OK on sunday I was driving down the motorway in the fast lane when the engine quit so I coasted to the hard shoulder and tried to restart it. It wouldnt start so I called out a tow truck and when it came an hour later the car started.
Driving home after 50 miles it quit again and would not restart even after letting it cool down.

Its on the drive now and here's what I know

car will start run very rough the car shakes, and stalls. I have no fault codes, engine wiring looks OK.
Does this sound like a faulty ignition module? Even though I'm getting a spark of sorts

Thanks

Simon

88 5.7 tpi

 

It could be the module...thats what mine did when it went out. Could also be the pickup coil. Most certainly ignition. Buy a new module..why you have the dist. open check the wires are not crispy......

 

could be your coil to .

 

Thanks guys, I forgot to mention my car runs on either propane or petrol so chances of both systems failing is near zero. It has to be ignition.
I ordered an ignition module and pick up coil today. However I was told that when the module fails I should have no spark at the plugs. Having searched the boards I think a failed module can cause the very erattic running of the engine it reminded me of a time when I got the ignition leads mixed up!
I think the fault could be one of the following

faulty wiring

ignition module

pick up sensor

coil

ECU

I have listed them in order of cost so I think I'll replace parts in that order.

Thanks

Simon

 

My module was off again on again for a month before It was replaced......dont ask why

 

I had the same problem as u and it was just my coil. I suggest u replace the coil first and then ur ignition module if the coil doesn't do the trick. You wont have spark at ur coil or ur plugs if ur coil is out.

 

a module will fail when it gets hot and work again when it cools off....Now the Ford module is dead without warning.....Coils rarely fail.....you are working in the right order if you ask me....wich you did..

 

Ignition module and pick up coil arrived today. I changed the module and the car would not start or fire at all. This had me worried as at least the engine just ran before.
Changed the pickup and the engine now runs fine.
I think I refitted the distributor a tooth out as the distributor cap is at a different angle to before. i dont think this matters.Timimg has been set to 8 deg, it was way out due to the above error.

2 days before this problem my alternator failed and I drove 20 miles on battery power. It was lucky I checked the volt meter (why is there no warning light?) the voltage got down to 8v i think this may be the cause of the problem.

Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to reply

Simon

 

Too bad the new module didn't fix it; but you can get a spark... it might be very weak, and timed wrong, but you can still get a spark.

 

Tom I dont feel bad, yes I have wasted $40 on an ignition module but the pick up sensor seems to have been the problem. Car is fine now.
Forget what I said about the alternator being the cause of the problem. I have just driven on the motor way and the car is so much smoother than I can remember. I have found for a while now that the car runs poorly over 80 mph causing vibrations I had the rear wheels balanced and that did not help and was considering getting the driveshaft balanced. No need now car was smooth at 100+ mph.
The old pick up coil must have been causing erratic misstimed firing of the plugs causing engine vibration.
I have got a big grin on my face at the moment and am also glad the ECU was not at fault as that would have been big $$ or £££ in my case.

Simon

 

Glad you got it running nice....Funny how a Miss can cause soooo much vibration, but it does.