- Mar 4, 2004
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why won't timing light work with spout out. light connected to battery, and number one spark plug. put spout in, timing light will work. what's the deal? 
timing light won't work w/ spout out
- Thread starter chrismillion
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- Mar 4, 2004
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Bosko5.0
Active Member
95strokerPSU
Member
Do you an MSD ignition box by any chance? Some timing lights, like Snap-on, won’t work with MSD boxes.
- Mar 4, 2004
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i got codes pulled and it was 211, 212. just put a stator in and after clearing the codes i got 212 again which is ignition module circuit failure/SPOUT circuit grounded. i had the TFI checked at O'reily autoparts store three times last week plus twice yesterday and the module keep passing the test. now as far as the SPOUT goes, when i tap into the pink wire with a test light, the engine dies in an instance. when i use the test light to on the pink wire while trying to crank the engine, the engine will not crank. what exactly is a grounded SPOUT? the car is bucking and backfiring and i can't figure out why!!! help!!!
WHen you used the test light on the SPOUT wire (pink), the engine would not even crank? That's not right - it should still crank but might not fire because your timing advance is off (the SPOUT voltage helps regulate timing advance).
Use a meter on your SPOUT wiring and let us know what it is. It should be around 1/2 battery voltage, give or take (Guero is an expert on this stuff too).
Good luck.
Use a meter on your SPOUT wiring and let us know what it is. It should be around 1/2 battery voltage, give or take (Guero is an expert on this stuff too).
Good luck.
- Mar 4, 2004
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Hissin50, i was hoping that you replied because i was doing some intense searching in the forums and you seem to have alot of input on these ignition problems. I’ve read all the problems that Guero had, but the closest thing I could find is what GreenMustangGt was experiencing on the post Help no spark on #1 cyl only. because my timing light stops working on the number 1 plug when I take my SPOUT out, but works again when I put my SPOUT back in. the problem with GreenMustangGt post is that there was never a solution. His vehicle just mysteriously started working right again. sometimes my car will start acting right like there isn't a problem at all. this occurs several times throughout the day.
the engine will crank over, but it will not fire. does this mean that i have just grounded the spout with the test light, hence the reason it will not fire off? why is timing light not working when i unplug the SPOUT?
I’ll check the voltage to the SPOUT (pink wire) this evening.
the engine will crank over, but it will not fire. does this mean that i have just grounded the spout with the test light, hence the reason it will not fire off? why is timing light not working when i unplug the SPOUT?
I’ll check the voltage to the SPOUT (pink wire) this evening.
- Mar 4, 2004
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It's quite an interesting problem. Without SPOUT voltage readings (spout in vs out), we can guess that the SPOUT circuit works (you'd know if you were running at locked 10-14*). When you put the SPOUT in, can you hear the idle increase (indicating the timing is being advanced)?
Based on the info in your last post, I'd wiggle test the wiring. Also, put your timing light on other cylinder wires if you havent. See if it works SPOUT in and SPOUT out.
And the SPOUT voltage directly correlates to the ignition advance. As I recall, it's linear (higher SPOUT voltage = higher timing advance).
Based on the info in your last post, I'd wiggle test the wiring. Also, put your timing light on other cylinder wires if you havent. See if it works SPOUT in and SPOUT out.
And the SPOUT voltage directly correlates to the ignition advance. As I recall, it's linear (higher SPOUT voltage = higher timing advance).
- Mar 4, 2004
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i checked the voltage at the SPOUT wire with SPOUT out and it was fluctuating between 5.5 thru 7.0. it stayed mostly in the six range. the engine idle did increase once i put the SPOUT back in.
i went to the ford dealership and the so called top mechanic could not figure it out what i was explaining to him. the fact that my car was running correctly at the time wasn't helping the cause either. sort of like going to the doctor, but feeling better once you get there.
i went to the ford dealership and the so called top mechanic could not figure it out what i was explaining to him. the fact that my car was running correctly at the time wasn't helping the cause either. sort of like going to the doctor, but feeling better once you get there.
- Mar 4, 2004
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i bought a timing light yesterday and realized that when my car is acting crazy with the SPOUT in, it is the number 3 and 7 spark plugs thats not firing. when i take my SPOUT out, it is the number 4 spark plug that is not firing, but the 3 & 4 is firing. what causes the switching? also, when my car acts right, the SPOUT voltage is between 9.9-10.1 when it's not it's 5.5-7.0 what's up with all this stuff.
If you're sure about what's occuring with the misfire scenario, I would:
use a noid light (5 bucks or so at the parts store) to see if the same cylinders with no spark also have no injector pulsing. If so, find a friend with a spare computer and see if this fixes the issue.
In general, if a car runs with the SPOUT out but not (at all - the scenario I know) with the SPOUT installed, that's generally a computer issue. Not to say it is a puter issue for sure, but it is something to remember.
Having the misfire occur like that also kinda has me wondering about the TFI module. I've never seen one fail like that however.
use a noid light (5 bucks or so at the parts store) to see if the same cylinders with no spark also have no injector pulsing. If so, find a friend with a spare computer and see if this fixes the issue.
In general, if a car runs with the SPOUT out but not (at all - the scenario I know) with the SPOUT installed, that's generally a computer issue. Not to say it is a puter issue for sure, but it is something to remember.
Having the misfire occur like that also kinda has me wondering about the TFI module. I've never seen one fail like that however.
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