RIP My Mustang
 

I think my Mustang is deathly ill and the situation is not good. Please, everyone say a prayer because the situation I fear is bad.

The car is only running on 3 - 4 cylinders and not popping any codes. All plugs have been pulled, coil packs cleaned etc... I have spent hours on it over the past few days and it only runs worse the harder I try.

I have a few theories, but it is well over my head. I have just about thrown in the towel and it may honestly not get running again until next spring if it is as bad as I think it is.

Unfortunately, I suspect a bad short circuit which apparently has fried coil packs, wire harness and possibly the computer. My extra cash fund is currently depleted due to buying two sets of tires and my wife's car is currently dead in the water also due to a serious brake issue which has caused TWO back to back extremely serious highway blowouts. My first priorioty needs to be to get her Suburban road-worthy which will take a few days. I have over $600 in parts on order for her car and there will be more yet.

Word to the wise, one bad caliper has resulted in body damage, a destroyed rim, and destroyed Bridgestone, a blown apart BFG, toasted pads, and a wrecked rotor. Anyone ever bought brakes parts for a Suburban? It like Mustang stuff but three times bigger and wider and more expensive. At least no one has been hurt....except my patience.

Now back to the Mustang. It is getting towed to a mechanic on Monday. My only hope at this point is that the insurance will consider this an electrical fire and just dump the car or find a way to bring it back to life. I would leave it out for someone to steal if only a crook could drive it - LOL.

I'll take it. My friend had similar problem blew the whole electrical system away. From the spark plug wires straight back to the fuse box then to the computer. Best thing is to get the whole electrical system for the engine and computer replaced.

Damn hate too hear that.Maybe it could be something simple,you can only hope.

Wow, sucks to hear that. Hope its an easy problem.

That really $ucks, I feel real bad for you. Think the best of it as it may not be as bad as it looks.

I just poured out a little of my Pepsi for it!!! (I didn't have any Micky's) I feel for you MT!!

I sure hope you got the extended warranty? I got 5 yrs 75K on mine. Hope I never have this kind of issue though. That has to suck. Sorry to hear it man
:(

Extended warrenty? The car is modified, so warrenties are useless.

LOL, yea, theyll go for that, right up until they see the solenoids under the hood...lol Sorry to hear about your automotive issues, maybe if they total the car, you can send me the rear wheels...wow, talk about kicking them while theyre down...Hope you get it all fixed man, maybe its just the coilpacks with a little water damage. They arent cheap, but its a lot cheaper than a whole new computer/wiring system.

mine did that. try to replace coils, plugs, and wires as that saved the cobra. and no more high pressure wash for my motor..........

PM sent. I would would like to talk live with you if you are available. I PM'd my phone number.

with it not poping any codes, that means there is an electrical problem (ECU). Two did you take the heads off and see if the pistons are seized.

Three what caused this to happen

Nope, the car turns over and will run, so I don't see how that could mean a piston is seized.

As far as what caused this....water. Something got shorted out. I suspect the computer, but here is the deal. I changed all the plugs and cleans the coils etc... I fired it back up and it ran pretty good. I drove it and then it quicklly went to crap.

That being the case, I am not sure how it could be the computer. But, I still suspect it.

I have been having problems with this car since April with water related issues. I have burnt up 4 TPS this summer just by washing the car. I wash the car, and "bam" burn-up the TPS about every third time washing it.

Basically my problem is that about 4 cyclinders are not firing and I can not determine why.

Maybe theyre not firing because your car is broken. :p

I should delete this post :cool:

So did you wash your engine with the car on or off?

What about your spark plug wires? I had only half of my pistons running on my truck a while ago because the wires crystallized. Do you know which pistons are running and which ones arent that will give you a good idea which wires to check.

99+ GT's don't have wires! ;)

Water
 

The problem could still be water, either inside the coil or lurking in the wire bundles leading to the coils, or to the TPS and remaining harness between the MAF and the computer.

Compressed air. Disassemble everything and blow it all clean and dry. Be anal. Get every little crevice.

Water is a force of nature - if Mother Nature wants to screw you, it can do anything, including hiding in a little vacuum-locked crevice to leak down and zap you when you least expect it.

Take it from me. I have the worst luck of anyone I know - and this sounds like a problem I had with a 280Z once upon a time.

tripleblack

Whoops didnt read his sig.....my bad

That sucks sorry to hear about that.

Well, I was able to verify today that the injectors are firing! I actually se this as good news. All 8 injectors are working, so at least I can rule that out.

Somehow I need to verify if the coils are firing.

I have been on the phone with a technician in Ca and he has been very helpful. He is one of the guys from Python and has great credentials.

Good news and good info
 

Good news about the injectors. And good news that you have expert advice.

Hate to say this, but your problem may be of great benefit to the rest of us peeking over your shoulder. This is the sort of soup to nuts problem (and hopefully, as thorough a troubleshooting session and solution) that can be a thorough learning session.

tripleblack

If it is your coils, PM me for discounted ones...I had to buy two about a year ago and it was cheaper for me to buy 8 than 2, so I have extra. They are the same as the stock ones except the top is clear instead of black and it doesn't have the ford number. I believe they are made by the company that makes them for Ford, but since they are not a "ford part" they don't have the Ford part number.

Good point. We can all learn from this.

I will definately keep that in mind.

How much do you want for them? I may just get them from you anyway.

Sounds like COPS issue. If your injectors are firing then you need only air and spark to make it all happen. So your missing one of those two. I suspect it is spark. That it is all 4 cylinders, tells me that its got something to do with your coil on plug set-up. keep us updated.


Adam

I think I paid about 175 for all 8...make me an offer

I am in PA. Are you in the NE by any chance? It would be amazingly lucky if I could get these over the weekend.

Let me know and we'll go from there.

Yup, by why the hell would it appear as if the entire passenger side is not working?

What if my cat converter on that side is blocked? Could this cause the car to buck, hesitate and miss?