Car starting issues

Hi all,

I have a problem getting my car (1987 Lincoln Town Car 5.0L) to start and I was hoping you all could give me some advice.

I'll try to sum this up the best I can to make it short.

The car was running great, drove it as normal one day and then the next it would not start.

As of today the car will sometimes start, sometimes not but usually it will start. If I let it run and stop it it will not start when I try to restart. I have to wait anywhere from 2 minutes to 2 days for it to restart.

I have replaced:
Fuel pump
Fuel filter
Distributor
Cap
Rotor
Ignition Control Module
Wires
Coil
Starter Solenoid
Fuel Relay
Ignition Switch

None of these has stopped the problem. Since the distributor has been repeatedly messed with the timing could be an issue, although I don't believe it to be the issue, but I could be wrong.

I have 2 videos I have taken of me working with the car.

The first shows me trying to crank it after it running for a few minutes and the sounds it makes during the crank. The second shows the car starting, me checking the timing (which seems to be ok, though possibly a few degrees off), checking the sound of the exhaust, and showing the engine shake that wasn't present before this issue began.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I wasn't sure about posting in the Lincoln forums. I figured with more traffic in this forum I stood better chances of getting answers.

Car not starting - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfd8c8zZ_Eo)
Vid 2
1987 Lincoln Town car not starting 2. - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCtPLlm5Dnk)

I've not had an opportunity to study the videos uninterrupted yet. I did catch what sounded like a sputtering exhaust in the second video. I didn't really notice the engine shaking (or couldn't detect what was camera shake versus engine shake) but the exhaust definitely sounded like it there was a misfire. I think you need to double-check all the spark plugs, plug wires, possible sources of vacuum leaks, and fuel pressure. That vintage of 5.0L probably also has the ignition control module mounted on the side of the distributor. Ford ICMs in that timeframe were known for having heat-related failures but that would often cause stalling and lack of starting. You mention that you've already replaced the ICM. Did any of the items you replaced have any impact on the symptoms? Do you know if your car has a Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor?

-Rod

I would look at your engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor or your idle air control (IAC) valves. I would also check for vacuum leaks by spraying some carb cleaner around the throttle body base and vacuum line connections while the engine is running.

You have to double check all the wires, plugs and fuses also and have to check the exhaust system is there any misfire or something? have you faced any problem like that before? Check also the battery wires, fuel pump. In short words you have to check each and everything very deeply.

i think your problems are:
1. Check power
2. Check spark plug
3. Chek fuel maniford
4. Timing sprak

Check for codes even if the CEL is not on.
When the car does not start, do you still have spark at the plugs?
Also with the 5.0's, check all grounds on the engine for corrosion.
You sure have replaced a lot of parts and you still have the problem. Almost everything you changed could have been tested first to see if it was the problem before replacement.

First things first, in order for a car to start and run it must have fuel and proper spark. When it doesn't start have you checked for fuel delivery and or spark right then and there? The exhaust was making an interesting noise while running but we will get to that. Have you checked for vacuum leaks?