Antitheft Devices - Installation Precautions
86ford23 Article No. 86-3-9ANTI-THEFT DEVICES (AFTER MARKET) - INSTALLATION/ OPERATING PRECAUTIONS ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS (EEC)
FORD 1978-86 ALL
LINCOLN-MERCURY 1978-86 ALL
LIGHT TRUCK 1981-86 ALL
NOTE: This article is being republished in its entirety to include 1986 models.
Installation of "AfterMarket" anti-theft devices such as fuel shutoff and ignition defeating devices may cause no starts, hard starting, stalls, or damage to vehicle components on Ford vehicles equipped with electronic engine controls. Possible damage caused by these devices can result from the following situations:
1. Fuel shutoff devices - Attempting to start the vehicle without disarming this device may cause the fuel injectors to run dry and overheat, which will lead to failure of the injectors.
2. Ignition defeating devices which ground the ignition/tachometer lead - Attempting to start the vehicle without disarming may result in ignition coil failure.
Figure 13:
In addition, care must be taken when routing underhood after market wiring (see Figure 13 for proper precautions), in order to avoid electromagnetic interference with electronic engine controls. The following precautions must be observed:
1. Ignition tach signal wiring must not be randomly routed through the engine compartment.
2. Add-on wiring must not run parallel to secondary (plug) ignition wires.
3. EEC wiring harness (12A581) must not be altered or cut or rerouted.
Failure to observe these warnings may result in damage to vehicle components or drive deterioration.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: Supersedes 85-7-8
WARRANTY STATUS: "INFORMATION ONLY"