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Topic
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1987 Ford Bronco
302
EFI
Auto trans.Apologies in advance, this is a long one!
This vehicle sat for 7-8 years before I got it. I siphoned all the bad fuel out that I could get, changed the oil, dumped in fresh gas and got it running. Sounded great once the lifters quieted down. Then it died. I’m lost on EFI so it went to a garage I trust. The guy did some wiring and got it running but at this point it must have sucked up a load of old gas and crud that was laying in the tank. He was slammed so I hauled it back home. I replaced the tank(pinholes), LP pump, and fuel filter. Also found another filter looking thing that comes apart but there was nothing inside so I put it back together and re-installed it. Would only start with ether and ran like crap. I hacked off the muffler since it was rotted and full of acorns, still no better. Back to the shop it went. He replaced all 8 injectors and the ECU. Now it starts really nice and idles nice but has zilch for power. Revving in neutral it sounds like it takes forever to wind up. Put it in gear and it barely wants to move. Won’t spin the tires going uphill on gravel.
I was thinking *maybe* someone messed with the ignition timing or the new ECU was somehow throwing it off making the ignition retarded. I put my timing light to it and the mark seemed to be in the ball park. To be sure, I scribed a line on the position of the distributor, loosened it and turned it this way and that. No better so I put it back. I mean I guess if it were THAT retarded it would probably not idle so nice, let alone run and move the vehicle. It moves, but you have to BEG it.
I sprayed ether around and found nothing for a vacuum leak. There is a reservoir that looks like a soup can where lines go into and there is a leak there but I plugged the lines off and it had no effect. To be sure I wasn’t losing it, I pulled the brake booster line while it was running and that had an effect. Idle went up and you could hear it.
I tried pulling codes, noticed the check engine light and the red “engine” light do not come on with the key. Removed dash pieces and found the light are just completely gone. They’re some sort of twist lock deals. I tried swapping the left blinker indicator light into the CEL light position but it didn’t work. Also verified that the left blinker light itself was in fact good. Any idea what sort of lights I need to get to fit into these? I’d really like to have these lights able to work even if they don’t mean anything.
Also, the wire that you’re supposed to jump to negative on the battery to get codes, I found it, but it isn’t hooked to anything. I can’t even find where it plugged in. It’s just hangin out. Shouldn’t that go to something?
At the garage, the guy said the fuel pressure was right where it ought to be but I’m going to procure a tester to see it for myself.
My last thought, I hacked the muffler off, bit this thing isn’t very loud. I have a suspicion that someone was having trouble with this thing for some time because the “engine” and CEL indicators were removed…or it’s a “monday car”… Plugged up cats? Two downpipes going into one, then it goes into a first and secondary cat. You put your hand behind it, and it feels like plenty of exhaust coming out but I have no helper to rev the engine while I do that. I figure as old as it is, the cats aren’t doing anything at this point anyhow and I can get some replacements. In my county of PA it’s visual only for emissions but I’ll be a good boy regardless. Anyhow, you’d think this thing would be roaring with no mufflers right?
Might be related?? Turn the wiper switch on and you sometimes get one sweep of the wipers. Turn the key off and back on, sometimes they’ll do it again. Fuel gauge does not work. Oil temp gauge does not seem to work.
I’m only going to this trouble because the body on this thing is friggin mint. The tail gate and rad support are the only issues. Looking underneath you’d think it was only a few years old.
One last thing, can I take the &*^%ing door bell out of this thing? It drives me insane but it looks like kinda of a large box. I don’t want to screw anything up…
TLDR:
Ford Bronco 302, EFI, New tank, LP pump, fuel filter, injectors, ECU, starts fine, idles fine, very little power. Requesting artillery strike.
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Replies
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The first thing I would suggest is to confirm the basic mechanical integrity of the engine. Compression check, leakdown check, and test for timing chain slack.
Having said that, perhaps your lack of giddyup could be related to the transmission.
[quote=”Evil-i” post=190596]The first thing I would suggest is to confirm the basic mechanical integrity of the engine. Compression check, leakdown check, and test for timing chain slack.
Having said that, perhaps your lack of giddyup could be related to the transmission.[/quote]
That’s another thing I have yet to do is a compression check, but cranking it over, it seems ok. I’m not a tech, but I’ve heard engines with and without compression cranking over. I know this is not accurate at all so I’m going to do a proper test once I feel like pulling all the plugs.
It just bugs me that it sounded so good, and then all the sudden everything goes to crap.
I really don’t think it’s trans related. If you heard it when you stomp the pedal you’d know it’s taking it’s very sweet time winding up.
I believe you will find this article quite helpful
Let us know how it goes.
So far…
For the hell of it I pulled a plug wire and started the engine. No change in how it ran. I worked my way around the dizzy. Pull a wire, start it, listen for change or no change. Ended up at four dead cylinders…??? Engine sounds pretty ok but if you pull a wire to a good cylinder you know it. It stumbles and farts along. Four dead cylinders to be sure.All eight plugs are sparking.
Fuel pressure is at 35-40PSI, manual wants 45-60PSI. Low for sure but not sure if that’s my cause. It’s the same four cylinders consistently.
The garage I had it at tells me compression was good on all eight, and I trust the guy.
Firing order 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8? That’s how it’s set up anyhow.
I’m lost and thinking someone put a hex on it. Should I go to a Gypsy or something?
Are the 4 dead cylinders on the same bank? Run a leak down test determine cause from there
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