1987 Ford Thunderbird

97bird,

I'm back again.

Found a reputable shop and had a rebuilt transmission put in the ThunderChicken. Four days later, she died pulling into work. She was very hard starting again, almost as if she wasn't getting any fuel.

All the "would be" mechanics that come into the store kept saying it was the fuel pump. But when attempting to move her, the harder I pressed on the accelerator, the more she attempted to die.

I had new spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor installed. Also a new fuel filter, air filter and oil change, but with little improvement.

When she's cold, it's hard to start her and keep her running, but by pumping the accelerator I can get her warmed up and she'll keep running, but very irratic. Put her into gear and she's very slow picking up speed. When I manage to get her on the freeway, she'll lose speed rather than gain speed if I press on the accelerator harder.

Guess I need your help again please?!?!?!?!?

I just don't know where to start. Could it be the fuel pump? It seems more like she's flooding out rather than not getting fuel.



Linda

Ask at the parts store if they sell a test gage for Ford vehicles. It uses a small thread like a tire valve stem. Attach it and check the pressure. Ford uses a fuel pump and a pressure regulator. They usually are on the fuel rail with a vacuum hose attached to them if gas is in the hose replace it.
If it leaks enough into the vacuum system it will richen up the mixture.

Rhandwor,

Where exactly is the fuel rail so I can do this test?

My Haynes book doesn't show me where a lot of things are. I'll go to the parts store today to see about the test gauge.

Thank you for replying so promptly. I'm really tired of being without my ThunderChicken to drive. :)

Linda

Look along side the valve covers over the fuel injectors.

There are no fuel rails. Fuel rails are for multipoint fuel injection. This is throttle body (central point) fuel injection.

I'm leaning towards timing here. If you have a timing light, check the timing -- although I'm sure the mechanics have checked that for you, do it yourself if at all possible. This is a $0 cost test, which is good at this point. You might be able to get a Loaner timing light at AutoZone.

On fuel delivery, I had a 66 Mustang (okay, well, my DAD owned a 66 Mustang!) that was acting eratically. In this case, turned out that a rock or other foreign object had jumped up off the road and smashed the fuel line. This might look like a fuel pump problem.

The issue I have with believing the fuel pump itself has failed is that in my experience, fuel pumps just stop working -- that is, either they work or they no work, as Ricky might say. The test spigot is attached to the injector body under the air filter. On my car specifically, there is a yellow/orange Schrader valve cap. Underneath is the fuel pressure test Schrader valve.

Tell me how it goes...

--Mark

http://www.marksatterfield.com

Ahm, hey, maybe it is 'cause you call her a Thunder Chicken?

On the other hand, my friends have renamed my Silver Bullet to the Grey Ghost. She likes it though. Must provide some kind of "character." :)

--Mark

http://www.marksatterfield.com




... put in the ThunderChicken...

Mark,

:screwy:

ThunderChicken has been her nickname since I got her six years ago. I'm her third owner.

I've made copies of both your and Rhandor's reply to me and am turning them over to my weekend mechanic (he's a mechanic by trade during the week) this weekend.

However, I may try the test on the pressure regulator myself, just to see if I can do it. Not sure if I have enough "expertise" to try the timing light. (I've put on all of my own vacuum hoses in the past with surprising results [using the manual, of course].)

Ah, '66 Mustang. That's from my teenage years. What memories!!!!!! :lol2:

I'll let you both know what happens after this coming weekend.

Thank you both very much.



Linda

Haha! Well, maybe you need to talk to her then. Even chickens get lonely you know...

So the timing light is very easy to use. There are three plugs -- one goes to the positive battery terminal, one to the negative, and one around the #1 plug wire. There will be a two wire test plug on the driver's side of the engine that you'll unplug to get the computer out of the loop.

Underneath the car on the passenger side you'll see the crankshaft pully and a timing marker (look in the Haynes manual for a picture). To see the timing marks better, spray a little white paint on the crankshaft pully.

It might sound treacherous, but it is a really easy task to do.




Oh, wait, you have a fellow that is a mechanic. There is an easier way.

Buy a pizza and a six pack of his favorite beverage. Ask him to check the timing. :)

--Mark

http://www.marksatterfield.com

Mark,

The ThunderChicken saved my oldest daughter's life when she rear-ended a brand new car going 68 miles an hour and only ended up with a broken nose and a few bruises. She was pregnant at the time.

Had she been in one of the newer cars, she would have died. Thank goodness for solid metal cars (even if they are "older" beauties).

I'll have to pay my mechanic a little more than a pizza and a six-pack, but it will be worth it to have her back and running properly. She's always had a very strong engine so . . . . . .

The best thing that has happened to me in a long time was finding this forum.



Linda