Ford's TFI Recall: Let's Kick Them in the Teeth While They're Down
Oct 12 '00
This morning, CNN announced that a judge in Oakland, California ordered a recall of Ford vehicles equipped with a Thick Film Integrated Ignition Module. That's a lot of vehicles. That recall would cover almost every Ford product from model year 1984 to 1989, and most trucks made until 1995. This would cover almost 2 million vehicles in California alone. I have no idea how many vehicles that would cover if this recall were to turn nationwide; let's just call it very many-very many, indeed.
THICK FILM INTEGRATED IGNITION MODULE??
The TFI module is a gray box fitted to the side of the ignition distributor. It is about one inch wide, and about four inches long. When it is not mounted to the distributor, it looks kind of like that small phaser Captain Kirk used to keep hidden in the small of his back.
What the TFI module does is send timing information to the ECA (your cars computer) and, in turn, alters the ignition timing to allow for different engine running conditions. The 'thick film' name comes from the toothpaste-like substance you spread on the mounting surface of the TFI module. This film is supposed to insulate the module from engine heat coming through the distributor. The thin film isn't working; therein lies the gist of the recall.
WELL, SURPRISE!!
This particular module has been giving me grief for over 15 years. The lawsuit that prompted the judge to issue the recall says that the problem is engine stalling. Well, that's just the tip of the iceberg. I've had all kinds of driveability problems stemming from these modules. From hot stalling to cold, hard starts; no power to pinging; rough idle, high speed missing-you name it, I've seen it from these things. This can be a very difficult problem to diagnose.
BUT WHERE'S MY CODE??
Now, you're thinking, "Wolfhound, don't you have one of those $1.000,000 code readers that does everything but air the cars tires?". Well, the TFI module very rarely gives you a code. If you have been a very good boy, it might give you a Code 14 (erratic ignition signal) or a Code 18 (no tachometer signal). The manuals have long series of tests involving voltmeters that always tell you the TFI module is good. The only way to tell if the TFI module is the problem is to keep a shoebox full of them handy, and slap a new one on to see if the problem goes away. The TFI module is also famous for giving you those problems that only seem to happen when your mechanic is not in the car. The horror, the horror!
MY GOD, IT'S A DEATHTRAP!
Before you work yourself into an uproar and charge down to your lawyer, maybe you should check to see if you have a TFI ignition system. The fastest way to do this without getting your hands dirty is to read the VECI sticker. This is a small white sticker under the hood. VECI stands for Vehicle Emissions Control Information. All Ford products have this in an easy to see location, either on the air cleaner or on the radiator support. On the sticker, it will give the model year of the vehicle, timing and idle information and what type of computer system runs the whole thing. What you will be looking for is the name ECC-IV. This is the computer system that used the TFI module. If your VECI sticker says ECC-IV, you have the infamous TFI module. If you can't find the sticker, the TFI module is in every Ford product that has a fuel injection system and a distributor. The distributor is that octopus-looking thing mounted to either the front or rear of the engine. If you are still not sure, ask your mechanic. Chances are, he's already replaced your module.
If it turns out you have this module, DON'T PANIC!! This problem has been around for a long time, and with the demise of the distributor, it is fading fast into history. As for safety, it is no worse than the problems that most people tend to ignore with their cars. A defective TFI module is annoying at best, and not the major danger that an exploding tire is. These TFI things have been around for over 17 years, and I haven't heard of anyone dying from a bad one. It is simply a design flaw that Ford has subsequently engineered out of their vehicles.
It mostly affects the larger V-8 engines with higher engine running temperatures. I see it mostly in pick ups, vans and Ford powered RV's. So, don't be giving away that great running 4 cylinder Mustang for a song.
PARTS GO BAD
This is not an expensive part. It does not fail every other day. Basically, it goes bad over time just like everything else under the hood, and when it does, it needs to be replaced. I don't think that this is a matter for the courts. In my opinion, this is like recalling cars because the brakes wore out. Granted it was not one of Fords shining moments in engineering, but a recall is carrying it too far. This isn't a late model SUV rolling over at highway speeds. This is a driveability problem that has been lurking under hoods for 17 years. A problem that most mechanics can fix in 25 minutes with a $30 part. If you are worried about it, have it changed at your next tune up.
Ford is, naturally, appealing this recall. If Ford loses this battle, will they have to recall the Model T for lack of rollover protection?
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