Misfire (part 2)

[L1011tristar17]

Hey all, for those of you that didn't know, I decided to buy a new car last month to replace the Townie as my daily driver. I'm keeping the Lincoln at home and on the insurance plan. Since I'll be driving it once or twice a month, I'll need to keep it in roadworthy condition.

Before I left to go back to school, I put a new timing chain on the Lincoln. A few coolant leaks later (loose hoses) the car ran fine and I drove it for about 30 miles. Before I did the timing chain, it had a pretty bad misfire that would get bad to the point where the car could not accelerate. Parts I replaced include: fuel filter, distributor cap and rotor, plugs and wires, ignition coil, TPS (twice), coolant temp sensor, and a couple of the vacuum lines. I also reset the timing to the correct setting and pulled the hose to the MAP sensor, so I know that the sensor is good.

When I took off the timing cover I noticed that the chain was pretty loose, so it's probably a good thing that I changed it. After changing the chain, the misfire seemed to go away. But after driving for 10 minutes, it came back and it was pretty bad. I had a hard time getting the car to accelerate and the whole car was shaking at stoplights. It felt like I was driving my sister's 4cyl Dodge Stratus (lol). It felt like really bad transmission shudder, but I know with an AOD that's probably not the issue. It's almost as if it's temperature related since it happens after the car has warmed up. I also recall it happening when I'm slowing down when approaching a red light, then the light turns green and I accelerate from 20 mph, and then the misfire begins. It's happened that way at least twice.

As far as codes, I do have a code for one of the air injection sensors (code 44 or 74, I don't remember) and since it's a fairly new code, I'm thinking that could be causing the misfire.

Now I don't plan on dumping money into this car, but I was wondering if there is anything I might have missed and could check next time I go home. Any thoughts? I'll at least take a look at it again and drive it around some more.

[jaywish]

distributor ignition module is a common failure point.

[gadget73]

Ever replace the pickup in the distributor? They can die like this.

[L1011tristar17]

distributor ignition module is a common failure point.

Is this the same as the TFI module? I had the TFI replaced about three years ago but I guess it could go bad again.

Ever replace the pickup in the distributor? They can die like this.

How do I replace the pickup? Does it involve disassembling the distributor?

[miamibob]

I would make certain the TFI is a Motorcraft and that the dizzy area it mounts to is clean (alcohol on a rag works well). Then use thermal paste on the TFI and mount it. Never replaced a pickup to interested in a response.

[gadget73]

Is this the same as the TFI module? I had the TFI replaced about three years ago but I guess it could go bad again.


yes.

How do I replace the pickup? Does it involve disassembling the distributor?

yes.

distributor comes out, drive the pin out of the gear, and press the gear off. Once the gear is off, the shaft slides out and you can get at the inners. Putting it back together is harder since you have to get the gear lined up on the shaft so the roll pin works. If you don't have a press, I'd suggest swapping it for a reman distributor.

[stinkydogfilms]

I was lucky and replaced my PIP sensor from the top in the 91 GM. I took out the two screws to the cover wheel that turns, the screw size is the same as the screws that hold the TFI module to the distributor. I removed the advance lever and the PIP came out. This was done twice in a four month period the same way, when the first replacement failed. Make sure you get Motorcraft parts if you can.
NAPA has the TFI screw wrench for under $5.00.
Make sure you mark the distributor. You will have to turn the distributor to get to the TFI module screws, especially the back one.
I would try this method before removing the distributor. IMO

[miamibob]

Wonder which company produces the best (or better) reman dizzys? I see A-1 Cardone all over the place but have heard some bad things about them. Not sure who to believe???

[gadget73]

I was lucky and replaced my PIP sensor from the top in the 91 GM. I took out the two screws to the cover wheel that turns, the screw size is the same as the screws that hold the TFI module to the distributor. I removed the advance lever and the PIP came out. This was done twice in a four month period the same way, when the first replacement failed. Make sure you get Motorcraft parts if you can.
NAPA has the TFI screw wrench for under $5.00.
Make sure you mark the distributor. You will have to turn the distributor to get to the TFI module screws, especially the back one.
I would try this method before removing the distributor. IMO

hmm, I'll have to try that sometime. Sure would beat the snot out of pulling the distributor apart.


If you do remove the reluctor wheel, make sure it goes back on the same way it came off. Not sure if there is a locator pin or something, but the fins are not all the same. There is an odd shaped finger for #1, which the ECM uses to identify when #1 fires to sequence the injectors properly.