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1987 Ford Crown Victoria engine dies

Tiny
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  • 1987 FORD CROWN VICTORIA
1987 Ford Crown Victoria Two Wheel Drive Automatic

alright I have a 1987 ford crown Victoria lx and it runs like a champ most of the time. When I start my engine once in a while it will go to an Idle then the engine cuts out. I was having this problem last fall but it seemed to quit, I put it in my garage to fix the heat and put a new timming chain in it. Then it ran really ewell for about a week. There's knocking under the hood and it seems like somthing gets flung aginst the hood like a picece of somthing. And in order for me to get it running I have to accelerate to make it idle and so I can get moving. Bu even then it seems like it's chugging and wants to die. It's seems to
me like it's the gas or fuel ingection so I put the gum out in the tank to fix it. The car runs great when it's warm. This only happens when it cold or when I sometimes put gas in it. What could this be?
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 AT 10:10 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
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87 is awhile ago, and I can't remember if they still had a carb or if they were fi. Let me know so I can better direct you.

Joe
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
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Its an EFI
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010 AT 5:33 PM
Tiny
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Thanks, I couldn't remember. Have you checked fuel pump pressure? Also, has the check engine light ever come on when this happens?
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
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When I first bought the car we needed a new gas tank so we bought a used one from a scrap yard, and put a new fuel pump into it. But I have a hunch that there is something in the tank that could be clogging the fuel pump. The engine light I do not think is accurate, because the engine light only comes on when im at an idle. And that maybe an hour after driving around.
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Monday, May 3rd, 2010 AT 10:18 PM
Tiny
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I feel you should have the check engine light checked. Most parts stores will do it for free, so there is no money out of pocket for you. I'm concerned about the noise you hear under the hood. I'm wondering if scanning the computer would limit us down to one or two cylenders where a problem may lie. Or, it could even be a temp sensor. The sensor reads ambient temps and coolant temp. From there it tells the computer how rich or lean to make the fuel mixture. If it thinks it's warm out, it will run lean. If it thinks it's cold, then it will run rich. Either way, it can cause a cold engine problem.

If you wouldn't mind trying that, it may be helpful.

Let me know what you decide.

Joe
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 AT 6:33 AM
Tiny
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My dad told meto go and get it checked, so I took it to oriley auto parts and got it checked. But it couldn't get a reading. So I think there's somthing wrong with the cables connected the computer one is bad or somthing.
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 AT 8:57 AM
Tiny
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You may want to try a different place. Is the check engine light on?
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 AT 10:08 AM
Tiny
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It's weird the engine light only comes one when I'm at and idle after drivin it for a while. And the light flickers. So yesterday I drov around town until the engine light started flockring whb I was siting at a stop light. Then I took it to get it tested
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
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Since it only happens at a stop / idle, I wonder if it has something to do with the alternator. Have you had that checked?
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 AT 11:05 AM
Tiny
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So it's no the altonator, but I bilee I need a new computer. But now when I start the engine white smoke comes out the tailpipe. I bieleve there's colent or antifreze geting in the combustion chamber. How do I fix that?
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Friday, May 7th, 2010 AT 12:06 PM
Tiny
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It sounds like a bad head gasket.
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Friday, May 7th, 2010 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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It's sounds expensive. How hard alhard is it to fix and how long would it take to do
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Friday, May 7th, 2010 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
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It is an involved job. I believe the flat rate for labor calls for around 6 hours. I don't know where you live so my estimate may be off, but I would guess around 500.00+ to have the job done for you. As far as doing it yourself, basically you need to remove the entire top of the engine to access the heads. Then the heads come off. At that point I would recommend having the heads checked for warpage and the valves checked.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe
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Saturday, May 8th, 2010 AT 8:52 PM

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