Progress Thread Miss Molly

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Hey friends! I apologize for my lack of follow up. I had racing season start at the track I work at and have had weddings like crazy. I'm at the point of having to schedule time to work on my girl around everything else that I am doing. Between conferences with college and trips around the southeast and DC last week, I'm a little pooped out. Spring is a very busy time of year for a pre-law student!

ANYWAY

So here's the gist: we have fuel pressure, I didn't have to install the new one.

However, still no luck on cranking up. I have compression. I'm starting to think it is the timing chain, but I'm not entirely sure because the 3.8s are naturally aspirated and I didn't have to even touch her timing chain when I redid the cylinder heads.

Her and I are having a "play date" on the 29th - and by play date I mean she had better start on up.


Good to hear your still around. I believe we all understand being busy and having to concentrate on other things. You have to set priorities which it sounds like you're doing well at.

You mentioned the timing chain. What you thinking might be wrong with that? Good luck on the 29th with her, hopefully she's having a good day and cooperates ;)
 
I think that the chain may have jumped time. I'm not sure. I'm doing a lot of car work tomorrow - changing wheel bearings on my mom's 2003 Hyundai Elantra (which sadly does not get as much attention as a mustang) and then I'm going to go over everything I can possibly think of for Molly.

It saddens me to say this, but if I cannot figure out what steps to take in order to see her run, I will probably put her up for sale. I love her very much and I would give a kidney to see her rolling again. But I can't just keep sinking money into a seemingly endless uphill battle. That's where I stand right now.
 
I think I may have discovered our problem. Yesterday, when I was getting the wheel bearings pressed out of the wheel hub for my mom's 2003 Hyundai Elantra, I was talking to my boyfriend's old boss who is a Master Mechanic. He had a new Edge Mustang in there similar to mine I'm not sure what year it was. So I talked to him about the issues that I was having.

He asked me if I had checked the camshaft synchronizer sensor. Because I told him it sounded like it was out of time but I didn't have to touch any of the timing components when I did my rebuild. So he's letting me borrow a special tool to make sure that it is lined up dead center 100% accurate. He said that if it was off by even just a small amount that it could cause the car to act like it was at a time.

So I didn't get to work on her like I wanted to on Sunday because of time constraints having to do the wheel bearings, but I'm thinking either this Wednesday or this coming up Sunday I should be able to maybe see what's going on.

I'll keep you guys posted!
 
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Hey guys. New update.

So this past Sunday I was able to work on Molly some and I used the tool I was allowed to borrow to line up the synchronizer.. and still the same thing is happening.

I took the valve covers off and turned the engine by hand and everything looks and feels perfect. I have good compression and spark and fuel. The only three things I can narrow it down to are: the timing chain, the need for a NEW camshaft synchronizer, or a new camshaft position sensor. I already ordered each of these parts (it was not nearly as expensive as I was thinking) and am expecting them by the weekend.

Next time I work on her, I will record a video of what exactly is going on so you guys might better understand what I have going on.

Living to fight one more day!
 
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Another update. This past weekend I replaced the entire camshaft position sensor and synchronizer with hopes that the sensor was just needing to be replaced. Still no luck. I'm getting a timing light this week to check the timing chain to see where we stand there.
 
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This may sound crazy, but have you checked your alternator? My 03 GT was backfiring like it was out of time and shutting off every time I started it. I forget the code it was throwing, but it was for the camshaft position sensor. After ruling that out, I came across an old forum on here that said when the alternator is starting to fail, it may cause the camshaft position sensor to malfunction. I replaced it and my problem was solved immediately
 
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This may sound crazy, but have you checked your alternator? My 03 GT was backfiring like it was out of time and shutting off every time I started it. I forget the code it was throwing, but it was for the camshaft position sensor. After ruling that out, I came across an old forum on here that said when the alternator is starting to fail, it may cause the camshaft position sensor to malfunction. I replaced it and my problem was solved immediately

That's actually the only accessory I have not replaced, but I don't think that would be it because I had the alternator go out on my Hyundai elantras last week and it wouldn't even light up the dash once it was gone. But I will give it a look, just to rule it out. Thanks much!
 
Did you do the timing light thing? Sorry I 'm not much help on this year/engine/ignition type. Can you get a code reader to see what the computer is seeing?

I did the timing light and it was a bust. I couldn't tell what exactly the light was flashing on so it was basically pointless.

With the codes, my battery has been disconnected for it for so long, it isn't throwing out any codes. It's like it's clean, but it still isn't starting up.

Honestly, I'm just at a loss and there's nothing like starting over from the beginning...
 
For decades I have found the Factory Shop Manual with Supplements indespensable. Excellent trouble shooting sections, all of the specs and I mean all, the supplements can show wiring schematics connectors sensors, vacuum hose routing, etc etc.I have got mine on EBay/Craigslist and sold them when I sold the car(and even made money occasionally). You will not believe the info in them. Patience and perseverance always pays off in the end, good to see you aren't throwing in the towel.
 
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I did the timing light and it was a bust. I couldn't tell what exactly the light was flashing on so it was basically pointless.
FWIIW, an old school timing light really doesn't really work on a modern distributor-less ignition system. For the V6 the cam sensor is a "no start" sensor. So if not timed correctly I could see that keeping the motor from starting.

During a cam sensor replacement the KEY to a successful job is following the Ford manual instructions regarding the correct use cam of the set up tool. The other KEY to the job is to use the correct cam sensor for the application (2 wire vs 3 wire). The correct tool is important as there are differences between the model years.

Note, the cam set up tool requires the number #1 cylinder to be top dead center on the COMPRESSION stroke. If on the exhaust stork by mistake I could easily see this causing a no start condition.

If this were my car I would also confirm the injector pulse using a "noid" style test light. These can be rented from many auto parts stores.
 
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