ignition module

[IMenriched]

OK most are aware that the TFI or ignition module have heat issues where when fully warmed up, they tend to just shut off, or get very erratic.

Is there better brands of TFI modules out there?? (ie-Motorcraft) that don't tend to have these issues?

Price varies greatly....hence ...does quality follow?

 

[philS]

Stick with the Motorcraft.

I've had decent results with my most recent Autozone TFI, but it hasn't been long so we'll see.

Jegs or Summit will carry a few aftermarket ones too.

If you have issues, try relocating it away from the back of the distributor. It's not so much the brand as it is the location causing heat sink.

 

[AllanD]

Wanna hear something funny?

I got the letter telling me about the class action suit about the TFI modules.

At the time I had 262,000 miles on my truck with the original engine.
AND I was in the process of swapping in another engine

the other engine had a broken dist cap screw so I swapped
my ORIGINAL distributor into the new engine and down the road I went.


it wasn't an offer of cash it was an offer of reinbursement for costs incurred for replacing the TFI (they wanted doccumentation. I told them I wasn't interested.
as my original 15year old 262,000 mile TFI module was just fine.

After that engine died (it developed a crack) I swapped that same distributor into the next engine as well were it died.

Not the TFI's fault, my brother (who was helping never tightened the block
ground cable and when the finger tight bolt vibrated out the loss of ground
path fried the module.

AD

 

[IMenriched]

Wanna hear something funny?

I got the letter telling me about the class action suit about the TFI modules.

At the time I had 262,000 miles on my truck with the original engine.
AND I was in the process of swapping in another engine

the other engine had a broken dist cap screw so I swapped
my ORIGINAL distributor into the new engine and down the road I went.


it wasn't an offer of cash it was an offer of reinbursement for costs incurred for replacing the TFI (they wanted doccumentation. I told them I wasn't interested.
as my original 15year old 262,000 mile TFI module was just fine.

After that engine died (it developed a crack) I swapped that same distributor into the next engine as well were it died.

Not the TFI's fault, my brother (who was helping never tightened the block
ground cable and when the finger tight bolt vibrated out the loss of ground
path fried the module.

AD

So your saying, that if I, or somelse, is replaceing these offen,TFI's (& by offen, meaning within a year or two)...I, or they have, other electriacal issues?? and recheck ground wire connections.

the above may give a faulse impression...

I'm not completely sure of the age of the ones I have...like most I accumilated a few from donor engines. Most test bad and threw away. SO i been running on used TFI's...the senerio is this, I was hauling a odd load...pulled over to retie it...left it running...it died...wouldn't restart...somebody gave me a lift home 8-9 miles, got back restarts without hesitation...drove home. CLassic TFI symtoms yes??

In the process of getting my project running again...I purchased 1 new TFI...it was shot within 50miles...& yes it could have been a poor ground, or a bad wire?? redid a couple of items that appeared iffy. Now, from the time I actualy bought this from the time I actually installed was a coulpe of months time. SO I couldn't get any warrenty. and I threw the receipt away. not the point.

SO, the point is, or rather the question is, the new one that went so quickly... could it have been "taken out" by a bad pick-up coil??...BTW, which I also replaced.

Secondly what eles would cause simular symtoms?

thanks in advance

 

[shadetree]

If you take the TFI module apart, you will find an electronic circuit board like you find in a radio or tv. It is subject to all the problems these devices would have, heat, poor connections, bad solder, voltage spikes, bad grounds, and failure of internal components.

I have opened a couple of factory installed units, and have found cracked solder on internal components. They are surface mounted components and crack easily. That is why it will restart after it cools, the board shrinks remaking the cracked connection.

This being the case, to pinpoint your problem would be very difficult. The only suggestion I can give it to pull the dist, carefully inspect the connections and clean them up if necessary.
Replace the pickup if you have suspicions.
Use heatsink compound when you reattach the module, and electronic grease on the connections.
Make sure it has sufficient ventilation.

The wiring harness connector takes a beating also. You can get an intermittent connection in the wiring and not see it. With the problems you are having with constant failures, I think I would replace the connector. The module grounds thru this connector. Make sure the ground is solid at the source. shady

 

[IMenriched]

This being the case, to pinpoint your problem would be very difficult. The only suggestion I can give it to pull the dist, carefully inspect the connections and clean them up if necessary.
Replace the pickup if you have suspicions.
Use heatsink compound when you reattach the module, and electronic grease on the connections.
Make sure it has sufficient ventilation.

The wiring harness connector takes a beating also. You can get an intermittent connection in the wiring and not see it. With the problems you are having with constant failures, I think I would replace the connector. The module grounds thru this connector. Make sure the ground is solid at the source. shady

replaced the pick-up already... awhile back.
after the new TFI woofed...I replaced it with one that I accumilated...(It just so happened to be motorcraft) and tested good. so after the pick-up coil was done the MoCo TFI went in too. but age of this is unknown.

The other day when it died, I could hear the fuel pump prime, so just assumed it to be the TFI...after I returned with tools ready...it started & sooo just drove home with rest of the crew following. Got home without issues...let it cool and changed it {with another used one that tested good}. I short trip this to work, < 6miles, so a longer drive is better and fully warmed up & have this, didn't really surprize me that it did it.

Just covering my bases o make sure that something else could be afoot.

YES ....the connection does take a beating, may replace soon. thanks for that info

 

[shadetree]

I have grown leary of tests done by auto parts stores. Many times the person doing the testing doesn't really know beans about what they are doing. There are so many women and young kids working in the stores around here, that I have lost all confidence.

I am starting to let the automotive electrical places do all my starters, alternators, generators, etc. By the time I get the device off, my time in tearing it apart, chasing parts, cleaning it up, putting it back together, testing, it is cheaper to let them do it. Plus, if there is a problem I can go to an actual person, look 'em in the eye, and get action.

In testing a module such as the TFI, it should be tested as close to operating conditions as possible. The test bench should have hair dryer, or some method of heating the device, and freeze spray to make the device cold. This method is not foolproof, but is a more efficient test. shady

 

[engdept]

Maurice (mjones) and myself are in the process of getting the heat sinks together to move our TFI modules. If you move them off the distributor to the front of the engine compartment where there is some air movement, then they will stay much cooler.

 

[shadetree]

Maurice (mjones) and myself are in the process of getting the heat sinks together to move our TFI modules. If you move them off the distributor to the front of the engine compartment where there is some air movement, then they will stay much cooler.

On some of the later 2.3's Ford put a cover over the module with a small duct that would draw fresher cooler air. It is in kind of a dead spot behind the ps pump and alternator. shady

 

[IMenriched]

On some of the later 2.3's Ford put a cover over the module with a small duct that would draw fresher cooler air. It is in kind of a dead spot behind the ps pump and alternator. shady

Noticed that on lots of newer styles of vehicals....they'll had molded plastic duct work to componets that are a bit hidden, to cool or to vent off heat.

my concern would be that water would also come with a suddo ducting to pipe cooler air back there.

 

[holyford86]

Maurice (mjones) and myself are in the process of getting the heat sinks together to move our TFI modules. If you move them off the distributor to the front of the engine compartment where there is some air movement, then they will stay much cooler.

earlier 90s f150s have the remote mount tfi. the heatsink needs to be modified to work with the ranger tfi though. An old nonfunctional TFI makes a great adapter to remote mount the tfi.