rbinstoon
Probationary Member
- 2
- 0
- Jul 12, 2011
-
Saskatoon,
SK, Canada
I have searched and found similar posts but not quite the same as mine, so....
I have a 1997 Talon ESi and I work in the far north so it sits in a parking compound for a couple weeks at a time. One time this past winter when I came back the battery was dead and I needed a boost - I was headed back home (about 6 hours away) but after 5-10 minutes it began to idle poorly and would chug or stutter when leaving a light and it quickly got worse until within another 10 min it would barely idle and ran very roughly. I had to spend the night and get it checked in the AM but wanted to check which cylinders as it seemed like it was missing. I found it was missing spark on 1&4 but while pulling off spark plug wires to check i noticed a big crack in the coil that was actually split open a 1/4" I replaced the coil and plug wires as one connector pulled out of the boot when checking the cylinders.
It started perfectly after that so I headed home but after a few minutes it began to lose power intermittently like someone flipping a switch - it would cruise fine then lose power for a few seconds then come back on. It got worse until after several minutes it lost spark to 1&4 cylinders completely again and has never come back even intermittently. It must be something upstream of the coil but what could be wrong that it would run perfectly for a short time after changing the coil and wires but quit again? I have read about cam and crank sensors, power transistors and ECUs causing problems but I doubt it's the sensors because they wouldn't suddenly work with a new coil and wires so could it be a transistor(ignition control module), ECU or some kind of voltage problem that then damaged the coil again?
I'm not sure if this will help but I also noticed when the radiator fans kicked in it affected the engine in that the idle would change and it would stumble.
I am looking at trying the ignition control module but have seen conflicting information whether mine has one or not and where it is located - can anyone tell me for sure?
Thank you for any help you can give me.
I have a 1997 Talon ESi and I work in the far north so it sits in a parking compound for a couple weeks at a time. One time this past winter when I came back the battery was dead and I needed a boost - I was headed back home (about 6 hours away) but after 5-10 minutes it began to idle poorly and would chug or stutter when leaving a light and it quickly got worse until within another 10 min it would barely idle and ran very roughly. I had to spend the night and get it checked in the AM but wanted to check which cylinders as it seemed like it was missing. I found it was missing spark on 1&4 but while pulling off spark plug wires to check i noticed a big crack in the coil that was actually split open a 1/4" I replaced the coil and plug wires as one connector pulled out of the boot when checking the cylinders.
It started perfectly after that so I headed home but after a few minutes it began to lose power intermittently like someone flipping a switch - it would cruise fine then lose power for a few seconds then come back on. It got worse until after several minutes it lost spark to 1&4 cylinders completely again and has never come back even intermittently. It must be something upstream of the coil but what could be wrong that it would run perfectly for a short time after changing the coil and wires but quit again? I have read about cam and crank sensors, power transistors and ECUs causing problems but I doubt it's the sensors because they wouldn't suddenly work with a new coil and wires so could it be a transistor(ignition control module), ECU or some kind of voltage problem that then damaged the coil again?
I'm not sure if this will help but I also noticed when the radiator fans kicked in it affected the engine in that the idle would change and it would stumble.
I am looking at trying the ignition control module but have seen conflicting information whether mine has one or not and where it is located - can anyone tell me for sure?
Thank you for any help you can give me.
