car shutting off while driving
- Thread starter shogun
- Start date
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MLC Stang
Founding Member
shogun,
It’s the PIP module in your distributor. That stands for Profile Ignition Pickup module. It’s also called a Hall Effect sensor, because that’s the name of the solid state device that makes the PIP work. And, the Ford parts books call it the distributor Stator, because it’s the part that doesn’t move.
The problem with Hall Effect sensors is that they are extremely temperature sensitive. Once they start failing, it gets worse over time, and it’s really not safe to have your car die on you in the middle of traffic! After just a couple of weeks mine was crapping out at least 3 or 4 times a day. Really not safe!
The part only costs about $50.00 at the Ford dealer. The bummer is that the distributor has to be removed from the car to install the thing! The sensor portion slips over the center shaft of the distributor from the bottom, so the drive gear has to be removed from the bottom of the distributor to install it.
Replace your PIP module, and you’re good to go!
It’s the PIP module in your distributor. That stands for Profile Ignition Pickup module. It’s also called a Hall Effect sensor, because that’s the name of the solid state device that makes the PIP work. And, the Ford parts books call it the distributor Stator, because it’s the part that doesn’t move.
The problem with Hall Effect sensors is that they are extremely temperature sensitive. Once they start failing, it gets worse over time, and it’s really not safe to have your car die on you in the middle of traffic! After just a couple of weeks mine was crapping out at least 3 or 4 times a day. Really not safe!
The part only costs about $50.00 at the Ford dealer. The bummer is that the distributor has to be removed from the car to install the thing! The sensor portion slips over the center shaft of the distributor from the bottom, so the drive gear has to be removed from the bottom of the distributor to install it.
Replace your PIP module, and you’re good to go!
89MustangGX
I have nothing productive to add!
Could be TFI module. Much more common than the PIP module. There are steps to take to diagnose, but that's classic TFI.
MLC and Adam, you are both right (im leaning toward Adam's idea - it seems to be more common failure)....we have no other info to go on. a parts store can bench test your TFI, but i would recommend getting it hot before testing.
moneypit94
Active Member
Sounds like like what my msd box was doing too... I would be cruising down the road and all of a sudden the engine dies... I sit for a sec wondering WTF... Then i try it after a few min, and it starts right back up... Anyways i ended up doing the msd ignition test emediatly after it shut off and found that the box was shutting off...
I called msd up and ended up sending them the box to repair... Actually got a new box back cause mine was unrepairable but needless to say it hasn't happened sence...
Just another possibility...
I called msd up and ended up sending them the box to repair... Actually got a new box back cause mine was unrepairable but needless to say it hasn't happened sence...
Just another possibility...
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