1988 Thunderbird no start

I have a 1988 Thunderbird (5.0 litre V8) that I had to park and neglect necessary care due to illness. I got after it today, put in a new battery, and it cranks fine, but no start. Gas tank was empty which I know is a bad sign. After puttting in fuel it still wasn't starting. I know I need to confirm that the plugs are firing first, but where would you guys go to confirm that fuel isn't making it to the injector pump on this engine?

 

Usually fuel is the problem with something that has sat. Ignition and compression don't degrade much when sitting but old gasoline can gum everything up it touches so I'd go through the fuel system. Start at the fuel tank and work your way forward making sure fuel is getting where it should. I just hope it's something simple like a fuel pump and not something gummed up in the injection system.

 

There is a fuel rail that feeds the injectors. It has a regulator on it and it should have a test port that consists of a Schrader valve that you could push in and see if there's fuel.

I couldn't find a test port in the OEM listings.
I see adjustable regulators with test ports.
1988 Ford T'bird fuel injection parts

In a very quiet location..... turn the key on and listen for the electric fuel pump.
It will only runs for about 5 seconds and then you'll have to turn the key off and on again.
It's either in the gas tank or on the frame rail.
It may have rusted stuck with no gas in it.

 

I hope there is someone still around that is not retired that knows where the fuel pump was located in a 88 Bird. I was having problems 20 years ago finding MAP sensors and other parts of the electronic control system on this car lol

 

Rock Auto is showing it as in-tank.

I had an 88 Ford E-350 with the 460.
It had two fuel pumps.... in-tank and on the frame rail under the drivers seat.
It had the EEC-IV ignition system which had problems all its own.

 

Yes Pete, I watched a long video showing a guy accessing the top of a 1989 bird tank thru the trunk. The fuel pump was accessible thru the top of the tank. Maybe I can fill the tank with PB Blaster and leave it sit for awhile

 

so how long was it setting ? would also check fuel pressure usually is a test port on the fuel rail and maybe check for power through the inertia switch.

 

HI Alan, thanks for the questions. The car has been sitting for quite awhile. I usually go out and add new fuel and fire things up monthly or so, but a serious set of cancer operations just kind of knocked me off the rails and out of touch for caring for the old Bird. A guy who occasionally does some work like this for me has been swamped but he probably has the tools we need to get this back fired up. I just like to do whatever simple stuff I can prior to calling in the cavalry.

 

Does anyone know if the fuel pump is accessible from the trunk or under the back seat of this car? Or is dropping the tank the only way to get to it? I saw the guy who accessed his on a 1989 T-bird by cutting out the cars floor above the fuel pump area.

 

you will most likely have to pull the tank if its close to empty likely not to heavy.

 

The fuel pump IS in the tank, I can hear it run when I turn on the key for short intervals. Got no presssure reading on a borrowed guage attached to the schrader valve on the fuel rail. I pulled out the fuel filter which is under the car next to the frame. I had clean fuel beween the filter and the line that comes from the pump, but not so clean stuff ran out of the line downstream from the filter.(I blew out some nasty stuff from the filter and it is clear now, but I have a new one ready to install I am ready to run some tests on both lines, guessing that if put more clean fuel in the tank, and energize the fuel pump with the ignition key, that I can catch clean fuel in a pan from the line that goes to the filter which is still disconnected. Since I had some pretty grungey stuff going from the old filer in the line that goes to the injectors that drained backward on me. I am not sure how to clean THAT line going forward to the injectors. Is there a correct procedure for doing that?

 

Utube video on cleaning the entire system basically says to run Isopropel alcohol thru the fuel line that goes to the fuel rail backwards toward the fuel filter using complessed air. The Service manual I have does not tell me how or where this line connects, or what type of fitting has to to be disconnected. There is a pic of a pressure regulator in the vicinity of this connection on all the engines Ford used in the 88 Thunderbird, so that appears to be my next search under the hood.

 

could just blow out the line not sure I would worry about it to much if you get sediment in the fuel rail it will typically settle in the end of a rail and not any real good way to clean it short of pulling the rail and removing the injectors.
would just focus on why you do not have pressure may have a bad pump even though it runs if you did not register any pressure with a new filter would make sure the gauge your using is compressing the shrader valve should be around 40 psi.

 

10-4 Cooling off, and stopped raining, back after it. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

I have been let down by the guy who was going to help (with more experience and tools) . I have replaced the the fuel filter under the car. I know there is a relay in the trunk.but I went looking for a 20 amp fuse (or so) in the block and cannot find a spot labeled for the Fuel Pump. The Dealer and so far the auto parts stores have been no help. If I bring them a fuse (or relay) or both they can replace it, but I have to find the fuse first (if there is one) Any help in forum land? 1988 T Bird Sport Coupe 5.0 liter V-8

 

cant really remember on the fuse ford used fusible links on many models so it may not have one but if you can hear the pump run it sounds like it is getting power anyway.
wiring typically went from relay through the inertia switch to the pump and it should only run a few seconds when you turn the key on if its sees a crank signal it should switch on continuously, you could also jumper the fuel pump relay if your just testing the pump output.

 

I looked in the trunk with all the pads removed and could not find a relay anywhere there. Yiears ago I lost a Headlight relay and It was in a bank of them near the dash somewhere. I thought I could hear the fuel pump running but not so sure now. i will comb thru the manual again and keep asking lol Thanks for getting back to me! (the guy who found the headlight relay had a computer program that had various car systems in it, including mine) Probably gone with the abacus now lol

 

Allan, Looking for the relay, I came across the inertia switch in the trunk. From the videos it looks like this switch must remain pressed in to complete the fuel pump circuit. This one is popped out and will not push back in flush and lock. Has not been in a wreck for years, but thinking it may have given up anyway. I would like to jump it, but it is clamped to the inner wall of the trunk with a clamp of some type and does not want to come loose. (I could cut the clamp, but prefer not to. I need an idea here on how this is supposed to come out of there.safely.

 

its most likely working can't say I ever seen one go bad if you have a test light or voltmeter you can check for power at both wires cranking the engine over if it has power on both wires its not tripped if it only has power at 1 then it needs reset or may be bad, but the button usually does have some movement so I do not think that is really telling you anything.

 

Alan, I finally had time to go back after the T-Bird. I was able to determine that the fuel pump was running with one person listening and another hitting the ignition key. i then I disconnected the fuel filter (the new one) and hit the key for a few seconds. Lots of grungy fuel shot into my catch pan. I have drained 5 gallons of bad fuel from the tank with a modified bilge pump and used the car's fuel pump to drain out what's left. I plan to put in fresh clean fuel and energize the system if I can.

 

I finally got the last of the bad fuel out of the tank with a 2nd attempt with both a bilge pump AND the cars own fuel pump. I am at the point where no fuel is shooting into the catch pan. I intend to put in some fresh fuel and make sure that is the only thing coming thru the filter outlet now. If I can determine that I have clean fuel moving thru the filter can I safely reattach the fuel line to the line that goes to the fuel rail and see if I can get it started, or do something else first?

 

Fresh filter.

 

new filter couple bottles of heet some fresh gas may even want to pull the plugs and spray some oil in the cylinders if its been sitting a long time.

 

I had a 1988 Mercury Cougar. Had the 3.8 V6 in it. I had a no start condition. Would crank but not fire. Turned out to be the ignition module. My 1995 Mustang GT had the same no start condition and turned out to be a broken wire on the PIP (Pick up Coil) inside the distributor. Have you checked for spark?

 

I have cleaned everything I could reach with a spray bottle, Completely emtiied the fuel, tank, replaced the filter and am ;pumping clean fuel out of the fuel filter. The engine will run on either until I get tired of spraying it in the Plenum? So I figure the fuel pump maybe not strong enough any more, or there is a blockage somewhere in the fuel rail and the injectors. I do not have room to have the car inside here to get into the top of the engine here in ohio, so I am just about to call AAA to come get the car and take it to a repair center. Thanks for the helpful suggestions~

 

A guy with a lot more experience with fuel injection systems than me took the car to his heated garage and found the problem. There is a small hose between the fuel pump and the hose that goes to the fuel filter and on to the fuel rail in this car. It was found after he dropped the tank as there was no smoking gun forward in the injection system. this small hose had pretty much degraded to the point where it was plugging fuel flow just enough to prevent the engine from starting. Since the tank was down anyway, replacement hoses and a new fuel pump are going in. I need a bigger garage....