72 302 Howell TBI engine dies, then starts right up

[palmer72bronco]

ok so my 72 bronco has howell TBI and has started having problems as of monday started dieing. hooked up to computer no code diagnostic effect. changed ecm thought just cause history of ford ecm. no change. runs great, no problem then seems like the system shuts itself off, whether running down road or sitting in garage. will start right back up. no clue what to do now. any info appreciated

Ryan Palmer

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Howell ? Don't they use the GM computer.

My guess is whatever sensor that system uses to sense the engines rpm. If if fails intermittently , for the instant it sends no signal regarding the engines rpm , so the computer thinks the engine is off and thus kills everything.
Similiar things happen to all EFI's and the Ford Powerstroke Diesels , hell all computerized engines for that matter - been down that road with my F250 PSD. Cam position sensor was failing and would just shut the motor off , It would re-start , tranny in N , still rolling , what a PitA , and unsafe....

 

[haydenjsle]

I would check fuel pressure and associated wiring--could be your fuel pump relay dropping out for a couple of reasons--insufficient voltage caused by bad connections causing too much of a voltage drop--this could cause the relay not to energize and not send power to the pump or just a faulty relay itself. You could wire a small led off your f/pump terminals to verify this--if the led goes out when your engine dies then it is your relay or wiring to the relay. Could be just your pump is going out also--this will at least troubleshoot up to the point of the pump.

Check this and then start in on the ignition system--is the GM ECM controlling all timing or is it using a tach signal with the stock Ford ignition system?

If everything checks out--swap a junkyard TB in--these are very cheap nowadays. It might be an intermittent open circuit in the Throttle Position Sensor.

 

[1WILD69]

My howell was doing the same thing. It turned out to be fuel pressure. There was enough pressure to fire the injectors at start up but then it died. Pull the fuel line off the back of the throttle body and check perss. and flow.