Ford Thunderbird 1957 - Engine will Not Crank; Engine Cranks Normally, but will Not Start; Engine Starts, but Fails to Keep Running; Engine Runs, but Misses

Section
1-
General
Engine Trouble
Shooting
'"*
ignition,
fuel,
and
cooling
system
chapters.
These charts cause
of the trouble.
In the
Ignition
System
Trouble
list
the
basic
troubles
listed
in
Table
1,
but
cover
only Shooting
Chart
under
Poor
Acceleration,
all
the
igni-
the
items
relating
to
the
particular
system
under
con-
tion
system
items
that
affect
acceleration
are
listed.
sideration.
For
example,
in
Table 1
under
Poor
Ac-
These
items should
be
all
checked
before
proceeding
celeration,
the
ignition
system
is
listed
as a
probable
to
the next
probable
system
listed
in
Table
1.
Table J
General
Engine
Trouble
Shooting
Engine
Will
Not
Crank
The
cause of
this
trouble
is
usually
in
the
starting
system (Part
7
-Chapter 2).
If
the
starting
system
is
not
at
fault,
check
for a hydrostatic
lock or a
seized
engine.
Remove
the
spark
plugs,
then
attempt
to crank
the
engine
with
the
starter.
If
the
engine
cranks,
it
indicates
that
water
is
leaking
into
the
cylinders.
Remove the
cylinder
head
and
inspect
the
gasket
and
/or
head
for
cracks.
Also
examine
the
cylinder block
for
cracks.
Engine
Cranks
Normally,
But
Will
Not
Start
Check
the
fuel
supply.
If
there is
sufficient
fuel in
the
tank,
the cause of the
trouble
probably
lies
in
either
the
ignition or
the
fuel
system.
To isolate
the
cause:
Remove
the
ignition
wire from
one spark
plug,
and
insert a piece
of proper
sized
metal
rod
in the
insulator
so
that it
protrudes
from
the
insulator.
With the ignition on
and the
starter
cranking
the
engine,
hold
the
end
of
the
rod
approximately
3/16
inch
from
the cylinder block.
If
there
is no spark
or a
weak
spark,
the
cause
of
the
trouble
is
in the ignition
system (Part
2
Chapter
1).
If
the spark
is
good,
check
the spark
plugs (Part
2
Chapter
1).
If
the
spark
plugs
are
not at
fault,
check the
fuel
system
(Part
2
Chapter
2).
If
the
fuel system
is not at
fault,
check the valve
timing
(page 1-17).
Engine
Starts,
But
Fails To
Keep
Running
If
the
engine
starts
and
runs for a few
seconds,
then
stops,
check
the:
Fuel
system
(Part
2
-Chapter
2).
Ignition system
(Part
2
Chapter 1).
Engine
Runs,
But
Misses
First,
determine if the miss is
steady
or
erratic
and
at what speed
the
miss occurs
by
running
the
engine
at various speeds
under load.
MISSES
STEADY AT
ALL SPEEDS. Isolate
the
miss
by
running
the
engine with
one
cylinder
not
firing.
This is
done
by
running
the engine with the
ignition wire
removed
from
one spark
plug
at
a
time,
until all
cylinders
have
been checked.
Ground
the
spark
plug
wire
removed.
If
the
engine
speed
changes
when a
particular
cylinder
is shorted
out,
that
cylinder
was
delivering
power
before
being
shorted
out.
If
no
change in
the
engine operation
is
evident,
the
miss
was
caused
by
that
cylinder
not
delivering
power before
being
shorted
out,
check
the:
Ignition
system
(Part
2
Chapter
1).
Engine
compression to
determine
which mechanical
component
of the
engine
is
at
fault
(page
1-9).
MISSES
ERRATICALLY
AT
ALL
SPEEDS.
If
the
miss cannot
be
isolated
in
a
particular
cylinder,
check the:
Exhaust
gas
control
valve (page 1-10).
Ignition
system
(Part
2
-Chapter
1).
Fuel
system
(Part
2-Chapter 2).
Engine
compression to
determine which
mechanical component
of
the
engine
is
at
fault
(page
1-9).
Exhaust
system
for
restrictions
(page
1-30).
Cooling
system
for
internal
leaks
and/or
for a condition that
prevents
the
engine
from
reaching
normal
operating
temperature
(Part
2
Chapter
3).