North American Turbocoupe Organization



88 Turbocoupe Cranks, doesn't start
NavyMustang65 Offline
Junior Member
#1
Hi I have a 1988 Thunderbird Turbo coupe I've been tinkering with. I went away for 9 months and when I came back my t-bird wouldn't start. I gave it fresh gas, recharged the battery, cleaned the terminals. It turns over and seems to want to catch, it gets to the point where you let the key go, when the key goes to the "run" setting it dies. Now this ignition system is a lot more complicated then what I normally tinker with. Where should I start?
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NY eric Offline
Member
#2
Do you hear the fule pump prime when you turn the key to acc? if not hten check either the fuel pump relay or the EEC relay.
Man who stand on toilet is high on pot
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1986 svo
1985.5 svo
1984 svo
1987 TC (gone but not forgoten)
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Pete D Offline
Posting Freak
#3
Hello and welcome to the board.
Assuming you have spark. If not sure, verify spark first.

It would probably be good to get the KOEO and CM codes also:
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/Retri..._codes.htm
With an 88 you can run them from inside the car:
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/In_Ca...rCodes.htm

Do what Eric suggested. You should hear the pump prime for 2-4 seconds when the key is turned to RUN (not START)

If it does not prime, see this article:
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/Fuel_...ostics.htm

If it does prime then keep priming it 4 to 5 times by turning key to Run for 2-4 seconds, turn it off briefly and back to RUN for 2-4 seconds. Repeat this 4-5 times and on the last cycle try to start it. Whether it starts or not, see this article
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/Fuel_...ostics.htm

Let us know what you find
Pete Dunham
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NavyMustang65 Offline
Junior Member
#4
I don't think I am hearing the fuel pump prime. What does it sound like? Sort of a whiring?

~Adam
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#5
Best way to test it is to have a helper turn the key to RUN, and listen with your head stuck under the gas tank. It sounds like a mid- frequency whining / whiring.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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NavyMustang65 Offline
Junior Member
#6
if you try to crank it multiple times, does it only pump the first time?

Also the EEC, located behind the P.S. kick panel. Is it a 3"x3" roughly black box with five wires coming out of it? I was going through the diagnostic that you guys sent me and I couldn't find a solid orange wire.. there was orangish with another color on it... no 5V in the run position.
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gmct94 Offline
Banned
#7
I am having the same problem with an 88 I just purchased a few days ago. The last owner said he came home from work and it was starting fine, got in it the next day, and it would not start. His fix was to go buy a new car, and sell this one. I do not know the location of any relay, and the inertia switch has been set and reset. The fuel pump is not coming on at all, I do know that. Autozone's website says there's a relay in the trunk, behind the driver's rear tire, another site says it's on the other side, and is green. I can't locate it. Any ideas?
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Pete D Offline
Posting Freak
#8
gmct94, welcome. see http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/Fuel_...ostics.htm

NavyMustang65 my understanding is the pump will shortly every time the key is turned to run. I'm not 100% on that

The EEC is more like 6"w by 7" long (9+" with the connector attached) and there is a big connector with many wires, including a solid orange. It's an aluminum box. See Pic
http://natomessageboard.com/uploads/0000...ECbox2.jpg
Pete Dunham
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NavyMustang65 Offline
Junior Member
#9
Nothing behind the Passenger's kick panel matches that. Where else might it be?
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DonH Offline
Posting Freak
#10
Nowhere else. Look up inside the opening in the body behind all the other wires for the big black connector with a bolt in it. Look at the picture again and imagine that box mounted vertically with the connector at the bottom. The fuel pump turns on for a few seconds every time the key is switched from OFF to RUN. You say that the engine seems to want to catch in start but when you switch to RUN it dies. Check the R/LG wire at the coil for +12v with the switch in RUN and START to confirm that the ignition switch is good.

gmct94, the fuel pump relay is located on the right side fender liner in the engine bay along with several other relays in a black box called the Integrated Relay Controller Module (IRCM). You are in for an electrical adventure with your 88. Read the FAQ's and TECH articles to familiarize yourself with the car.
1987 TC stock except ATR 2.5"
1983 Pontiac Transam T-top 5.7 T56 [email protected] top speed: 176mph
1978 Fairmont 2.3 4-spd Big-top S/W
1946 Willys CJ2A 134.2ci L4 No-top
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