Ignition failure

[gwdawg]

1st, 1987 Jeep GW with TFI conversion using parts
from Cape Conversions.

Pulling out of the driveway this morning my GW died. Checked fuel, it's getting to the carb. Then I noticed the TFI coil was laying loose. Looks like one of the screws holding it on had come loose, leaving in to hang by one screw which then failed due to fatigue. I remount the coil until I can fab another bracket and the Jeep fires right up. Heading off to work again I get about about 4 miles when there's a little hickup but then everything smooths out, until I get to the next stop light and it dies. It just turns over, checking under the hood one of the wires that was spliced to the TFI coil connector comes out of it's splice. I cut back both sides, twist the wires together and the 360 fires off again.
30 seconds later it dies and won't re-start. GW
get's a ride home on the back of AAA. :-(

Pointers are appreciated. I'm a computer nerd by trade, so not much on ignition diagnostics.

thanks

[ July 28, 2003, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: gwdawg ]

[89grand]

Not to be rude, but your TFI install seems a bit halfassed. I would go back through the entire install and do it all over again taking the necessary precautions to prevent wires from becoming disconnected and re-mount the coil better so it doesn't fall of the bracket again.

I think you'll probably find the answer to your ignition problems once you redo the whole TFI install.

I did mine about 4 months ago(took my time and did it properly)and have not had a single malfuntion.

[ July 28, 2003, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: 89grand ]

[gwdawg]

Hmmm, the splice probably failed as I pulled on it while I was re-mounting the coil. Since then I've rechecked all wires and splices. Then again I'm sure from Mesa, AZ you can look into my engine bay and see it's a "halfassed" install.

thanks for you help?

[89grand]

I told you I wasn't trying to rude and I'm not.

If a coil falling off of the bracket and wires becoming disconnected, even if you did pull on it a little bit, all within a few minutes of each other sounds like a reliable installation to you than OK. It doesn't to me, but then again I'm not the one asking for help about my TFI systems failure, mine works.

I appologize for the advise, I'm sure the install is top notch.

[beloth]

can't we all just get along?!?!

[ffej]

89grand...right on...if your coil falls off it should be able to hang from the wires for 500 miles..It's got to be in your ignition somewheres...then again..it could be bad gas or vapor lock at the same time..two things going wrong at the same time on these things is a way of life for all of us. peace out :D :D

[gwdawg]

OK, I decided to go out and recheck everything again after the 1st informative response I got. Tried to locate my voltmeter, no go , but found my 6-24v dc idiot light. Pulled out my factory manual, which I admit I should've done first before posting here.

With the ignition on and all the wiring connected there was no voltage on either side of the coil. After disconnecting the hot lead, I now see some voltage, remember I'm an idiot so I'm using an idiot light, on the disconnected hot lead. Reconnect everything, idiot light connected to my hand twisted wire, with ignition on, no light, I bang on the ignition module in disgust and the idiot light flickers on! Hit the starter and it fires up.

Sorry I asked for help before I read the shop manuals. I'm sure nobody else's stuff ever falls off after they've been crawling up and down 2 tracks.

[timmirvin]

At the risk of you turning a deaf ear to me as wel...I agree with 89grand...maybe not his word choice, but I agree.

Now, having said that, swallow your pride, re-check connections. If your splice came loose, then it was not properly spliced. This time use a soldering iron and heat shrink. Next, re-mount your coil. It should not even vibrate when the engine is running. Now if you don't have fire after re-doing the coil connections, there are a couple of parts that can be bad....the ignition module or the pick up coil. It is hard to blow a P/U coil, but easy to mess up an ignition module. Prior to buying a new module, check your wires running to the coil. You may have a fuseable link that has blown.

Don't cut corners on this install, especially if it is your daily driver. Tape and but connectors can very easily leave you stranded. Do it right and you will have a realiable ignition for a long time.

Be thick skinned, take the advice that is given. 99% of the advice on this forum is accurate, 110% of it is meant well....IMHO. We are all proud of our FSJs and the work we do on them, but remember, there is always somebody that is better at it than you.

my redneck 2 cents.....

[gwdawg]

timmirvin

and it was 89grand word choice that tweaked me, I can handle constructive criticism. You're right, there wasn't any tape on the install but there were a couple of butt connectors and it's one of these where a connection failed.

It appears to me that an ignition module is starting to fail, but at this point I don't want to make any assumptions.