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Kenneydoc
Novice
Jul 3, 2010, 10:20 PM
Post #1 of 8
(1924 views)
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I have a Ford 1999 E150 cargo van 4.2 engine 6 cly. I tried to start it one morning and it wouldn't fire up, just crank on & on. I pulled the spark plug wire, then the plug and reconnected it to the plug wire, held it next to the block and cranked the engine to discover no spark. I check all plug and contact connections to make sure nothing was loose. I have an electronic ignition. I was told by "Joe the bartender" that it was the ignition coil pack on top of the manifold. Does this sound right, do I need to get a new ignition coil pack. Other data: over the last 6 to 8 months the van started to take longer to turn over from 1 second to 5 to 8 seconds before it would fire up. Thanks Doc
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 4, 2010, 5:10 AM
Post #2 of 8
(1915 views)
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No, the coil is not likely.. There are other tests that need to be made to determine where the source of the problem may be. All "crank, no start" conditions are approached in the same way. Every engine requires certain functions to be able to run. Some of these functions rely on specific components to work and some components are part of more than one function so it is important to see the whole picture to be able to conclude anything about what may have failed. Also, these functions can ONLY be tested during the failure. Any other time and they will simply test good because the problem isn't present at the moment. If you approach this in any other way, you are merely guessing and that only serves to replace unnecessary parts and wastes money. Every engine requires spark, fuel and compression to run. That's what we have to look for. These are the basics that need to be tested and will give us the info required to isolate a cause. 1) Test for spark at the plug end of the wire using a spark tester (already done). If none found, check for power supply on the + terminal of the coil with the key on. 2) Test for injector pulse using a small bulb called a noid light. If none found, check for power supply at one side of the injector with the key on. 3) Use a fuel pressure gauge to test for correct fuel pressure, also noticing if the pressure holds when key is shut off. Once you have determined which of these functions has dropped out, you will know which system is having the problem. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Kenneydoc
Novice
Jul 4, 2010, 9:26 AM
Post #3 of 8
(1903 views)
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Thanks, I will give it test. Can a test light substitute for a noid light?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 4, 2010, 9:40 AM
Post #4 of 8
(1901 views)
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Don't - they aren't that expensive and takes out the risk of blowing an engine control module, T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 4, 2010, 11:37 AM
Post #5 of 8
(1894 views)
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Yeah, what Tom said. Definitely not an incandescent test light. If it uses a diode bulb, it will work but the other will take out the quad drivers in the computer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 4, 2010, 1:30 PM
Post #6 of 8
(1891 views)
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You mean I got something right! LOL! Seriously - get a diode test light anyway. A whopping $5 bucks and they use to darn little to light it is infinitely safer when anything sensitive is involved. Plug for Walmart - they have a great one similar to this............ There are still reasons to keep an incandescent test light but not for this, T
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Kenneydoc
Novice
Jul 4, 2010, 3:50 PM
Post #7 of 8
(1884 views)
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Thanks guys for the help. Have a great 4th. Will keep you updated on success. Doc
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 4, 2010, 4:05 PM
Post #8 of 8
(1879 views)
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Remember, when your checking for injector pulse, it's a pulsing ground your looking for with the injector unplugged. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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