Tune Up Problem

[walkdawg]

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I have a problem I got stuff for a tune up today changed the plugs wires and cap and rotor botton. I also replaced pvc valve and oil. I have a 89 bronco with 302 5.0L efi. I took all the stuff off and started replacing then i set the firing order as per the haynes manual for 94 and earlier. I made sure everything connected correctly. Then I try to start and nothing it just back fires. So i am like okay Ill try the 95 and later firing order as per the haynes manual and it starts but sounds like it is missing really bad. I have rechecked the gap on the plugs and have checked everything I know to check. I was wondering if it could have a different timing order then the haynes manual. Please help me I am wanting to get this done. ( b-(

 

[Shadow_D]

Looking at the motor, the left side (passenger) is 1,2,3,4 front to back. The driver's side is 5,6,7,8 also front to back. The 302 firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 going counterclockwise on the cap. The no 1 spot on the cap is marked. This is the order for all the small blocks except 351W's and the HO302 that uses a Windsor cam. If you have an HO302 or Windosor, the firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.

I did a search and found the above info on another site.

I don't know if Ford used the HO302 in the Broncos or not but it might be worth a try.

 

[walkdawg]

I used both those firing orders from what I got the firing order 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 is fo the 94 and earlier V8's and the 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 is for the 95 and later. The 95 and earlier is the one that starts my car but now it runs really bad.

 

[Shadow_D]

Check to see that the rotor is seated all the way down. A friend of mine had a similar problem and that was part of it. The other part was wires not all the way on.

 

[walkdawg]

I will check that all again but I know I did that 5 times and had my buddy do it twice but I am going out to do it again. Thanks

 

[walkdawg]

Okay i have checked everything over and over and still nothing. This is Freaking crazy. I have changed plugs and wires on all my other cars which have all been chevy and never have I had this problem the start up and go **** I have done it to this on about 4 months ago and it did fine. Only did the wires and plugs but I do not get it at all I have checked the wires 20 times and I am sure that they are write for a 95 and later but for my year they are way off. I do not know what else to do I even tryed disconnecting the battery and that did nothing. So I need so real help.

 

[walkdawg]

I do not know it has to be the timing but I just do not understand what I am doing wrong I mean I have done this all the time and I never have had this problem. I am so screwed up I dont know why it has the firing order of a 95 and later when its a 89 and should have 94 and later. I have to by plugs by the part number of the old ones. I am so ready to just sell this thing and go back to chevy. I should have listened to my dad. I love my bronco but I cannot do a tune up with out it ******* up. Come on Guys I need some help I will try to get some sound clips later but its time to go get some food before I **** it. ( ( (

 

[sweepersrgr8]

Did you cheap out on the wires? It's hard to keep them seperated on the left side of EFI engines, and you could have a crossfire, or grounding situation.

It is not recommended that you do this intentially, but if you get shocked by your wires...they are cheap, or defective. Also you should hear a "click" when they are seated properly. Check one more time that the #1 wire is on the #1 cap position, and they are installed in a COUNTER CLOCKWISE direction.

Check to make sure you didn't knock any vaccume hoses, or electrical connectors loose. The TPS connector is right in the way of routing your left bank wires, and if it's loose or disco'ed the engine will run like crap.

SHADOW_D has you covered on the firing orders. Are you sure it's a 5.0, because it shouldn't start at all with the 5.8 firing order, unless it's a **.

 

[walkdawg]

I am going out right know to look everything over I am sure I am missing something and as for knowing its a 302 yes Its a 302 but has for if any of it has been changed from the stock form I have no idea. I found out 4 months ago that my spark plugs were different from stock. So the heads are wrong then I put the wrong firing order when using the the correct one. I thank you all for your help I will be in later to tell you if I fix it or if It is still not working. I bought 8mm Double silcone wires but I might have to run and see if they have the 9mm at the ford dealer. I got the best ones I could from autozone. Thanks again I amoff to fine the problem.

 

[walkdawg]

Okay I have everything off and I am finding that the compression stroke for the #1 piston is on other side of the dist. Can this actually work this way. i mean if the plug wires are put on in the order of the compressions it should work but why would anyone do this. i been working on cars awhile but I have never done or heard of people doing this. will this cause problems. I am going to just follow the compressions and see if it works I guess I am so confused right now. Could anyone take a pic of there dist. cap so I know if this is truly what is going on. I am really confused now.

 

[BigNasty]

If the compression stroke on the #1 cylinder hits at a location on the distributer cap/button, then someone pulled the distributor at some point and didn't put it back in properly.

The engine can run just fine like that, just starting at the new location for #1 and wiring it in the order that you used the first time.

Use a sharpie to mark the new #1 location on the distributor cap for future reference /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

As I said, it should run absolutely fine like this as long as the distributor isn't off enough to make setting the timing impossible.

If thats the case, get a new gasket or O ring(if needed) and yank the dist. after getting #1 on top dead center of the compression stroke and reset it so the button points the right way (with the #1 on the cap)

About the wires.. The angle boots on the distributor side of the wires can give you a hard time also, popping out or off when the contact isn't snapped in properly.

My trick on this problem is to put a drop or two of saliva (gotta spit anyways /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> ) on the wire where it enters the boot, then pushing the wire out of the boot about 2".

I then spread the gap on the terminal making it about a 16th of an inch wider.

Snap the terminal into the cap, then slowly work the boot into place.

(Ford has two types of caps, the above is for the older caps with internal connections for the plug wires)

Until I started spreading the gap and installing wires in that fashion, I was always plagued by mystery misses and back fire issues when the terminals lost contact.

You shouldn't have that issue with the externally terminaled caps, but I always squeeze the wire terminals a little tighter to make sure /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[walkdawg]

Problem solved !!! She is 180 out. I have just finished putting everything on and running it she sounds great now. Thank you all for your help. You all been great. I marked the cap and the haynes manual so I do not forget that it is set up wrong. I also went and traded my plug wires in and got the best ones they have in the place. The 8mm bosch wires. I also will be getting new plug later because the only ones that they had were the ac delco and I really hate them but it need new plug so I will use these ones for a month then or until they get the motorcraft that fit my heads. Thanks Again. / / / >-

 

[sweepersrgr8]

Glad you got it fixed, and hope you change your mind about Fords. A Ford dist. can be a pain to reinstall, and leave room to set timing correctly, finding #1 position moved is almost common.

Does your truck use the big spark plug, or the small? If it uses the big plug someone may have put a set of old 351W(pre'74) heads on your engine. These heads breath alot better than stock 302 heads, and are a popular swap, since they come pretty cheap. If you can see the casting # on the head, the 1st letter is the decade C='60's, D='70's, etc. The # after the letter is the year, C9OE=1969.

Also if you firing order is for a 351W, they installed a 351W cam. I don't remember which order you finally used.

 

[walkdawg]

Thanks I didn't expect it to be 180 out but I guess when I put it on correct and it back fired like it was 180 out I should have known. I just never thought someone would do it like that. I have it all marked now so I will never have this problem before. I love my bronco after I got it running I went and bought some of that seafoam and ran it through the intake and put some in the oils and gas and boy does she sound good now. Idling a little rough but I need to either pull those plug and clean or wait until they get the ones I want with my size plug. The AC delco ****. Thanks agian for helping me. >- >-

 

[Shadow_D]

I'm glad to hear you got it fixed. I can see how that will really blow someones mind.

If for some reason you decide to sell the truck sell it to an ex-girlfriend or an enemy but take all the markings off so you can get some revenge :-" LOL J/K

 

[walkdawg]

No I dont see me selling it. I wanted on when I was a kid but my dad said no fords. I was brain washed for years then my wife really wanted a ford explorer so I bought her one. Then my dad gave me ****. I then found my 89 bronco for 3000.00 with little rust almost none. then I got to drive it and I liked it alot. So I bought it and ran home to tell my dad and **** him off. I mean I never really understood the ford chevy thing but I will say this I love my Bronco but I was really ****** about the tune up thing but I know now and I have many plans and I am sure That she will do great for me. I think with having my firing order all screwed up I fowled out allmy plugs. I went everywhere looking for the plugs I need and no luck so I had auto zone order them. I do not like the ac delco at all the seem so cheap. I ordered the autolite. They were what I had so I thought I should go back to them. I glad you all was here to keep me from doing something I would have regret. Thanks guys.