1987 ford bronco question

[wrangler00]

My buddys got a bronco and its starting to give him trouble he said it cranks fine drives fine around the block and all of a sudden out of nowhere it will start missing and run hot and cut off he said he replaced the distributor cap and plugs,plug wires, thermostat, water pump, over heating sensor(not sure what its really called), changed the computer and it does it not matter what he tries. He said that the tach won't drop all the way down when it misses it will just drop about a half of a grand or less. Has anyone else ever had this problem before? What should he do?

 

[drkelly]

Ignition module?

I think that is a common problem with some ignition modules. They start crapping out after they get hot.

 

[jamesjohner]

a relay somwhere maybe? not sure if the 87 have them but mayb got corrosion in it or is malfunctioning when it gets hot... just had the same problem with a 2000 jeep wrangler. pulled the fuel pump relay out sprayed some wd-40 on it put it backk in and aint never had a problem since

 

[Franklin]

Did he flush it out when he changed the other cooling componets?

 

[UTfball68]

Does this particularly happen at low speeds and idle? If so, I'd say a bad IAC...but that doesn't account for the overheating. Maybe a clogged catalytic converter.

 

[shawn]

Is it returning any codes?

Also, what makes him think it's running hot? Does the gauge suddenly peg? Or does it actually overheat?

 

[wrangler00]

I don't think its really running hot I think it just might be shooting up there and idk bout the codes it being a 87 I didn't think you would get anything but a check engine light if that

 

[braxton357]

Ignition module?

I think that is a common problem with some ignition modules. They start crapping out after they get hot.

This is the typical cause of crazy shit like this

 

[GubNi]

87 does have a way to check codes. Two plugs under the hood and can be checked with a meter. Also is it fullsize or Bronco II?

 

[shawn]

Don't even need a meter. There's one little loose plug and one diamond-ish shaped plug with about four pins on it. You just need to short between the loose wire and one of the pins in the diamond connector. Turn the ignition to ON, and the codes will flash in the CEL. Running codes to start, flash flash flash .... flash flash flash ... is 33, then a single flash, then stored codes. It also repeats them.

I'm just going off the top of my head here, but I could find you a more detailed source if necessary. I don't even know which pin it is anymore... mine is broken and just slides out the back.

When the ignition module goes bad, it just stalls and won't restart. After it sits for 20-30 mins, it'll restart, but won't run much longer before it's done for good.

If the gauges go haywire and then stall... maybe a bad ground. But see what codes come back first.