1992 Tempo Dies Intermittently

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Larry R Harrison Jr - 19 Apr 2006 21:37 GMT

We have a 1992 Ford Tempo with about 80,000 miles (yes, 80k, not 180k). It
has lately shown tendencies to suddenly die, even within traffic, and take
some coercing to recrank. Sometimes when it recranks it can die again within
a couple of minutes, or it can recrank and then carry on as if nothing's
wrong.

It isn't running hot, the battery is fine, the alternator is fine, oil is
fine. So I don't know what else this could be--except maybe the control
module, as I once had a Mercury Grand Marquis that did much the same
behavior and that was the problem. There was one difference--once the Grand
Marquis exhibited that, it would studder home every mile, it wouldn't
"resume as normal" unless you gave it a good ½ hour or more to "cool off,"
whereas this Tempo only needed 5 minutes, and then it would pick up 100%.

Tips?

LRH

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Backyard Mechanic - 19 Apr 2006 22:59 GMT

> We have a 1992 Ford Tempo with about 80,000 miles (yes, 80k, not
> 180k). It has lately shown tendencies to suddenly die, even within
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> good ½ hour or more to "cool off," whereas this Tempo only needed 5
> minutes, and then it would pick up 100%.

Ign control modules dont all fail the same way. I had three fail at
various times, all when parked hot. I suspect that being the eighties
version, they changed it some and thus ended up getting sued for cars
failing on the freeway in the 90's.

Take it off, you'll probably see the heat sink grease is caky. Almost
never heard of an original failing without the grease drying out.

Dont reuse it.. once it starts failing it's unreliable, Suggest you get
replacement at NAPA or other parts jobber where shops buy. Make sure to
use heat sink grease, clean all the old stuff off.

Cranking is when the starter turns the engine.

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jimmyh - 20 Apr 2006 17:08 GMT

i would check the crankshaft position sensor that will cause it to die

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sleepdog@optonline.net - 20 Apr 2006 20:15 GMT

>> There was one difference--once the Grand
>> Marquis exhibited that, it would studder home every mile, it wouldn't
>> "resume as normal" unless you gave it a good ½ hour or more to "cool off,"

That car was probably in "limp" mode dictated by the computer due to
some fault code thrown. Did 1992 used the TFI module? You need a
special wrench to get them off the distributors, available at a pep
boys, etc. Remove, clean and apply some dielectric grease to it and
reinstall, might be suffering from heat issues. Probably worth
replacing if you don't mind throwing parts at the car.

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