No spark issue

Sludge805 · Jan 21, 2012

Ok so its a 95 cobra, i have power to my coil, changed coils still nothing. changed ICM, still nothing. I heard something about a relay in the passenger kick panel or possibly a PIP sensor in my distributor? not sure on how to test either of these. Any info will help thank you guys!

ajwhite4291 · Jan 21, 2012

I had the same problem with my 95 GT. Mine was the sensor in my distributor. I replaced the distributor rather then messing with the sensor and it fired right up.

CC'S95GT · Jan 21, 2012

agreed.
The dizzy is a common issue with our older SN' 5.0's.
There's no real good way to test the PIP.
You can buy just the PIP for about 20 bucks but you'll have to completely disassemble the dizzy to replace it.
A newly remanned dizzy will run you about $120.

Sludge805 · Jan 21, 2012

Ok cool I'll check into getting a dizzy today, and I'll check back in.

And out of curiosity if someone "cleaned out" a dizzy with a bunch of carb choke cleaner would that kill the PIP? And no it wasn't me ha

CC'S95GT · Jan 21, 2012

no. It shouldn't.
Over time you could get some black dust in the bottom and it's a good idea to clean it out from time to time.

Sludge805 · Jan 21, 2012

Ok is there any for sure way to test the PIP before I go and buy a new dist? Or should I just try and replace the sensor?

CC'S95GT · Jan 21, 2012

There is no way to really test the PIP.
Sometimes a bad PIP will set a CEL sometimes not. It didn't when my dizzy went south.
There is also a bushing in the dizzy that can wear out over time.
You CAN ck to see if that's ok. Just pull the cap off and give the rotor a good wiggle. Any movement and the bushing is worn out. So at that point it would be better to just replace the whole dizzy.
If the bushing is not sloppy or if money is tight and you have some good mech. skills then just replace the pip.
The gear and sleeves need to come off and then shaft comes out of the top of the housing.

Sludge805 · Jan 21, 2012

ok cool, my cars at my parents so im going to go check it out tomorrow hopefully. I have a not so old billet dizzy that came with the car when i bought it, i might just get a remfd dizzy for the time being and replace the pip on the billet just so i know fully how it works and everything. I like to understand everything i can about anything i can haha

modo · Jan 22, 2012

carb cleaner has no business being sprayed inside the distributor.

you can check the pickup / tfi with a DVM...

http://sbftech.com/index.php?topic=5849.0

http://sbftech.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=4bd6a014142f1d336c874e56872ec632&/topic,593.0.html

anytime i have had a tfi equipped car not want to start (cold or hot) it has always been the tfi module.

to change the pickup you will need a press to do it correctly. PLEASE do not use a hammer to beat the gear off. i have seen plenty of distributor shafts mushroomed at the hex end from this and you are asking for trouble if you do. a machine shop will swap the guts for you for less then 30 bucks. also oem ford sensors are the best so if you can find a new nos one that is the way to go. finally when installing or removing a tfi module make sure you use a thermal compound between the sensor and the heat sink... DO NOT use die-electric grease.