Roush 427IR Superformance Roush 427IR stalled and won't start: HELP

[Phantom0317]

Fellas,

Any and all help would be great. I'm running a 2010 Superformance MKIII (Denis Olthoff) with a Roush 427IR fuel injected crate engine; TKO600 trans, 93 octane, fluid levels are all good and no issues up until today. I drove the car last night and was very responsive. Only issue was the fuel level gauge was off: half tank was full tank and the empty tank was off the charts. I had just filled up before this happened.

Issue:
I was in 3rd gear around 3000 RPM when I hit the gas up to about 5500 RPM. The car gave a small back fire and lost revving ability. I shifted into 4th but it wouldn't accelerate only maintain speed with little RPM. I let up on the gas the the engine died. I tried to restart but it wouldn't start only crank.

It will crank but won't turn over. Fuses seem fine, fuel seems to be in the filter. I'm thinking that the engine isn't getting fuel and will be working to see the pumps and filters.

Anyone that can provide any insight on how to remedy this issue..... My wife has been shaking her head and saying I told you so for 4 hours now (see was with me and had to ride in the tow truck home).

Thanks!
Tim
Semper Fidelis

[andig]

Tim,

Have you checked your coil. I had something similar last year with a 427IR/8 stack set up and it turned out that the coil had given up.

Just a thought - good luck.

Andy

[MOTORHEAD]

Gas or spark, Check for both.

[jhv48]

I like the gas and spark idea first. Start with the easy stuff First. Hopefully the coil gave up the ghost and the dizzy didnt eat its gear.

Another thought: since it happened right after you filled up, you might have gotten a load of crappy gas and gunk is clogging the pump or fuel line.

[Mastiff107]

Simplest things first....divorce.

[Cashburn]

Distributor loose?

[Hydramada]

Those Accel engine management modules like to go belly up.

[twobjshelbys]

Depends on when it was made it may not be accel dfi system

I also had the electronic ignition module die (twice). The ei boxes thave a test light on it. It will tell you if it is getting the fire command from the dfi unit.

With electronic ignition you cannot do the usual ground the coil to see if it sparks. Disconnect a plug wire and have someone turn the car over to see if it sparks to ground. If the ignition box says its getting the fire signal but no spark try the coil. If still none then it's the output stage of the ei box

Check for spark and gas is your right choices. Good luck

[twobjshelbys]

Also I had the fuel pump switch die on me. Really. It was a Lucas and had a flat spot. If I wiggled the switch it would make contact. My fuel pump was wired to be on on ignition on and you should be able to hear it running. I aded a fuel pressure gauge at the fuel rails and it was really handy diagnosis aid

[Phantom0317]

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm crossing my fingers for something cheap, easy and proves to be a good learning experience.
-Fuel pumps seem to be fine and there is gas running through the filter that is located in the transmission shaft. The fuel rails are cold (good sign that there is cool gas running through).
What I have checked thus far:
-The ignition is firing when I attempt to start the car.
-Spark plugs are all tight. Distributor is tight.
-No leaks anywhere.
-Fuses are all okay.
-On one of my attempts to turn over, a little "blue" exhaust plumed up out of the passengers side of the engine. I couldn't get it to repeat when I was standing over it.
Things that I will be hiring a mechanic to check this week:
-check the distributor to see if it is firing.
-I'm going to call Roush and Accel to see if they have any idea of what might be happening.
-I'm going to ask my mechanic if he can double check everything that I've already done.

Anything else? How would I check to see if the coil has issues? Take the value covers off I would assume?
Does anyone know a good Roush/Ford mechanic in Connecticut?
Thanks again for all of your insight! I'll certainly keep updating this post as things progress. I'm going to lose sleep that's for sure!
Thanks again fellas!
Tim
Semper Fi

[Cashburn]

May have sheered pin in disti...

You can flat bed to us. Would be a couple days before we can get to it.

[grego]

I had a problem with my Roush 427IR last year, but it wouldn't fire, just completely dead. Turned out to be a magnetic pick-up in the distributor, which Roush said couldn't happen, but my Superformance dealer showed it to them, and Roush have now modified their trouble shooting manuals accordingly.

The dealer is Wayne Montgomery of Gear 6 Performance in Boise, Idaho. I don't have his number off the top of my head, but you can easily get it from the Superformance website. I'm sure Wayne will give you some good advice over the phone. He is very good at troubleshooting, knows Dennis Oltoff and the Roush guys quite well.

Good luck.

Grego

[Goopie 18]

My friend's Cobra ran fine then suddenly refused to start. Checked coil and detected weak spark. Magnetic pickup in MSD was bad. $27 later, big spark And car started right up.

[James Stern]

Check the distributor gear. I had a bronze gear and an E303 cam. Bad combo.

[Clois Harlan]

I am thinking it is your Electronic Ign or you may have shered a dist gear.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

the internal combustion engine needs three basic things to run:

fuel
fire
compression
since the engine was running fine before,we'll eliminate compression....

start with fuel,make sure your getting fuel,if that checks out,then go on to fire.........
start at the spark plugs and work your way back thru the ignition system..........I'm betting on fire and by going backwards from the spark plugs, you should find the problem....

[JBCOBRA]

The second time I drove my car the pin in the distributor sheared. Broke down right in front of a police station. They were very helpful eventhough there was no plate on my car yet
Replaced the Ford pin with a Chebbie pin. They are larger diameter pins.

[Phantom0317]

Having it towed to Vintage Motorsport in North Haven. Brian and Jay are great guys; hoping for a relatively qucik and painless fix!

Thanks everyone for the responses. I post the issue after they square everything away.
Tim
S/F

[Cashburn]

Done.

You want the other sins addressed?

Realized I should be clearer... the car is running fine now. Simple fix. Let me know what else you want us to look over etc. so I can bill you for something

Like the e-brake, vacuum line rubbing on steering column, etc.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Simple fix.

And the answer was??