Ive had this weird problem since i swapped to my tpi 350 from my v6. In the past two months, this has happened a few times. I go to start my car, and the check engine wont come on, and the car will crank, but doesnt start, it wont start unless the CEL light illuminates with KOEO. This seems to be an intermittent problem, the car cranks, but during this time, it has reduced cranking power, and wont start. If the light decides to come on, the car cranks fine and starts. There is no vats, this is an 88, maybe an intermittent short? Any ideas? This happened today at a gas station, as about 20 mustangs drove by, and Im stuck at the pump, I was so Ashamed, so ashamed.....lol

 

sounds like a short. possible losing power to ecm.

 

Bad ignition switch? The switch is mechanical and can wear out. You MUST have power to the ECM when on and when cranking. The SES light "on" indicates that you have power. Light out, almost always means no ECM Power.

 

yeah, its intermittent, the car runs fine, but once it stops running, and you restart it, the problem occurs. It sounds like it is an ecm power loss, occasionally you crank and after you crank for 5 seconds, the SES light will come and it will start, but not always.Just wanted some input, so sounds like short or open

 

i dont know if it works on these cars but when ecms first came out and you were having problems you used to just squeeze the ecm lightly if the car stalls its most likely a bad ecm this used to work as a valid test but i dont know on these cars give it a try see what happens

 

Ive tried that, ive tried different ECMS an Proms, no luck. I went over whole harness before it went in car, and everything seemed fine. I dont know if there is some intermittent incapability between the v8 TPI engine harness and the v6 body harness,