03 Cobra Smoking during heavy traffic

you may have that drivers side head problem. I think there was a recall on that. Check your oil cap for a beig color goo on the bottom. Also check your oil-is it the right color???

well the head might be leaking and causing the motor to overheat. This would make your radiator go overtime and work hard. If you are losing coolant (check the level before you leave work and when you get home) than you have a blown HG and the smoke is due to coolant mixing with oil. Your head is causing this weather its blown or not, something is wrong with your car. Take it to the dealership if you notice the coolant level changing or if you find any of that mocha colored stuff on teh oil cap or in your radiator.

I just bought a new 03. I hear no tick but sometimes I smell a smell like plastic burning? Any ideas what that is?

check your plug wires, they might be rubbing against the headers cuasing them to melt, and smell....terrible. Also check other lines if thats not it, good chance its some sort of line or wire getting the coating burnt up a little. You guys are killing me with these 03's. I am going to get one soon here and i dont like hearing all these problems.

Mine so far is awesome. No problems what so ever so far. It runs like a champ, I've just noticed that plastice burning smell which is probably what you've said. No tick, no vibe, no pull.

1fast94svt said:

...check your plug wires, they might be rubbing against the headers cuasing them to melt, and smell....terrible...

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There are no spark plug wires per se on the 99+ COP (Coil On Plug) ignition system.

I think the dealer is tring to blow smoke up your as*.

simpman76 said:

I just bought a new 03. I hear no tick but sometimes I smell a smell like plastic burning? Any ideas what that is?

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I get that smell all the time when shes real hot - I think its just the heat of the engine, probably baking that hood blanket..

peace

I think you can goto alldata.com and see recalls and TSB's if you wanna check that head thing out

98_c0bra said:

I think you can goto alldata.com and see recalls and TSB's if you wanna check that head thing out

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Here is the "head thing" data.... has absolutely nothing to do with over heating though...

U.M.

Article No.
03-11-4 ENGINE - MUSTANG COBRA - TICK NOISE FROM ENGINE - COBRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ENGINES BUILT BEFORE 11/1/2002 ONLY

Publication Date: May 23, 2003

FORD: 2003 MUSTANG


ISSUE:
Some 2003 Mustang Cobra vehicles with engines built before 11/1/2002 may exhibit an unusual engine tick noise that is present at all temperatures during idle. This noise may be due to valve guide wear in the left bank cylinder head. Guide wear manifests itself as a tick noise which can be heard at the rear of LH head, through LH catalyst, at the LH front wheel well and may not be heard with the hood open.

ACTION:
Use the diagnostic procedures listed in this article to evaluate the vehicle condition and replace the cylinder head if applicable. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.

SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTE: THIS REPLACEMENT CYLINDER HEAD WILL NOT IMPROVE OR REDUCE PERFORMANCE.



In order to diagnose noise, the following items must be checked.

Verify noise by placing a stethoscope on the back of the left head near the exhaust ports.
Verify that the noise is heard in the left side exhaust system (left side wheel well or catalytic converter, from underneath the vehicle).
Try to isolate the noise by canceling the cylinders, by unplugging the injectors one at a time (start with #8 cylinder).
Verify that there are no exhaust manifold leaks.
Check to make sure that the camshaft spacers are in place. If not, install cam spacers (per Workshop Manual Section 303-01C) and retest vehicle.
Check for proper cam sprocket bolt torque, retorque to spec listed in the Workshop Manual Section 303-01C.
Check for spongy lash adjusters (refer to Section 303-00 in the corresponding Workshop Manual).
Verify that the timing chain tensioner pin has been removed.
If the above diagnostics does not eliminate the noise while the cylinders are cancelled, and the engine was built prior to 11/1/2002, replace the left side cylinder head and cam assembly with Part Number 3R2Z-6049-GA. Refer to Workshop Manual Section 303-01C for cylinder head replacement procedures.



PART NUMBER PART NAME
3R2Z-6049-GA Cylinder Head And Cam Assembly - Left - Cobra Only

My car is less than a week old. When I get on it enough to activate the blower, I smell something similar to burnt rubber (no, not the tires ). I was thinking it could be the supercharger belt. This Normal?

Well, As I was walking back to the Cobra today after visiting the store I noticed something sticking out underneath. Turns out I had pieces of plastic trash bags stuck in my cats on my xpipe. I think that could have been the burning plastic smell. I will keep a nose out to see if it still does it now that I got the trash bag out of there.

simpman76 said:

Well, As I was walking back to the Cobra today after visiting the store I noticed something sticking out underneath. Turns out I had pieces of plastic trash bags stuck in my cats on my xpipe. I think that could have been the burning plastic smell. I will keep a nose out to see if it still does it now that I got the trash bag out of there.

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That's probably it. The minute anything plastic touches those cats it almost literally evaporates. Bet you were breathing a sigh of releif eh?

Dr.Bleed said:

That's probably it. The minute anything plastic touches those cats it almost literally evaporates. Bet you were breathing a sigh of releif eh?

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You better believe it

redfire03 cobra said:

I wonder if I should remove the hood blanket? It was the radiator problem though. Hey UM, I just removed my air silencer, do you think that will give me any gains. I have a drop in K&N airfilter. Peace!

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I actually witnessed a dyno run where they removed the air silencer and LOST 5 RWHP!

U.M.