1996 5.8L Ignition Problems - Fails to Run
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1996 5.8L Ignition Problems - Fails to Run
Hello All,
Ok I made a boo-boo. My Bronco is a 1996 5.8L. I was parked and reving my engine to figure out whether or not I had a bad engine mount when my engine just DIED. Check engine lit up but it was never ON before this incident. I had gas, fuel pump whines, checked fuel shutoff switch (if by some weird possiblity...) and replug my battery but my engine would only crank but not run. Had it towed to the dealership nearby. The Ford tech says that the ignition system failed; and his diagnosis is that the distributor and cap are worn, with a special note saying that the module stator is reading out a low voltage and needs to be fixed. I replaced the cap 4 months ago at Pepboys.
The problem is I have an MSD, coil, wires, and 6A ignition system, and they refuse to touch my car until all aftermarket parts are replaced by OEM, or they replace it themselves and I pay for it. The tech was smart enough to just unplug the 6A (revert to factory) and retest it but my car still refused to run (it still did crank), making me think that the MSD parts did not fail but rather made something else fail. Looking back now, I believe I could have over-rev'd my engine to over 5000 RPMs, a range that MSD says to politely not do with the 6A. The MSD system has been installed over a year ago.
What should I do? A couple of my friends who are mechanics at other dealerships (in other states) said to replace the factory ignition computer ? or module first (where is that called/located?). I never heard of a "module stator" but I am not sure I am competent enough to replace the distributor and do the TDC of Piston 1 with what sorry stuff I have in my toolbox... Can I replace the stator without removing the distributor? What sort of damage should I look for when inspecting the cap/distributor ? I am asking my friends to take me to the grocery store and work now. I appreciate any HELP. Thanks
Ok I made a boo-boo. My Bronco is a 1996 5.8L. I was parked and reving my engine to figure out whether or not I had a bad engine mount when my engine just DIED. Check engine lit up but it was never ON before this incident. I had gas, fuel pump whines, checked fuel shutoff switch (if by some weird possiblity...) and replug my battery but my engine would only crank but not run. Had it towed to the dealership nearby. The Ford tech says that the ignition system failed; and his diagnosis is that the distributor and cap are worn, with a special note saying that the module stator is reading out a low voltage and needs to be fixed. I replaced the cap 4 months ago at Pepboys.
The problem is I have an MSD, coil, wires, and 6A ignition system, and they refuse to touch my car until all aftermarket parts are replaced by OEM, or they replace it themselves and I pay for it. The tech was smart enough to just unplug the 6A (revert to factory) and retest it but my car still refused to run (it still did crank), making me think that the MSD parts did not fail but rather made something else fail. Looking back now, I believe I could have over-rev'd my engine to over 5000 RPMs, a range that MSD says to politely not do with the 6A. The MSD system has been installed over a year ago.
What should I do? A couple of my friends who are mechanics at other dealerships (in other states) said to replace the factory ignition computer ? or module first (where is that called/located?). I never heard of a "module stator" but I am not sure I am competent enough to replace the distributor and do the TDC of Piston 1 with what sorry stuff I have in my toolbox... Can I replace the stator without removing the distributor? What sort of damage should I look for when inspecting the cap/distributor ? I am asking my friends to take me to the grocery store and work now. I appreciate any HELP. Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,317
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
Sounds to me like the service dept is looking for some extra work. If they have already bypassed the MSD unit then they should be able to pull the codes and troubleshoot the system.
My advice.... buy a $10 Haynes manual and then pull the codes. I bought a code reader, but it can also be done without. As a note... my truck would not provide codes per the procedure in the manual, so they have something hosed up. A code reader is cheap also, I think mine was $25 or so.
If it is the stator, it's not that bad to replace. Removing the distributor is a fairly easy task. Installing it sometimes takes a second shot to line it up right, but isn't mechanically difficult. The manual has a good section on this procedure.
The book and reader will pay for themselves the first time you avoid the dealer. Even if you do decide to have someone else do the work, you will have peace of mind that you confirmed what they are telling you to do.
If you need more info you might want to post in the "Pre-97" section, plenty of well informed posters in that area that might be of further help.
My advice.... buy a $10 Haynes manual and then pull the codes. I bought a code reader, but it can also be done without. As a note... my truck would not provide codes per the procedure in the manual, so they have something hosed up. A code reader is cheap also, I think mine was $25 or so.
If it is the stator, it's not that bad to replace. Removing the distributor is a fairly easy task. Installing it sometimes takes a second shot to line it up right, but isn't mechanically difficult. The manual has a good section on this procedure.
The book and reader will pay for themselves the first time you avoid the dealer. Even if you do decide to have someone else do the work, you will have peace of mind that you confirmed what they are telling you to do.
If you need more info you might want to post in the "Pre-97" section, plenty of well informed posters in that area that might be of further help.