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I have a 1991 Lincoln Continental Signature Series - 6 ...


Sent to Car Experts May 20, 2006 12:10 p.m.

I have a 1991 Lincoln Continental Signature Series - 6 cylinder. I just ran a code test and got a fault code. Profile ignition pickup circuit fault. What is a profile ignition pickup, where is it located and how do I repair it?

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1991 Lincoln Continental 3.8

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $15   
Info Request
May 20, 2006 12:46 p.m. (36 minutes and 44 seconds later)
REPLIED to Info Request Check Mark

Profile Ignition Pickup or PIP, is the signal which the engine's computer uses to trigger spark. There are various reasond the computer can store this fault code.

Does the engine run?

If it runs does it stall? How often?

Does the Check Engine Lamp illuminate?

-Rip

PictureRIP  -- Lead Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2106 Car Accepts
A.S.E. Master Technician, Advanced Level, Smog - European, Domestic, & Asian -- Car Category Mentor
Reply to RIP
Sent May 20, 2006 2:02 p.m. (1 hour and 15 minutes later)

Yes the engine runs, usually very smoothly.

Yes it does stall every once in a while, mainly when at idle. And also, ever so often, it won't start on the first, second or even third try.

The check engine light has been flashing every since the car was given to me a year ago.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 20, 2006 2:16 p.m. (13 minutes and 42 seconds later)
ACCEPTED Check Mark

If the engine is intermitently stalling, and runs fairly well I would suspect the ingition pickup coil and TFI module (ignition moduel) are faulty. To correctly diagnose this condition the waveform and frequency of the pickup coil needs to be checked with a lab scope. The inputs need to be checked to the TFI module, the wiring from the computer to the pickup and module also need to be checked, and the power and grounds to the computer, as well as the computer itself may be bad. Although from my experience if the engine does not want to start it is more likely the TFI, pickup, or computer. But if it starts and runs, but intermittenly stalls, it's usually the pickup or TFI module. The TFI module is located on the side of the distributor and the pickup is inside the distributor and requires disasembling of the distributor to access. You may choose to replace the TFI module yourself since it is fairly inexpensive and easily installed, you'll need 5.5 mm socket 1/4" drive to remove. There's always that possibility that it can be any of the above items causing the fault, but even most repair facilities cann't correctly diagnose this problem because of it's intermitancy, and often recommend replacing the TFI and pickup first.Also, try wiggling the wires at the distributor while the engine is running and see if the engine will stumble or stall, this is recomended on all earnlier Fords, due to the wiring breaking internally. One last item, next to the distributor is a connector with a cap in it, make sure the cap is on. This is the timming connector and and interupts the PIP signal for base timming adjustment, if the cap is missing the symptoms will be similar.

-Rip



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PictureRIP  -- Lead Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 2106 Car Accepts
A.S.E. Master Technician, Advanced Level, Smog - European, Domestic, & Asian -- Car Category Mentor

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