Help me with my weird 5.0

[Makdaddymac]

hey this is gonna be fast,
but after i swapped the t05 in i cant figure out whats wrong with this thing. its not clutch or fuel related we cancelled that out by a timing light and some clutch adjusting it electric related.

my unlce thinks its the module on the distbutor or the computer, it idles fine but when you(someimtes) put it in gear the tach jumps and it dies......

 

[Hickfied]

On a later 4 cylinder car, that would signal that the DIS module would be on its way out.

On your 5.0, the TFI module on the dizzy would be my first guess, knowing that they have a tendency to go bad.

 

[Makdaddymac]

you dont htink its ecu realted or my connection for my reverse lights that doesnt work!!!!

 

[Darkwriter77]

FWIW, reverse lights have nothing to do with how the engine runs.

Checked your fuel pressure at prime, crank, and idle?

 

[Makdaddymac]

it will idle,the conditon is so sparatic and unpredictable,and everytime it resets the door/alarm buzz goes on, it does seem to have a note of timing going funny, like the idle isnt perfect....possibly a vacuum leak??
it will rev all day in nuetral, and to be honest it seems to be a drive thing, like under load, i doubt its the clutch,im horrible with electric stuff........and im really upset because i put so much elbow grease into swapping this thing to a t-5!!!!!

 

[Darkwriter77]

What do you mean by "every time it resets?" Like, every time it shuts off? Sounds like something's cutting the power off completely - mayhaps an ignition switch going bad and losing connection?

 

[Makdaddymac]

dead on man^
i just played with it and it seems that the (key switch) ignition doesn't saty in place and wiggles back just enough to kill power to the engine/whole car....do i just replace that piece, which means i will have a different key for starting the car up, or what? anyone got one laying around for an 88 w/ key?

 

[black_notch_92]

No its probably not the key cylinder, but the actual switch that slides and makes contact when you turn the key.... here you go

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=LRS-11572A 1&comp=LRS

 

[Makdaddymac]

ok well i know for a fact i messed up that piece, cause it popped off and i had to pray to the gods to get all back together. but would that effects the key how? it seems like ther is a quarter of a quarter inch play that is messing up!!!!!!

 

[Darkwriter77]

Usually when the ignition lock cylinder goes, it just doesn't want to move anywhere AT ALL, or it gets so worn that you can start it without the key (or pull the key out while it's running). The fact that it's getting sloppy on which position it stays secured into tells me it's definitely the ignition switch, itself, and not the lock/tumbler. They're easy as heck to put in, although you might need to pick up one of those tamper-resistant Torx bit sets while you're buying a switch because some Foxes still have those funky Torx screws holding them in there.

 

[FrankenStang]

OOh this brings back memories of my Capri sitting halfway in the street/halfway in my driveway with a bad ignition switch.

 

[mustangfan1990]

sounds like igntion switch If it was the TFI module it wouldnt dont it some times and not others

 

[Makdaddymac]

ok well i'll try that, maybe mine just needs to be super glued, the white piece comes aprt from the metal because i pulled it aprt when trying to get the terminal out of that ignition switch. the i'll order it either way it should be a cheap fix!
but i cant understand how the igniton switch.module effects the function of the key tumblar, it seems like the tumblar isnt satying on the ON position.....but i cant pull the key out or nothing...although i did try to hold the key in position and i think it still weirded out....hmmm

 

[Makdaddymac]

well i hammed the metal tab that holds the plastic piece in place its tight now,,,,so basically it fixed, but if it wear back out i'll replace it..... it was just loose cause i bent that metal when i pulled the life out of it trying to get the connection out......... it works now....lol... easy fix, thanks for the time money and work saved guys.......i was seriously considering on replacing the ecu next!! $$$$$$$$$$$