of those parts have to do with your stalling problem? You've spent
a lot of unnecessary money on unnecessary replacement parts. There has
to be a diagnostic strategy in solving a problem like yours. In the most
basic terms there are three components needed for a sound engine to operate;
air, fuel and spark. The first step of that strategy is determining which
one or more of the primary components of engine operation is failing.
Recently we had a vehicle in the shop that exhibited a problem similar
to yours. The exception was that the condition was random, operating time,
temperature or weather had no effect on the condition. The engine would
just quit, but would restart a short time later. The vehicle was equipped
with a fuel pressure gauge, vacuum gauge, tachometer and cellular phone
and was then driven in close proximity to the shop. When the failure occurred
we were able to quickly identify the condition of the primary components
of engine operation. The ignition coil had an internal but random electrical
short. It took time but only the necessary part was replaced. For your
problem, a diagnostic strategy is needed and remember, if you cannot prove
it's broken... don't replace it.
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