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Resolved 2.3 not running

  • Thread starter Thread starter waxman
  • Start date Start date Oct 14, 2023
W

waxman

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 6, 2004
47
7
18
central il
Oct 14, 2023
#1
  • Oct 14, 2023
  • #1
hello,i have an 88 lx,2.3 l that is giving me fits. it will run after several attempts. i put new pickup coil in the dist,have good fuel press,spark at dist but it looses it going to plugs, have tried different coil,tfi,coil wire,so no luck. hopefully some one has had this happen. thanks
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
5,816
213
Oct 16, 2023
#2
  • Oct 16, 2023
  • #2
Run the codes. Search how to get codes.
 
W

waxman

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 6, 2004
47
7
18
central il
Oct 21, 2023
#3
  • Oct 21, 2023
  • #3
no codes
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,844
10,516
203
polk county florida
Oct 22, 2023
#4
  • Oct 22, 2023
  • #4
There are always codes.
 

Piranahbite

Active Member
Jan 21, 2022
338
93
38
American canyon
Oct 26, 2023
#5
  • Oct 26, 2023
  • #5
General karthief said:
There are always codes.
Click to expand...
even when its running fine
 
Reactions: 85GTStangGuy

Piranahbite

Active Member
Jan 21, 2022
338
93
38
American canyon
Oct 26, 2023
#6
  • Oct 26, 2023
  • #6
waxman said:
no codes
Click to expand...
waxman said:
hello,i have an 88 lx,2.3 l that is giving me fits. it will run after several attempts. i put new pickup coil in the dist,have good fuel press,spark at dist but it looses it going to plugs, have tried different coil,tfi,coil wire,so no luck. hopefully some one has had this happen. thanks
Click to expand...
ignition coil! check that the two wires are connected properly, I think I had the same issue as you, I did some maintenance and then the car wouldn't run for more than a second or two every couple start attempts, because I had accident pulled out one of the coil power wires, it sorta ran because it was arcing from the connecter to the terminal. and like General Kartheif said, there's always codes, try a engine running code test if you can get it to run long enough, they usually put out a different set of codes if you can manage to do the test. if not.... verify everything's connected and sending and receiving power. seems like your issue resides in the roots of the ignition system.
 

Piranahbite

Active Member
Jan 21, 2022
338
93
38
American canyon
Oct 27, 2023
#7
  • Oct 27, 2023
  • #7
ALSO! I JUST REMEMBERED SOMTHING! make sure your check all your ground straps! An easy one is the one on the bellhousing bolts behind the cylinder head. Leabe that off and you might fry an ignition module. Worth a check!
 

4cylredfox89

Member
Dec 2, 2021
20
4
13
California
Jan 12, 2024
#8
  • Jan 12, 2024
  • #8
Also a ground coming from your computer connection on ECU, if it's not connected you won't get codes
 
Reactions: Piranahbite
W

waxman

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 6, 2004
47
7
18
central il
Jan 12, 2024
#9
  • Jan 12, 2024
  • #9
well after all the checking of thing,i put a new eec relay in it,runs fine. i had good fuel press,spark,it would just die.i even tried a new computer..so for its running fine.glad i got it fixxed
 
Reactions: General karthief

4cylredfox89

Member
Dec 2, 2021
20
4
13
California
Feb 1, 2024
#10
  • Feb 1, 2024
  • #10
waxman said:
well after all the checking of thing,i put a new eec relay in it,runs fine. i had good fuel press,spark,it would just die.i even tried a new computer..so for its running fine.glad i got it fixxed
Click to expand...
Any ideas on what you think actually got it fixed to run right
 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Feb 2, 2024
#11
  • Feb 2, 2024
  • #11
After 35 years the contacts in the ECU relay tend to corrode which causes all kinds of running issues. Pulling codes won't point specifically to that. I had the same issue in my '93 5.0 Mustang. A new relay solved the problem.
 
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