Redux on Feb. 19th Car Dies When Warms Up

BROOKSBENT

MEMBER
1919 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

1981 Lincoln Town Car 5.0L 302, 250,000 miles. Assembled in Michigan not Canada.
2 replies Feb. 19th. Kin chan Tech Level 4. Likely ignition--->coil, module. Ignition module, coil, distributor rotor and timing (even replaced starter solenoid again as that was when problems first started) have been done. 2CarPro Jack Certified Master Technician. Pick-up coil. Bought 1 for 1981. None in this distributor to replace. No vacuum attachment either. The 1981 is also pre TFI problem.
Dealership read computer and said module was problem. They replaced it and I got 3 miles, then was towed home.
The problem is stranger than I realized on my first posting. If the outside air temperature is about 40 or below the car starts fine. If the temperature is 50 or above it won't start at all. When it starts it runs fine until the dash temperature gauge gets about halfway between C and normal then engine shuts off with no sputtering. Won't start again until the car sits in cold outside air for about a day.
Tried disconnecting EGR system. Just ran very rough. Replaced PVC valve didn't help of course.
What would cause engine not to start when outside air in 40's or above but just shut off suddenly and not restart when engine starts to warm up?

3 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Did the dealer re-scan the computer after the repair failed to fix it? And if so, what codes?

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Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 AT 11:12 AM

BROOKSBENT

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4 POSTS

About Redux on Feb. 19th Car Dies When Warms Up.
1981 Lincoln Town Car 5.0L 302, 250,000 miles.
No, the Ford/Lincoln dealership didn't re-scan the computer. I called the manager from where I was stalled a couple miles away. We decided to give up and I had it towed home for $50.
I had just finished paying the Ford/Lincoln place$195 for checking it out. They didn't know which control module to get. The car had been towed there after a previous repair shop replaced the module for the stalling problem and threw the old one away. The left it up to me to get a module. On my third try (Arkansas salvage place, EBay, and NAPA, about $260 total), I got a module they said would work.
They have wires hanging loose under the glove compartment and a thick black wire with what looks like a TV or stereo plug-in loose from under the front passenger seat. I guess that is the computer plug-in. I don't feel like having it towed back to the dealership. Can I buy a computer read-out device and check it myself? If so, what kind and do I have to re-set the computer? Also, is it likely the computer itself is just screwed up and I should really give up? (I see on NAPA parts site that computers are maybe $50 for this Lincoln. Would it be worth a try to replace the computer, taking out the front seat or whatever it takes, just to see if that fixes it?)
The car looks like junk, all rusted out, but the motor runs good when it runs and I have in the past couple of years had the transmission rebuilt, brakes repaired, new tires, muffler replaced, tune-up with new spark plug wires and rotor and timing re-set, new control modules, etc, plus I've been towed several times.
That would be a couple thousand or more down the drain.
Sorry if it looks like I'm trying to equal the novel "War and Peace"in length.