black smoke

My wife's looking at me funny now. I spent a lot of time and a little money on this repair and I'm not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel! It's puffing black smoke intermittently and seems to be missing during the smoking. I'm getting codes 41 and 42.

Items changed: dist. cap & button, TFI, PIP, O2, FPR, TPS, intake gaskets, computer, PCV.

Stuff checked: fuel-39 PSI all the time, VAM voltage, TPS voltage, timing (10 deg), vacuum, vacuum leaks, cam timing, compression (150 PSI), battery, IC hoses, IAC clean, EGR clean, fuel injectors cleaned and flowed, CAT "cleaned out", fuel diagnostics.

I'm running plug wires with 5000 miles on them and NGK power-V's.

What am I missing? I've got to get her on the road again.

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NATO member

88 TC

FP at 39 psi all the time?? You mean it doesnt change if the vac hose is pulled off the fuel pressure reg. with the motor running? If that is the case, either the vac line is plugged, or the regulator is shot.

How did you check the VAM voltage? Did you check to be sure it increases linearly from ~.3 V to ~4.5 V, with no jumps, as the door is opened by hand with the key on, motor off?

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 20 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 00 Windstar (wifes vehicle)

Just checked the FP again. It is 39 PSI all the time except when the vac hose is pulled off, it goes to 44 PSI.

The VAM is smooth from .3 VDC to 4.5 VDC.

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NATO member

88 TC

Well, I put new Motorcraft wires and Autolite copper cores on today...this car is about to become a handgun target! The idle is rough, high idle is rough and it's smoking black like a tire fire! Any ideas?

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NATO member

88 TC

Have you pulled the codes?

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NATO Member
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, Main TC with K&N, 3"DP to 2.5"duals through Dynamax, Ric valve at 17+ and disconnected KS. Elite Bodega 16" chrome wheels. Autometer pod w/ A/F and Vac/boost gauges.140 mph Motorsports Speedo New engine: Total Seal rings and TRW pistons, ported and polished head w/ cc'd chambers,1.59"exhausts, SS valves, gutted upper, knife edged lower, A-230 cam, Race Engineering Adj Cam Sprocket, Crowlers, ARP head studs, and rod bolts. Walbro 255 HP pump and Kirban adj FPR, T-3. Centerforce II, KB subs and jack rails.

41 and 42

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NATO member

88 TC

It's the fuel pressure regulator! I have a fuel pressure gauge hooked up to my car and it was only running at 24 psi from the factory. It's flooding it's self causing it to smoke and miss. Your ignition won't burn that much gas at one time.

Chris, 39 and 44 are about what you want to see at idle and at idle with the reference line disconnected.

If you car is acutally running at 24, you have a problem. You should see at least 35.

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NATO Member
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, Main TC with K&N, 3"DP to 2.5"duals through Dynamax, Ric valve at 17+ and disconnected KS. Elite Bodega 16" chrome wheels. Autometer pod w/ A/F and Vac/boost gauges.140 mph Motorsports Speedo New engine: Total Seal rings and TRW pistons, ported and polished head w/ cc'd chambers,1.59"exhausts, SS valves, gutted upper, knife edged lower, A-230 cam, Race Engineering Adj Cam Sprocket, Crowlers, ARP head studs, and rod bolts. Walbro 255 HP pump and Kirban adj FPR, T-3. Centerforce II, KB subs and jack rails.

Would a failing coil do this? Has anyone had a coil fail before?

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NATO member

88 TC

A bad coil could do this, but...Have you pulled the plugs and checked them yet? See if you have a couple that are wet - that might help to isolate the problem. If one or two are wet and you have spark there, suspect injectors. The fuel pressure does sound a little high - I think that the book calls for around 35 psi (vac line on) and 40 psi (vac line off). Let us know what you find - I've got an 82 Toyota that is doing the exact same thing (but, due to a long story, I can't get to it to fix it).

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1988 TC 5 spd K & N, Bleeder. Next up - 3" downpipe to 2.5" duals