Need a little help,
My pinto efi is cutting out when it gets hot after around 15-20 mins standing on the spot.
The engine temp never goes high but it won't start again until it's cooled down.
The spark plus are sooted up black.
This is since I have changed the oil stem seals and adjusted the valve clearances which I'm sure are fine and correct.
The engine failed on high HC emissions.
I'm starting to think head gasket but I know I should really recheck the valve clearances again. Just wanted to see others opinion on this before I did anything.
Cheers.
Po79.

Just checked the valve clearances and they are all fine, engine is still slightly warm. Think I'm remembering right that the gap closes as the engine gets hotter so the fact none are tight indicate is not the valves.
Po79.

are you sure the cold start is turning off, if it is sooting up it suggests not. Find out how it gets it engine temp signal and that will probably lead you to the cause. If it's from the normal temp sensor and your saying it's reading cool it may be that sensor.

if the exhaust is smoking blue its burning oil, if the smoke is black its rich



[Edited on 1/7/19 by Mr Whippy]

Hi Mr Whippy,
I'll have a look, not sure the van has a cold start injector.
I don't know a lot about the efi and I can't find my manual since we moved.
It starts and runs find from cold so could well be something along those lines.
The van has never shown a temp much higher than midway between cold and halfway on the temp gauge.
Thank for the reply, I'll get back with what I find.
Po79.

I think I have found the problem but not checked fully yet ( school run).
The van has always made a whistling/humming/buzzing sound mainly noticable at idle. I'm sure I asked about it a while ago and someone said it was to do with an anti stall device?
Anyway there is a two pin sensor with 4mm vacuum pipe on the bulkhead which once disconnected stops the whistling sound and seems to let the engine run much better, not perfect but better.
Anyone know what this sensor or where I can find a replacement.
Cheers,
Po79.

No, scrub that.
Just been out to start it up and it's not starting, plugged the sensor back in and it still doesn't start so I'm at a loss.
It's starts easy from cold just not when hot/warm.
Po79.

If it’s running rich then check the Coolant Temperature Sensor (TPS) if that has failed the ECU may well riches the mixture. It’s been quite a while since I worked on a Pinto EFI but think the mixture may?? be adjustable? Someone with a better memory will be along soon.

logically, it could also be fuel pressure being too high, ie regulator not doing its job.

Do you still have the original ECU ? Can you check for fault codes?

Its all original and still in the transit that I normally use daily,
It failed the mot on welding and emissions so its been off the road for 8 months whilst I got around to sorting it.
So running as standard with ecu and everything.
Not sure how to test these ecu's or how the fuel mixture is adjusted.
Been taking off various plugs to no avail.
Little bit stuck.
Po79.

Crank sensor and coil been checked when the fault is present?

OK,
Got a better result now.
Next to the sensor that whistles which I think it's the anti stall sensor is another sensor which for some reason I over looked earlier today.
I believe this one is the MAP sensor once I disconnected it there was some improvement I then disconnected the throttle position sensor and the two combined made a big difference I adjusted the dissy a little and it's now running smooth with no stalling and once hot will now restart.
idle is a little fast but that maybe just me.
When I connect the TPS back up it now revs hard but stays settled when disconnected.
Are MAP and TPS sensors a Ford only part?
Cheers,
Po79.