302 EFI died and I can't figure out why!

[SRL]

My apologies if this has been discussed before but I'm absolutely stumped.

2 days ago my engine just died driving down the road. One moment its fine, the next it just quit.

FYI my electronics are the common '89 mustang setup. It's been running strong for over a year now and I figured any wiring errors would have manifested themselves long before now.

It turns over. I can hear my fuel pump. I have pressure at the bleeder valve on the supply rail. I have spark because I can spray gas down my intake and the engine will run for a second or two with no backfiring or anything obviously wrong in the ignition dept.

My deduction is that the injectors aren't firing for some reason. Trouble is though I never tampered with any wiring in that area. It was all plug'n'play between the injectors and the ECM. It could be the computer, but then I wouldn't have spark, right?

I'm at a loss. I have spark. I have fuel pressure. I should have a running engine but I don't.

Any ideas? Anything I missed. For a time I thought my TFI module packed it in but then I researched and figured that if it was the TFI that I'd have ignition trouble but it appears I don't.

Are there any sensors that tell the ECM when to fire the injectors or is that all programmed? (sounds like a stupid question but I'm not thinking 100% straight atm)

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Do you have compression?

Fire and spark arnt the only things needed to run. If you jumped time then the valves are open at odd times and thats why its not running.

The reason i tmight be fireing with Ether is because it burns alot faster with alotless compression then gas.

later,
Dustin

 

[brett]

you could pull out an injector leave it conected to harness
pull coil wire and turn over if it squirts gas its working properly
do you have fuel line pressure at the rail (looks like a tire valve)
press it to see if theres pressure at the line should spray
try wiggling the main plug to the injector bank
is there a fuse

 

[86ford]

i would check the timing with a timing light, check the voltage for all the plugs, the IAC (idle air control valve) could of taken a crap and it would produce all the symptoms you have. hold the throttle wide open and crank the motor and see if it will start if it does you could have a bad IAC. i hate to sound like a dick but do you have gas in the tank?

86

 

[scooter]

If it runs on carb cleaner, its not a timing problem........

#1 Make sure it has ENOUGH fuel pressure.

#2 Use a long screwdriver, and put the metal end on a injector, the other end to your ear. You should hear/feel the injector "click" when it opens.

Try that and let us know what happens.

Todd S.

 

[mikepotts]

this is a common problem. get a painless harness! yeah, it aint cheap... you wont have anymore problems. people will say, do this, do that and yeah it might start working again... where do you want it to leave you stranded the NEXT time? wheelin' in BFE? not me! i got rid of my injection and got propane, but that is what i wanted, if you like the EFI do it right! with either painless or one of the other harness mfg'ers. my $.02

 

[mikepotts]

oh, and there is no definate answer as to why they work then they dont. it is my assumption that the harness has other functions intergrated into it from the mustang, which you can never totally get rid of. even though it LOOKS like a stand alone harness, it isnt.

 

[mikepotts]

before you say it cost too much... think about what you will have invested in a faulty system and not be able to put any faith in it...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[wade]

If it runs on carb cleaner, its not a timing problem........
#2 Use a long screwdriver, and put the metal end on a injector, the other end to your ear. You should hear/feel the injector "click" when it opens.

That, or a stethoscope's a cheap substitute for a Noid Light. It might, or might not, work conclusively.

You could pull out an injector, leave it connected to harness,
pull coil wire, and turn over if it squirts gas its working properly.

While that might work -- in theory -- I would NOT recommend that you do it!

What do you do with the 40 psi of fuel that is squirting out of the fuel rail where the injector used to be installed, when you "turn it over"? And, now that the injector is removed from the rail, it has no fuel supply. What is it going to squirt? Air?? Even if it squirted fuel, you give this kind of advice and some knucklehead will try it! They'd hold the injector by the nozzle and inject fuel into their hand - through their skin! Then they'll be PMing with a Moderator trying to get your address!
"I wanna kick his butt, because I was stupid enough to take his advice!"

Don't do it!

Just get a Noid Light! Safe and Sure! Even if its one for GM! If you have the intelligence to build a V8 Ranger, I'll bet you have the intelligence to adapt it to the Ford injector wiring harness.

 

[scooter]

That, or a stethoscope's a cheap substitute for a Noid Light. It might, or might not, work conclusively.
While that might work -- in theory -- I would NOT recommend that you do it!


Just get a Noid Light! Safe and Sure! Even if its one for GM! If you have the intelligence to build a V8 Ranger, I'll bet you have the intelligence to adapt it to the Ford injector wiring harness.

Uhhhhm, a Noid light will only tell you if its only getting power right? I have never used one, so am asking....

If you use a screwdriver, you can actually hear if its working, not just getting power to work. If you cant hear it clicking, then use a Noid light to see if its getting power on not.

I am done helping people, every time I do, I get bitched at, because someone else has a better idea.
I am just going to read posts and watch it all unfold...........

 

[BlackBII]

You have pressure at the rail...but it's how much that is important.

Sounds like you don't have enough pressure.

 

[wade]

Uhhhhm, a Noid light will only tell you if its only getting power right?

That's correct.

If you use a screwdriver, you can actually hear if its working, not just getting power to work.

Maybe.

I am done helping people

If you are truly trying to help someone - no one will ever stop you.

The screwdriver MAY work. It might not. CONCLUSIVELY. An untrained ear may not know what its hearing and make mistakes. On the other hand, someone that knows what they're listening for ... ... Please, read my post, again. My apology for making you think that I was deriding you. It was not my intention.

It wasn't you I was trying to squelch! Quite actually -- It was BRETT. What he was suggesting is outright unsafe! Imagine taking his advice and starting a fire under the hood! Burning up all of someone's work - not to mention the potential hazard to loss of other property, life and limb!

If Brett makes a retort, however, I'll stand my ground. We should all enjoy building our vehicles and eventually putting them on the road. SAFELY! I feel compelled to voice my opinion to everyone on a thread when someone posts a suggestion that is dangerous. What if someone (a novice, or a newbie) who never posts on this thread, reads this thread and thinks BRETT's advice is good mechanical practice? Hopefully, that individual will read that at least one other thinks its dangerous.

AND, I'm not trying to run Brett off, either. I just want him to realize that its NOT a safe thing to recommend for others to do.

Please, excuse me for "Hi-Jacking" the thread. It tends to take us Now, back to SRL's "no-start".

On of the first things on my "To Do List" would be to check codes.

 

[Bruce]

Change the module on the distributor (most common failure), if that dont work then the pickup in the distributor bad

 

[Kyle M.]

You have a mustang ECU and harness? You can pull the codes from it using a scan tool or if you have a operational CEL, you can use that to run a KOEO test.

Look here for tips on doing a KOEO test
http://sbftech.com/index.php/topic,2471.0.html


Look here for other tips
http://sbftech.com/index.php/topic,588.0.html

 

[wade]

Another valuable website that may help: http://fordfuelinjection.com/. Spend some time browsing their various pages.

Be very careful with it! -- but, have you tried to see if it'll fire and momentarily run on a short burst of starting fluid? DON'T OVER-DO IT! And, have a second person cranking the engine over, when you spray it. Spray it with the engine cranking. If it runs, it'd be more obvious as to what the problem is. If it will fire on the starting fluid, then its not getting fuel. I don't like making starting fluid (ether) a habit, but it can be useful in troubleshooting.