Coil on plug and other maint. advice

[Drew0318]

As my car sits for the winter, I'm getting a list of things I'll need to do a regular maintenance routine on it. Please note, I'm not the most mechanically inclined when it comes to cars, but I've got several friends that are mechanics.

Item 1: Are COPs something that should be replaced? The car is a 99 with 18000 miles on it. Do COPs wear out like spark plugs, belts/etc? How much work's involved with this? I plan on changing the plugs anyway, so I pretty much have to remove the COPs anyway. Just need to know if there's a benefit to replacing them.

Item 2: Transmission fluid. It's a m/t, is this something that should be done as well? If so, how difficult is it?

Item 3: Bushings/bearings. I can only assume it'd be beneficial to change the various bushings on the suspension/etc, especially after 10 years. My question is, what's a good replacement (I'm assuming urethane) and what's an approximate cost (cost applies to the COPs as well, if needed)?

Item 4: Fuel filter. How difficult is this to change?


Other normal yearly stuff includes, air filter, oil/filter change. I'll probably flush the radiator, and if recommended, the intercooler (is this necessary?).

Any advice on the above would be appreciated.

 

[wmburns]

Everything that follows is IMO;

Are there any check engine lights (DTC's)? How did it drive before storing? If OK, I would not change most of the stuff mentioned.

I would change the fuel filter. I might even drain the tank (unless the gas tank was treated before storing).

The COP's do not wear like spark plugs. Change them only if there is a problem. Not a bad idea to change the spark plugs every few years.

The owner's manual does not have a service interval for a manual transmission. Close to fill for life. However, I would still change MT fluid every few years. It is not hard to change. However, the owner's manual will recommend Mecron IV which is no longer sold. Ford has a TSB that OK's Mecron V. Dexron III can be used as well.

 

[GettinThere]

The car is a 99 with 18000 miles on it.

Only 18,000 miles? Or is it 180,000 miles? (just verifying there is no typo here).

There is some good maintenance info here:

BULLITT Archive Mustang Maintenance

A Haynes manual has some useful poop.

 

[Dragstr05]

A 99 with only 18k miles, I would:

Change the coolant, fuel filter, air filter (if necessary), brake fluid.

CHECK: Battery, serpentine belt, spark plugs, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, lights, wipers, etc.

Alot of items are WAY oversold in the auto industry IMO. Just because its a 99 doesnt mean you need to go replace the whole car. Change the necessary items. Put the car on jack stands, pull the wheels and do a nice, thorough inspection.

 

[Drew0318]

GettinThere, yes, it's 18,000.


Thanks for the advice, it'll save me time and money. I had my suspicions on the COPs (replacing them that is). The car ran fine before it got put away. I treated a full tank with Sta-Bil (didn't last year, there wasn't a problem).

That said. After this tank is drained (I'll go ahead and say it will be in 150 miles ), I'll change the fuel filter, as I'm sure it's still original. I also change the oil when I take it out of hibernation. I've put 2200 miles on it the last two summers. So an oil change every spring should suffice.

I ordered a Haynes manual Monday, so it should be here anytime.

As for the other bits:

Battery was new in '08
Serpentine belt still looks good (got another one from the previous owner he got as a spare from Saleen, still in the plastic bag).
Wipers, pretty sure they're fine. It's only been in the rain 10 times in it's life.


The reason I asked about the MT fluid. Sometimes it doesn't shift into 3rd easily (sometimes, really, really difficult) depending on how spirited it is being driven. I've heard everything from changing the fluid to it being a bent fork, which I really hope it's not.

 

[trombonedemon]

About the Haynes manual, use it as a tool for specs and take some of the things it says w/a "grain of salt" and then consult an actually expereinced mechanic, some times it leads you to do unecessary things or take off unecessary parts, I would go w/a synthetic mercon V manual transmission fluid, see if that makes the T-5 or T-45 shift smoother, I've heard of transmissions flushes, don't know how much good they would do, Fuel filters, I change mine every 20,000 miles b/c of how much dirt I've seen coming from these gas stations in my engine. I do mean lots of dirt, try changing it at 5 then 10, then 20,000 miles to see what I mean, Basically I've just restated what everyone said. Oh yea, I've heard horror stories about fram oil filters, Hows the suspension?

 

[Drew0318]

The suspension is fine. When we had it up on the lift to adjust the midpipe, we noticed a couple of the boots were cracked. No doubt due to them being 10-11 years old. Suspension wise (ride) it's fine. Nothing rattles/bangs/etc.

The previous owner had to replace a strut/control arm on the front after the first year (turns out it was 1 month out of the 1 year warranty from Saleen on the Racecraft stuff), but aside from that, it's all original/fine.


I've got a friend that used to be an ASE mechanic for the local Ford dealership whose specialty is 4.6L Mustangs. So I'm good to go there. I'm sure he'd do things really reasonable. If not, I'll let him beat me on the golf course.

 

[trombonedemon]

Mustang Gt suspensions, are ultra stiff, me likes, they take a lickin' and keep on tickin'!