• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

1994 gt 5.0 intermittent engine loss

  • Thread starter Thread starter larry556
  • Start date Start date Sep 12, 2019
L

larry556

Member
Sep 12, 2019
7
4
13
44004
Sep 12, 2019
#1
  • Sep 12, 2019
  • #1
Ive got a 1994 gt 5.0 iv had for about 4 years now no problems really, now all of sudden at random times the engine will just cut out sometimes when its sitting idling and sometimes when im driving down the road. All power and lights are still on just the engine shuts down. sometimes it will start right back up other times i have to let it sit for about 15 mins before it will start.(Sat on the side of the road 4 times this week)

So far i have
-Checked voltage of battery and alternator that was good
-Checked fuel pressure its a solid 32 with the vacuum line on and 38 with it off and holds pressure when car shuts off
-Replaced Vacuum lines for egr (had a vacuum leak on on of the connectors)
-Replaced Ignition Control Module
-Ran injector cleaner and water remover through the tank
after that still cutting out at random , the final test i did yesterday i started it and let it run for an hour and 15 mins in my driveway while i wiggled poked and prodded every wire i could find and nothing, it didnt cut out at all.

My best guess is something in the fuel or something causing it to lose spark completely but at this point im not sure what
 

jozsefsz

15 Year Member
Aug 11, 2013
1,243
332
124
Cleveland OH Area
Sep 12, 2019
#2
  • Sep 12, 2019
  • #2
The magnetic pickup in the distributor (the PIP) is a common cause of this issue. It starts to malfunction when it gets hot, and starts up like nothing happened once it cools down.
 
Reactions: larry556 and General karthief
L

larry556

Member
Sep 12, 2019
7
4
13
44004
Sep 13, 2019
#3
  • Sep 13, 2019
  • #3
ill have to find one in town tomorrow and see what happens
thanks for the info
 

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
1,338
659
143
Cuba, AL
Sep 13, 2019
#4
  • Sep 13, 2019
  • #4
Been going thru similar with my car. Last year I found the post on the coil came off. Apparently it wasn't making good contact intermittently. Took me forever to find it. So I put a new coil on. Not even a year later same problem. Found this Wednesday.


I had already changed the distributor thinking it was the PIP. Been running ok since Wednesday but I'm waiting a while to consider it fixed. So check the coil if you are losing fire!
 
Reactions: larry556
L

larry556

Member
Sep 12, 2019
7
4
13
44004
Sep 14, 2019
#5
  • Sep 14, 2019
  • #5
Wayne Waldrep said:
Been going thru similar with my car. Last year I found the post on the coil came off. Apparently it wasn't making good contact intermittently. Took me forever to find it. So I put a new coil on. Not even a year later same problem. Found this Wednesday.


I had already changed the distributor thinking it was the PIP. Been running ok since Wednesday but I'm waiting a while to consider it fixed. So check the coil if you are losing fire!
Click to expand...

Dang Just ordered a new distributor before i saw this , but my coil appears to be in one piece , the tip of mine isnt broken off or anything
 

jozsefsz

15 Year Member
Aug 11, 2013
1,243
332
124
Cleveland OH Area
Sep 14, 2019
#6
  • Sep 14, 2019
  • #6
TBH that's a bit of an unusual failure. The distributor pickup is more likely and common. The coil is always suspect with ignition issues, but usually doesn't start working perfectly as soon as the car cools off, which the PIP tends to do.

Two failures sound like Chinese quality control unfortunately @Wayne Waldrep - was the first one the same brand? I've had great luck with the yellow Accel TFI "super" coil, a huge improvement over the MSD Blaster TFI I used to have and better than most chinesium I've had from the local parts store.
 
Reactions: larry556
L

larry556

Member
Sep 12, 2019
7
4
13
44004
Sep 15, 2019
#7
  • Sep 15, 2019
  • #7
jozsefsz said:
TBH that's a bit of an unusual failure. The distributor pickup is more likely and common. The coil is always suspect with ignition issues, but usually doesn't start working perfectly as soon as the car cools off, which the PIP tends to do.

Two failures sound like Chinese quality control unfortunately @Wayne Waldrep - was the first one the same brand? I've had great luck with the yellow Accel TFI "super" coil, a huge improvement over the MSD Blaster TFI I used to have and better than most chinesium I've had from the local parts store.
Click to expand...
Yea my coil was one of the first things i checked, checked again just to be sure. I opted to just order a new distributor rather than fiddling with the old one taking it apart i dont have a hydraulic press or puller to get the gear off. Should be here sometime this week hopefully
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,902
10,555
203
polk county florida
Sep 15, 2019
#8
  • Sep 15, 2019
  • #8
Don't toss the old distributor, someone could rebuild it.
 
Reactions: larry556

Olivethefet

I will own your nuts! LOL
5 Year Member
May 17, 2018
2,596
1,790
143
Enterprise AL
Sep 15, 2019
#9
  • Sep 15, 2019
  • #9
They aren't hard to rebuild either. Could be a project for ya!
 
Reactions: larry556
L

larry556

Member
Sep 12, 2019
7
4
13
44004
Sep 21, 2019
#10
  • Sep 21, 2019
  • #10
I do plan on keeping the old one
going to put the new one in today, hopefully i can drive without getting stuck on the side of the road again haha
 
Reactions: Olivethefet
L

larry556

Member
Sep 12, 2019
7
4
13
44004
Sep 29, 2019
#11
  • Sep 29, 2019
  • #11
Well it has been a week since i put the new distributor in and i have not had a problem, i believe the problem is solved, the car even feels more responsive now and i no longer have a popping and stuttering noises in the exaust when letting off the gas (gonna be sad to put it in the garage for the winter but it runs great now)
 
Reactions: jozsefsz, General karthief and Olivethefet
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Electrical 2000 GT Intermittent Engine Shutdown In Motion - DTC U1262
  • kenster1092
  • Apr 13, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
184
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Apr 24, 2026
squeak93
I
1994 Cobra - Fuel Pressure Drops Revving at Idle
  • IconicSilverGT500
  • Apr 11, 2026
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
16
Views
417
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Apr 24, 2026
Mcmahst
T
Help with a 95 5L crank no start
  • TheBubbaJoe
  • Nov 4, 2025
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
3
Views
439
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Nov 5, 2025
AeroCoupe
C
98 gt fuel pressure issues
  • chasecollier1984
  • Jun 2, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
69
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 2, 2026
chasecollier1984
C
J
Emission problems
  • jls.zmmr
  • Feb 5, 2026
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
240
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Feb 7, 2026
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?