TFI Module randomly cutting out?

[boardmaster]

Well, I am working 2 hours north of home and the wife's blue car suddenly dies on Friday night after driving about 500 feet after start up. I had just left Olive Garden. It won't start up again. I don't have any tools with me to really check it out. Turn the key and hear the fuel pump. Go buy a screwdriver and take off the dizzy cap, rotor is solid and doesn't move. Give it a quick key turn, rotor moves. I rule out stripped dizzy gear. I decided to take a nap. After about 90 minutes, I try it again. It starts. I drive back home. Next day, I go to work for about 3 hours and drive back for lunch. It won't start up again. Wait an hour and it starts. This morning I go to work for 3 hours, then to the store. It won't start again. Wait an hour, still no start. Try at 4 PM, still nothing. I am guessing TFI module but not sure. Any other suggestions. I am trying to get home for our anniversary on Tuesday. HELP!!

[boardmaster]

Had the same problem in my 88 gt, tfi was the culprit. It would overheat and when it cooled down, the car would start up again. This problem happened for a few months, not every day.

[Laredo]

Typical behavior for a bad TFI module...

[boardmaster]

Thanks Doug, I hope so.

[boardmaster]

I could go and buy this if it would help.http://www.wmsracing.com/wmsweb/8473-MSD-Billet-Distributor-23L-Ford.html I got a spare at home and the tool, but I am not home!!! I'm gonna give it a try later tonight when it cools down.

[MikeFleming]

When it's not starting, does the tach needle bounce while cranking??

[boardmaster]

Mike, simple answer is yes and no. The tach bounces once when starting but that is it. One single bounce and then nothing. I did get it to start last night. The first time I tried was a no go. I took my drywall hatchet and gave the tfi module a tap and voila, it started. I got it home and same thing, no start. Tapped it again with the hatchet and it fired right up. I gonna check locally for a tfi module and a rebuilt distributor, I got to get it running properly and get it back to Lethbridge.

[MikeFleming]

The tach bounces once when starting but that is it. One single bounce and then nothing. Sounds like primary ignition then. On normal use, the tach needle will bounce once, perhaps as high as 400 RPM when first powered-on. Then it will indicate a slow bouncing between 100 and 400 RPM the whole time it's cranking (if the distributor is turning).

Primary ignition consists of battery power, TFI, PIP, coil, distributor turning, and ALL ASSOCIATED WIRING.

In my experience with these cars it's likely to be (1) the TFI harness wiring, (2) the TFI, and/or (3) the PIP.

[boardmaster]

Well, I checked for a tfi module and a rebuilt distributor locally and this is what pisses me off about Canada!! I got quoted $120 for the tfi and $250 for a rebuilt from the parts store. I might as well buy the MSD on I listed above for that amount. Anyway, I replaced the tfi with a used one I had and it fired up on the first try. Set the timing at 10 BTDC. I then drove 100 miles and got it home with no problems. I'm gonna take the tfi to the parts store and get it tested just to make sure that I know it is toast. Thanks Mike and Doug for helping me!!