# Car won't start in 88 mustang **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [April 23, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110 "2019-04-23T22:05:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hlohre1999\_142708](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ab992/32.png) [@hlohre1999\_142708](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hlohre1999_142708)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/1 "2019-04-23T22:05:54Z")
I had trouble getting car to start, figured out it wasn’t getting any spark, so I replaced the plugs, wires, and then my distributor. Now every time I try to start it it starts backfiring like crazy. What could be wrong with it?? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/2 "2019-04-23T22:07:03Z")
Have you checked for a jumped timing chain? Tester ---
**Author:** ![hlohre1999\_142708](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ab992/32.png) [@hlohre1999\_142708](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hlohre1999_142708)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/3 "2019-04-23T22:11:32Z")
Yes, I do not think it’s a timing issue, thx for response ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/4 "2019-04-23T23:51:57Z")
So did you install the distributor 180 degrees out of time? That would cause backfiring through the carb. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/5 "2019-04-24T02:24:41Z")
I assume the new distributor came with a new TFI ignition module? Have you checked the ignition timing with a light? This must be done with the SPOUT connector disconnected. Failure to do will cause the timing to be about 10 degrees out of whack. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/6 "2019-04-24T03:37:38Z")
Another idea, if you have any cylinders misfiring, that can cause backfiring. the raw gas goes in, then right back out and you end up with fuel and air in the tailpipe. That ignites from the hot gasses of another cylinder which did fire, and bang, a backfire. Usually an auto tech can tell if there’s misfires – absent misfire codes – just by listening to the engine at idle. Have you ohm’ed out all the SP wires? You need to be 100% sure you have a good connection from the distributor cap all the way to each spark plug. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 3:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/7 "2019-04-24T03:54:26Z")
> [@hlohre1999\_142708](#): > > so I replaced the plugs, wires, and then my distributor. Now every time I try to start it it starts backfiring like crazy. Are you sure you have the firing order correct ? ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 8:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/8 "2019-04-24T08:55:00Z")
> [@It\_s\_Me](#): > > Are you sure you have the firing order correct ? That was my first thought. Other than keep throwing parts at it, something’s bound to happen. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-in-88-mustang/139110/9 "2019-04-24T14:37:28Z")
You probably installed some of the wires incorrectly.