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84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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ecalmosthuman
Novice
Apr 24, 2007, 5:23 AM
Post #1 of 8
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84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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Here goes....
When I turn the key to start my 84 Ford LTD, virtually nothing happens until I pump (or continuously hold) my foot on the gas pedal for a while. Now I know you're thinking this can't be electrical (and I realize with a carburetor you need to give it gas to start) BUT - when I say virtually nothing happens, I mean almost NOTHING. No cranking, no clicking no nothing (just the faint tone of the "door ajar" bell) - it's the same thing that happens when I've got a dead battery, except that at some point, shortly into the pumping on or flooring the gas pedal, the car suddenly jumps to life and starts up immediately. Seems strange. One more thing, the stereo cuts out when I do anything that requires battery power such as turn signals or headlights, and sometimes on these occasions the whole car will seize up just a little.
Please help me!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 24, 2007, 10:28 AM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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This should be easy. It really sounds like a bad ground but all must be good.
Negative battery cable: remove and clean (wire brush tool) battery post and cable end. Leave this one off for now.
Follow that cable to the engine and take it apart there too and clean it up. Use some WD-40 or similar to slow corrosion and bad contact. They sell dialetic and battery grease if you want to use it sparingly.
Now remove positive cable and clean at both ends. Short cable goes to solonoid.
Note that the solonoid has a cable going to starter. Same trick - clean them up even when these things look ok.
I should go out and look as I own a million of these type cars, but there should be a ground strap between engine and body. It's a cable with two eyelet ends and exposed braided wire. If you don't find it you may want to add one. Hit back and I'll explain that later. Use jumper cable with a good connection between engine and body will prove a problem there.
The small wire(s) at the solonoid should be just friction push on and if needed pinch that type so they get a good connection and of course clean as best you can.
______________________________
I thought 84 was fuel injected but for now it doesn't matter. The last carb really stunk and most never behaved but that wouldn't be this problem.
I think what is happening is the motion of pumping the gas is routing ground to a cable to air horn/carb and it's not very strong for that. I've seem melted clutch and speedo cables that have tried to be the ground and may for a while but can't sustain that burden for long and perhaps not once in some cases. All failed ones were Fords!
You can now connect the neg cable back up to the battery. If they are a mess as in the lead has given up you can replace the whole cable or replace just the ends with only the PERMANANT type - not just the cheapo unless that's all you can find for temporary use and they usually say that on the package.
We can only guess of course but I bet that would solve this. Hit back with what you find and the results. If this car isn't a total rust bucket you can get some long life out of those good old cars,
T
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ecalmosthuman
Novice
Apr 25, 2007, 10:35 AM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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Wow thanks for all your help Tom! I will try it tonight and let you know how it goes.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 25, 2007, 12:57 PM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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Depends on the ignition system Tom. Fords better idea again.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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ecalmosthuman
Novice
Apr 26, 2007, 4:16 PM
Post #5 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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Tom - I cleaned the cables and replaced the cable ends (they were completely corroded) and the car has started up perfectly since. Thanks for the advice. I've decided to put some time into getting this car back into its original shape - I'm planning on doing as much of the work on my own as I can, despite my limited experience - I have a question about some heater issues I've been having with it recently so I'll post it in a new thread. I would really appreciate any advice if you have time!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 27, 2007, 1:26 AM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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Just did a quick re-read of the thread. Is this the full size LTD like the Crown Victoria or the smaller one that was based on a Fairmont/Zephyr undercarrage? Ford was screwey with naming their cars for a while then and had planned to get rid of the full size LTD and drop that name later to just Crown Victoria.
Doesn't matter when it comes to the priciples at all but does with specifics,
T
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ecalmosthuman
Novice
Apr 27, 2007, 5:54 AM
Post #7 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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It is the mid-sized one, the Brougham. 3.8 V6
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 27, 2007, 8:11 AM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: 84 Ford LTD Electronic woes
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That's good to know and post it that way for future questions as it is a totally different body. The battery and starter concerns are just plain Ford similar.
Front end and suspension is all different. It's a unitized body vs box beamed frame chassis so it is all different when it comes to anything about that.
Sorry for any confusion on my part
Glad you are up and running. See you around,
T
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