BII Random Issues After Mudding

[Nalanthi]

'morning, y'all.

Long time creeper, first time poster - attempting to wrap my head around this one...

Last week we had torrential rainstorms which created a few irresistible pools of fun, so I had a go at 'em on Friday and Saturday. Everything appeared to be running fine after the fact - got the B2 looking like a B2 SHOULD look. I drive fine on Sunday, but when Monday rolled around, the trouble started.

I was on my way to work and the engine would randomly dog and then pick back up and run fine. I made it to work and then back to my side of town just fine. Figuring I'd hose out the undercarriage when I got home, I stopped at my local gun shop to score a few boxes of gold... er... ammo (seems like gold these days), and went go fire her up to make the trip home. The B2 cranked, came to life, dogged out, and didn't start for a good 15-20 mins. She dogged almost the entire way home and I was left shitting myself as I seemingly got stuck at EVERY red light on the way. I can't confirm that the fuel pump was/wasn't priming, as there was too much road noise to listen for it, but it most certainly was when I got home and checked later that night.

I let her sit until yesterday afternoon, when I fired her up and drove to the car wash to blast the ever loving shit outta the undercarriage, etc. etc. She ran fine all the way home - didn't skip a beat.

I decide to drive the B2 to work today to confirm that all she needed was a good hosedown (20 min. drive) and everything was fine up until that last half mile when she just... shut down... I nosed her off the road and attempted to crank her again - too much road noise to hear if the pump was priming when I turned the key. Less than two minutes, she fired up and ran fine - cut out three more times between there and the parking lot, once of which she fired back up (and the other two to which I coasted, put it in neutral, and cranked her back to life to keep moving).

I haven't yet changed the inline fuel filter (which is probably one of the issues) and can't quite confirm the fuel pump is a problem, as when I DO have silence, it'll prime and whine when running as expected. Obviously, shedding the mud from the undercarriage was half the battle. Going to cross my fingers and take her to see what codes she throws on my lunch break, then cross my fingers again in the hopes that I make it back home without issue.

This ultimately sounds like a potential problem - relay maybe?

Any thoughts/support/similar situation sharing would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks much.

 

[Nalanthi]

Now that I've had time to sit down and actually think about it,I wonder if the ignition module is the problem... maybe the TPS.
No check engine light, so that makes it even more puzzling.
To compound shit, I forgot my wallet at home, so... IF I make it home, I have a bottle o' Beam lol

 

[CurtisP87]

I would check this article out -
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TFI_Diagnostic.html

And if that checks out, id try to find another ecu to plug in and see how that works...I had very similar symptoms, until one day it just wouldn't start up at all...ended up being my computer had gotten wet and shorted out, creating all sorts of weird issues.

 

[RonD]

+1

The TFI can be troublesome, but follow the worksheet and you can either find the issue or rule it out as the problem.

 

[Nalanthi]

Appreciate the link - will try to see if I can pull any codes and start checking 'er.
The more I think about it (and the more you mention it), I'll place my bets on a TFI module issue.

 

[Nalanthi]

Update:

Same ordeal when I got her home (she made it home), and after a few minutes of idle time, out she went.
I employed the philosophy of "start with the cheapest and work your way up", swapping the fuel filter - something I've intended on doing anyway. After dogging it for a few minutes, I combination drove/let her idle in the driveway/drove for a good 30-45 mins. She didn't give me any trouble on the way to work, and here's to her not giving me trouble on the way home.

...maybe it was just that retarded simple like I thought (and hoped) it was going to be.

Thanks for the moral support.

 

[Demi_II]

Is it any louder? I went mudding and cracked my exhaust mani, when it get hit with cold water. Sounds a lot like what your dealing with. The leak was large enough to freak the computer out and it started dumping loads of fuel in to try to correct. Give it a look over, but I would also be interested to see if you found anything else.

 

[Nalanthi]

Not running any louder. All sounds/lights/operations appear to be normal. I'll let you know if I find anything with the mani. Going to clean up some more in the engine bay when I get home.

Oddly enough, she ran totally fine last Friday. I drove the living shit out of it...

Then I got home and low and behold, it rained on our side of town, so like a complete retard, I went out and hit the mud hole... again... I figured "one or two passes won't hurt". Right.

More the same this week... engine bogs down completely at random when accelerating, then picks up and goes. It's on and off, hot or cold. Fuel pressure is fine - engine isn't starving out. When she runs, she runs. When she wants to bog during acceleration, she runs like a total dog. Every RARE now and then, she might backfire once or twice when accelerating from a dead stop, but that's usually when the engine's cold.

Still haven't found anyone with an ODB1 reader - although she's not putting a light on. I might have to call around to a few stores to see who has one, because I'm just dying to know wtf I broke.

 

[Schnot]

Pull the distributor cap and check that. Even a little bit of moisture in it can cause what you're having. A cap and rotor are pretty cheap as well.


Sent from my iPhone.

 

[Surrey]

You can buy a code reader for cheap outta places like Harbor Freight.

I would think you are either having spark or fuel problems. Because a big puddle caused this problem, I would be thinking spark. Check condition on your plugs, wires, cap and rotor.

Also, check your air intake/filter for moisture.

 

[CurtisP87]

You can buy a code reader for cheap outta places like Harbor Freight
Also, check your air intake/filter for moisture.

+1

 

[Nalanthi]

Hey y'all.

Still dealing with this fun issue.
ODB1 reader came up with no codes. Timing is fine (when she's running).
Distributor cap/plugs/cables appear fine from what I observed when pulled/inspected. I wouldn't suspect either of these due to more or less a thermal issue. I ripped/cleaned the intake right up to and including the throttle body prior to using a can of Seafoam (using the "thirds" method) for good measure. Coil checks out ok - zapped the living hell outta myself with it just to be sure... lol

I had a spare Coolant temp sensor, so I tossed that in for good measure.

My symptoms now seem to narrow down to two things:

1) Cold start is fine. occasionally she'll backfire with a loss of power, but after maybe driving 50 yards, she'll smooth out and go.

2) I can drive her for about 20-30 mins, then the might or might not start back up. if she does fire back up, the idle just plain sucks and either the engine comes back to life or just sputters out. If she sputters out, abandon all hope of cranking it back up for a good 30 mins. Sometimes driving can be randomly sluggish while hot. When it fails to crank (while hot), the starter sounds and runs normally - i.e. no slow crank/heat expansion in the engine. No smoke from the pipe.

I'm thinking that the TFI is suspect at this point based on what I've experienced in driving and read on these forums. I would suspect the ECU as a distant second...

Edit: I didn't have time to go over the earlier suggested TFI worksheet - would rather just eat $50 and swap it out if that's the case since Ford TFIs suck.

 

[Nalanthi]

Well.. I changed out the TFI and she ran like a complete dream.
I drove the living shit out of her to test, stopping, restarting warm, etc.

Wouldn't luck have it that as SOON as I turned onto my street, the fuel pump ****ing dies... FML.

Well, I'd rather have new crucial components anyway... back under the knife with her as soon as I can...

 

[richard booth]

A lifetime TFI module is like 49 bucks at auto zone, one gave me quite similar headache and after fuel filters, pumps etc I got it and no more problem.

 

[Nalanthi]

Same unit I bought/installed - quick five minute job.
Well... at least I have an excuse to replace the faulty sending unit while I have the tank out.