new computer installation

[312]

Re: new computer installation

If the computer tests good and is sending voltage out to the coil and it is not making it there to the coil the answer is simple. Get a diagram of the car, isolate the wiring for the #3 coil and use an ohm meter to find the break in the wire/connector and repair it. A whole new harness ????? What drugs are they taking? I have never done that. 99 % of the time its either a connector or a bad connection .Some times its an improperly crimped connector which can make you nuts trying to find it because it may be intermittent. This is the problem you can run into when basic electrical diagnostic skills are NOT TAUGHT ! If the computer cannot isolate the problem , they are lost !Randy

[DonRich90]

Re: new computer installation

Ned, I checked in my latest issue of Hemmings Motor News and there are a number of places that advertise repairing/manufacturing wiring harnesses. Some specialize in older vehicles but one that specializes in Fords says "TBirds '55 and up" (Doesn't say how far up) - 800-874-9981. Another says "Custom harness fabrication" - "ASE Certified Electrical Specialist" - 914-227-7232 (Florida).
If you think your problem may be with the wiring harness, it wouldn't hurt to contact these people to see if they can help you or if they might know of someone who can. Good luck!

Don

[Welker]

Re: new computer installation

Many thanks to all....the '37 Buick picture is excellent. It appears that they may not be disassembling and rebuilding the harness but I'll find that out tomorrow. The dealership says they have done all the things you all have suggested(except agree that the '37 Buick was a better car) and pretty much have agreed that if they can't get this resolved with all the diagnostic equipment they have and all the "help" from Ford corporate, to give the car back and I can take it to somebody who specializes in electrical mysteries. The good news is they won't charge for what they have done, including the installation of 5 new COPs. The bad news, they will probably wash their hands of the whole thing.

Just a note about electrical stuff......when I was in high school, we used to put the wrong sized light bulb in the dome light of people's cars we didn't particularly like. The electrical system in those old cars would go crazy, but slowly, one thing after the other failing...brake lights going on at the dash and the car having no brake lights, etc. I had a Corvair in 1966 that had the wrong turn signal light bulb installed by somebody and they rewired the whole car before they found it. The guys at Ford say the diagnostic equipment would find that now.

[04birdman]

Re: new computer installation

Many thanks to all....the '37 Buick picture is excellent. It appears that they may not be disassembling and rebuilding the harness but I'll find that out tomorrow. The dealership says they have done all the things you all have suggested(except agree that the '37 Buick was a better car) and pretty much have agreed that if they can't get this resolved with all the diagnostic equipment they have and all the "help" from Ford corporate, to give the car back and I can take it to somebody who specializes in electrical mysteries. The good news is they won't charge for what they have done, including the installation of 5 new COPs. The bad news, they will probably wash their hands of the whole thing.

Just a note about electrical stuff......when I was in high school, we used to put the wrong sized light bulb in the dome light of people's cars we didn't particularly like. The electrical system in those old cars would go crazy, but slowly, one thing after the other failing...brake lights going on at the dash and the car having no brake lights, etc. I had a Corvair in 1966 that had the wrong turn signal light bulb installed by somebody and they rewired the whole car before they found it. The guys at Ford say the diagnostic equipment would find that now.

just makes you wonder how long is too long to keep this car ... could this happen to a garage queen? or some one like me that uses his 5000k milkes a year i only got 30k on mine... maybe some thing a little more common is a way to go ...mustang conv. anyone?

[LOP]

Re: new computer installation

Just a note about electrical stuff......when I was in high school, we used to put the wrong sized light bulb in the dome light of people's cars we didn't particularly like. The electrical system in those old cars would go crazy, but slowly, one thing after the other failing....

Kharma......

[Welker]

Re: new computer installation

Yup, what goes around, comes around.

[Welker]

Re: new computer installation

So, here's the latest. I hope all this educates somebody besides me. As I told a harness rebuilder this morning, don't take my ignorance as indicative of that of the people actually working on the car.

It is obvious to everybody that harness replacement is a last resort. The part is an expensive rebuild, ca $800 and is a bitch to remove and reinstall so the labor cost is high. The harness guys in Elgin told me that unless whoever is doing the work is absolutely sure it is the harness, more often than not, by process of elimination alone, it will not solve the problem.

The Ford people, and there are many involved by now, claim to know that and with no fuel or spark at the cylinder level, agree with the harness guys that it is electrical and have isolated the connecting wires that are not working. At this time, the dealer is waiting for Ford, which has promised the info by this afternoon, to provide instructions on a temporary bypass of the non working portion of the harness.

I guess, if that works, they will go the next step which, I guess, will be to order a rebuilt harness.

I am a believer in the law of opposites which means that since I know nothing, there is somebody out there who knows everything. Let's hope somebody finds him during my lifetime.

[007Cruiser]

Re: new computer installation

We'll keep our fingers crossed. Good luck!

[HKS]

Re: new computer installation

Ok, now we have no fuel and no spark. Those are two different problems.
Unless it is part of the limp mode affecting just one cylinder. That would be a tough one.

I wonder if one bypass wire would fix that? Also what would be wrong with a permanent bypass?
HKS

So, here's the latest. I hope all this educates somebody besides me. As I told a harness rebuilder this morning, don't take my ignorance as indicative of that of the people actually working on the car.
It is obvious to everybody that harness replacement is a last resort. The part is an expensive rebuild, ca $800 and is a bitch to remove and reinstall so the labor cost is high. The harness guys in Elgin told me that unless whoever is doing the work is absolutely sure it is the harness, more often than not, by process of elimination alone, it will not solve the problem.
The Ford people, and there are many involved by now, claim to know that and with no fuel or spark at the cylinder level, agree with the harness guys that it is electrical and have isolated the connecting wires that are not working. At this time, the dealer is waiting for Ford, which has promised the info by this afternoon, to provide instructions on a temporary bypass of the non working portion of the harness.
I guess, if that works, they will go the next step which, I guess, will be to order a rebuilt harness.
I am a believer in the law of opposites which means that since I know nothing, there is somebody out there who knows everything. Let's hope somebody finds him during my lifetime.

[Welker]

Re: new computer installation

For what it's worth, the guy at Ford service did say "two" connectors but what that means is a mystery to me. I had the impression that the temporary fix would be just that....wires loose across the block and vulnerable, and I also was under the impression that they would not consider it a repair but only a part of the search for a solution. The man at the harness replacement place in Elgin said that the injection and spark were related. Maybe on the TBird they are. Anyhow, like the immigrants in Casablanca, we are waiting, waiting, waiting.

[Brad]

Re: new computer installation

If they've isolated the problem to several wires, why can't they just re-run those wires?

If they haven't isolated it to certain wires then it sounds like the harness replacement is just a shot in the dark.

[Welker]

Re: new computer installation

Brad, they have isolated the wires but they don't want to pull out the harness, send it out for rebuild, reinstall it until they are sure the new connections will work.....that seems to be the reason they want to put a temporary connection to confirm the rebuild will be the answer. The harness people I spoke with said that is necessary and when they know the temporary fix works, they will take the old harness and rebuild it. Nobody wants to go to the last resort until they know for sure.....this seems to be the way they confirm the solution. Once it is confirmed, they can't leave it just loose since it is vulnerable to all sorts of things...thus the protection of the harness.

[04birdman]

Re: new computer installation

ANY UPDATE ..??????????

[Welker]

Re: new computer installation

If anybody is interested I will write up the whole saga soon but at the moment the car is up and running, doing fine, as good as new. Ford gave up eventually and I had them deliver the car to a really good shop which specialized in this kind of thing and they took care of it in less than a week. A lot of you responding earlier were right in questioning the competence of the people at the dealership. We all learn from experience and I have learned that new car dealerships are not good at much other than warranty work. My attempts to keep this old car looking and running like new are going to be made with privately owned shops who specialize in keeping old cars running. The good news is that my fear that an aging computerized vehicle would be obsoleted by new technology and parts replacement is probably overstated. The Ford dealer is having a meeting today with all the people who aided and abetted in this mess and I'll let you know how that works out.

[007Cruiser]

Re: new computer installation

Anxiously waiting to hear the details.