I have a 87 5.7 TPI 700R4. A while back I was driving and, my check engine light came on. Not solid though. It was dimming like a connection wasn't making good contact. That was immediately followed by a strong smell from the cat and loss of power. (still running but no guts) then it went away and, didn't do it for a long while. Just the other day the car died after having the same issue describe above and, wouldn't restart. Fuel pressure was low at the fuel rail. Replaced pump, filter, relay and, still nothing. I cleaned the MAF and, put a new relay in for the MAF, cleared codes. Turned on but, would die randomly. (no sputters, no back fire, no smell from cat) it just flat out shuts off.

Now here's the odd part of this job, when I turn the key to the on position the check engine flashes a code. (no jumper) that looks like this.

1 blink pause 1 blink 1 blink Long pause.....1 blink 1 blink.

then it recycles to the first set of blinks. I know the first part looks like code 12 but shouldn't the check engine light be on solid at the on position and, go away once the car is running? (which randomly it does do) I can't seem to find any code that matches this or even that this ever happens. (no jumper on)

Now, this isn't constant. Sometimes the car will fire up and, run great no check engine, for as long as I want it but, then other times it might kill it self within a few seconds then doesn't want to start again. The code comes on randomly and, will fire sometimes with that code showing and, other times it will not.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like the ECM is on the way out. At key-on, engine-off with the SES blinking or not, rap on the ECM with your knuckles. See if that changes things.

RBob.

 

Yeah that's what I was just about to go do. Time for the Neck ache. hahaha. I'll post my findings.

 

I took the computer out and, let it hang (still connected) and, put the car in the on position and, knocked on it a bit. Tried squeezing it nothing seemed any different when doing so. I went ahead and replaced it and boom, it solved the issue. Car fires right up and, runs like an animal again.

Thank you for your speedy reply.