Engine keeps shutting off?

Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD
  • 3.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Drove 3/4 mile from my house to the car wash and got in line inside the building. Car shut down, no gurgle, nothing just shut down. As the car wash was pushing me through I tried to start and it would catch but not start. Push parked it outside for 45 minutes. Came back and it started. Drove about 500 ft and it quit again. Started right back up drove another 500 ft and it shut off again. The same thing happened about 7 more times until I got the car home. Coil and fuel pump were replaced about 2 years ago. This engine was from a junked Mustang and installed 5 years ago but I have only driven it less than 2,000 miles.
Friday, July 19th, 2024 AT 9:54 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 52,419 POSTS
This could be fuel or spark but since the fuel pump was replaced, I am leaning towards the ignition system. To see which one is which when the engine doesn't start lift the hood and spray some starting fluid inside the air filter to see if it will run for a second or two, if not then this video will show you how to check for spark:

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y?si=OTX7Xg1zgsiG4jbn

If no spark is confirmed let's run the codes which can be done by following this guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/ford-lincoln-mercury-obd1-1995-and-earlier-diagnostic-trouble-code-definition-and-retrieval

If no codes are present, I would replace the crankshaft angle sensor which will not leave a trouble code when bad. Here is the location of the sensor so you can swap it out.

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, July 19th, 2024 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Can a bad coil fluctuate?
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Friday, July 19th, 2024 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, it sure can. These coils have a tendency to go out as well. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Saturday, July 20th, 2024 AT 10:06 AM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Took the car to the mechanic and he informed me that because my 3.8 ford engine had a distributor that it would not have a camshaft position sensor. He replaced the coil and then same issue. He then replaced the distributor and still the same issue.
Is there a different solution? Thank you
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Friday, August 2nd, 2024 AT 7:18 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 52,419 POSTS
This must be a mid-year split, which can happen. the ignition module can go out and cause this problem, as well, did you run the codes? Here is the location of the ignition module, I would use starting fluid when the engine stalls to see if it starts up again. This will help us see if the problem is fuel or spark.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, August 2nd, 2024 AT 9:40 AM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
When I have inserted the code reader I get blank. Even bought a new one in case the old one was bad so I don't know what codes are there.
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Friday, August 2nd, 2024 AT 11:47 AM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Mechanic has found corroded wires and or connections and has corrected them and now he says he is chasing a ghost.
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Friday, August 2nd, 2024 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
To my knowledge it still starts and runs for a short period of time until it reaches temperature and then suddenly shuts down.
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Friday, August 2nd, 2024 AT 11:53 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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You said you used a scanner? You will need an OBD-I compatible scanner designed for Ford vehicles. Is this what you used? Also, did you swap out the ignition module? They had problems with these.
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2024 AT 10:20 AM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Hope you had great holidays. Mechanic replaced ignition module as identified by OBD reading as bad. Engine still shuts down after about 1/4 mile of driving but will restart after setting about 3 minutes and then will run for about another 1/4 mile and shut down again. Fuel pressure is good. Ignition is good. Car will run at idle all day. Engine has power and runs smoothly.
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Friday, January 17th, 2025 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I would take a rubber mallet and take the exhaust to hear if the catalytic converter has come apart and is clogging the outlet. So, I assume when the engine stalls starting fluid will not help? Please go over this guide and get back to us.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bad-catalytic-converter-symptoms
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Friday, January 17th, 2025 AT 12:09 PM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Starter spray does not work. I bought this car used and do not know if it as a catalytic converter I'll have to check.
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Friday, January 17th, 2025 AT 12:53 PM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Just spoke with mechanic and it is not the catalytic converter.
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Friday, January 17th, 2025 AT 2:23 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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So if the spray doesn't work it is letting us know it is spark related. Here is a guide to help us see what the most popular causes are for this which I can say on these cars it will be the ignition module or crankshaft sensor, have you replaced them?.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/no-ignition-spark

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Saturday, January 18th, 2025 AT 10:28 AM
Tiny
SHNGHID
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
1994 Thunderbird shut down. After working through all possibilities, the last thing to try was to replace the ECM. That solved the problem, and the engine now runs like champ. Thank you for your previous help.
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Thursday, April 24th, 2025 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Friday, April 25th, 2025 AT 9:29 AM

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