URGENT!! What is a TFI Module

[68viper]

Just heard on the news that Ford Motor has had a problem with a TFI Module for some 12 years but didn't want everyone to know. What is a TFI Module? Talking about a recall for that part. Not just Explorers but all ford vehicles. Feedback Please.

 

[zensius]

It's my belief that the TFI module is attached to the distributor. It's a grey plastic box with a large wiring harness attaching to it. I assume this is it because I replaced it twice on my 87 mustang and once on my 92 Ranger. And the symptoms are the same. Without warning the car just dies and that's it. What sucks it that I knew it was the problem the second and third time but I couldn't get a star wrench into the little bitty holes that secure it. So I had to have it towed to a shop each time. A lame design.

 

[91Explorer]

I doubt it's the box on the distributor. I have no idea what is a TFI module, but the one on the distributor is called an ignition module.

 

[mbryda]

TFI/Ignition Module

They are the same thing. Yes, it's the grey box on the distributor. It's been a Ford problem from the Mid-80's to the early 90's. I don't know why it was such a "secret"- everyone knew Fords from that period liked to eat ignition modules. Culprit was more bad parts and installation than anything else.

-Matt

 

[91Explorer]

Well... I found out the TFI module is the ignition module. I saw it on the news today. But what in the world does TFI stand for anyways????

 

[Mike R]

Thick Film Ignition why its called that????? I do know Explorers never had this system and 91 and up escorts they have the DIS.

[Edited by Mike R on 08-31-2000 at 06:21 PM]

 

[sholzee]

Thick film is the process of printing conductive ink on a peice of ceramic. The ceramic is fired and the ink bonds to the ceramic forming traces like a pc board. Components are soldered to the board creating the igniton module. This board can survive high heat and is very durable. Ford produce these in house and had several outside companies making them also. The modules produced from outside vendors were better and not prone to failure. The parts made by Ford had the problem. I forget how to tell them apart I believe there was something different on the aluminum plate that faces the distributor. The failure was in the FET high current device that is an electronic substitute for points and fires the coil.

 

[BigDave]

If you don't have a distributor would you have to worry about this problem? I believe that the explorers don't have a distributor, they are all electronic ignition. I was just wondering...

Dave