I've got a mind boggling problem here. I have a 1988 Ford Mustang LX. It has the 302 5.0 liter engine with manual transmission. (Speed Density) It is completely stock except for a digital dash. The car will just not start. Let me tell you where the problem began. I was driving along in third gear about 1500 RPM when I stomped the gas. It just completely died right there. I coasted into the right lane while trying to start it back. It was just turning over. I later towed the car home where I began to troubleshoot. My first thought was the check for ignition. I have spark from #1 plug. I have spark from the coil wire itself. I figure all is well with the ignition system. My next thought was the fuel system. I turned the key on and couldn't hear the fuel pump priming. I then bypassed the relay and jumped out the pump. It came on just fine, so I know the pump is good. I then replaced the fuel pump relay under the driver seat. With the pump jumped out I attempted to crank the car. It still will not crank. I do not own a compression tester, but I had a friend crank on the car while I listened closely. I hear what sounds like a lot of compression, which should be normal for this engine. I then had him bump the ignition. Everything sounds fine, and the fan will spin and then spin backwards as it was not fully making a revolution and the compression was backing the pistons back down. I'm positive I have compression. I thought perhaps the timing chain had broken but then denounced this as the distributor is driven by the camshaft and I had spark. The only thing I can think is that it jumped timing. But I've never heard of it jumping this far out to where I have no combustion whatsoever. I have not checked the amount of fuel pressure I have, I assume that with the pump running it should at least try to start. Perhaps the regulator is bad? The vacuum line is hooked up. I used a knife and prodded the Schrader valve on the fuel rail and it did squirt out fuel, so I know it's not clogged. I am at a total loss. All I know is that I want my baby back running!! If you have any ideas, please let me know! I work at a Ford Dealership in Charlotte, NC. I have asked every mechanic there, most who are also mustang enthusiasts and we all have no clue. I have read quite a few forums and my next guess for this weekend is the ignition lock cylinder or the key switch. I understand this might have something to do with it. I am also going to check the orientation of the rotor button at TDC in case it may have jumped timing. If in fact it has jumped timing, would I at least get some kinda life out of it? You are my last hope!!!

I got it running. It turned out it was only the coil wire. The connector in the boot had somehow gotten enlarged and was no longer making a good connection. All is well and she runs great!

I got it running. It turned out it was only the coil wire. The connector in the boot had somehow gotten enlarged and was no longer making a good connection. All is well and she runs great!