87 tbird tc my engine wont start help?plz

[eckounltd7285]

ok well i own a 1987 ford thunderbird turbo coupe...thus far i have replaced the sprak plugs and wires ignition module alternator water pump thermostat temperature sensor catalytic converter o2 sensor and radiator... after all this was replaced im now having trouble starting my car it will turn over and ignite then instantly die what could b the cause of my problem...fuel filter? fuel pump? or possibly something else any insight could help..also i have a problem with my catalytic converter glowing red hot..use to b the exhaust manifold and cat but now just the converter glows red could it b plugged i think i destroyed it cuz i was driving it with a new cat while the exhaust manifold and cat were both glowing....thanks for whoever helps me

[SVTcobra306]

could be a fuel pump, put a pressure tester on the valve on the fuel rail and see what it reads, most Fords should read 38-40 PSI with the vacuum line off the regulator...

[INNES]

If your cat and exhaust is glowing your engine is running lean that means not enough fuel. So I would check that first. It might be the reason your car won’t start. With a 2nd person spray ether into the throttle body see if you can keep it running. If you can then that’s you problem...

[eckounltd7285]

OK well i replaced the o2 sensor and now the cat glows still but im suspecting a plugged cat because i have no power and it glows red hot the car wont go over 3500 rpms

[jlewis]

Unhook the cat if you can to test that out, check your fuel pressure, but it can also be that the timing is way off, have you checked both the cam timing and ignition timing? I see that you replaced the igniton module also, even though it's new it could be flaky. I've seen the TFI modules go bad and cause the exhaust to get extremely hot and the car would intermittently run, but then cutoff randomly.

Also, the ignition switched can go bad and only allow the car to run when you hold it in the start position, and only work intermittently or not at all in the normal run position. Ford ignition switches of this era are notorious for problems both in the electrical section of the switch and the mechanical locking part of the switch. You've got to get in there and check stuff, not just buy another part!

STOP throwing parts at your car, that's not the way to fix it! There is a way to diagnose every problem.

[jlewis]

And take yourself on over to www.turbotbird.com or www.turboford.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php for more help with this, those are THE two places for turbo tbirds.