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1997 cobra

  • Thread starter Thread starter 97_4.v
  • Start date Start date Aug 18, 2019
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 18, 2019
#1
  • Aug 18, 2019
  • #1
1997 cobra owner here, and I’ve got a bit of a stumping problem with my car. A little while ago the car started having problems with randomly losing power, and shutting off. More recently the car will not even start and I have absolutely no idea what the problem is. The car sputters a few times when you try to turn it over, then all that’s turning is the starter. It’s been like this for a little while now and I’m absolutely stumped as to what could be causing my issue, I’ve recently replaced spark plugs, wires, and coils, (when it was running about 4 months ago) and from there on out I’ve replaced the fuel filter, cam position sensor, crank position sensor, fuel filter, PCv valve, battery, battery terminals, MAF sensor, and a whole lot more. I’ve checked the IAC, it seems to be working properly. The car as it sits right now in non-running condition still has 38psi fuel pressure at the valve on the fuel rail, and assuming it has air because there isn’t anything blocking it or any changes there. If anyone can help I would appreciate it I’d really like to be driving my car I bought.
 
S

Shuttleman83

Active Member
Jun 30, 2019
239
13
28
USA
Aug 18, 2019
#2
  • Aug 18, 2019
  • #2
Check fuel pump power, charcoal canister (connections to it and make sure vent is working), inertia switch. All vac lines as well.
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 18, 2019
#3
  • Aug 18, 2019
  • #3
Shuttleman83 said:
Check fuel pump power, charcoal canister (connections to it and make sure vent is working), inertia switch. All vac lines as well.
Click to expand...
I’ve checked fuel pressure, it’s at about 38 psi, the connector that connects the harness to the pump has 4 pins in it, and 1 pin is running 12 volts, the one next to it is running 5 volts, and the opposite two are both somewhere around .13 volts so I’m assuming those are grounds maybe so from what I can see the pump is working and has power, I’ve also reset the inertia switch. However I have not checked the vacuum lines, I’ll check and will post an update ASAP, thanks.
 
S

Shuttleman83

Active Member
Jun 30, 2019
239
13
28
USA
Aug 19, 2019
#4
  • Aug 19, 2019
  • #4
When I had this issue it was a major one and it ended up being the venting / charcoal system and grounds.
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 19, 2019
#5
  • Aug 19, 2019
  • #5
Shuttleman83 said:
When I had this issue it was a major one and it ended up being the venting / charcoal system and grounds.
Click to expand...
I’ll keep that in mind thanks a lot, I’ve recently re done a lot of my grounds including the motor grounding strap, but I’ll check the char canister.
 
S

Shuttleman83

Active Member
Jun 30, 2019
239
13
28
USA
Aug 19, 2019
#6
  • Aug 19, 2019
  • #6
Oh yeah one more thing - add some dielectric grease on the fuel pump and ecu 20 AMP fuses under the hood.
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 23, 2019
#7
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #7
Shuttleman83 said:
Oh yeah one more thing - add some dielectric grease on the fuel pump and ecu 20 AMP fuses under the hood.
Click to expand...
I’m your opinion what would be the easiest way about testing the charcoal canister venting system?
 

Decipha

Active Member
Aug 22, 2007
221
36
39
New Orleans, LA
Aug 23, 2019
#8
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #8
have you checked the ignition switch?

while your cranking verify the check engine light goes off if it does you need to verify the injectors are pulsing and your plugs are firing.

otherwise it sounds like you have a bad pcm which is very rare
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 24, 2019
#9
  • Aug 24, 2019
  • #9
97_4.v said:
1997 cobra owner here, and I’ve got a bit of a stumping problem with my car. A little while ago the car started having problems with randomly losing power, and shutting off. More recently the car will not even start and I have absolutely no idea what the problem is. The car sputters a few times when you try to turn it over, then all that’s turning is the starter. It’s been like this for a little while now and I’m absolutely stumped as to what could be causing my issue, I’ve recently replaced spark plugs, wires, and coils, (when it was running about 4 months ago) and from there on out I’ve replaced the fuel filter, cam position sensor, crank position sensor, fuel filter, PCv valve, battery, battery terminals, MAF sensor, and a whole lot more. I’ve checked the IAC, it seems to be working properly. The car as it sits right now in non-running condition still has 38psi fuel pressure at the valve on the fuel rail, and assuming it has air because there isn’t anything blocking it or any changes there. If anyone can help I would appreciate it I’d really like to be driving my car I bought.
Click to expand...
97_4.v said:
I’m your opinion what would be the easiest way about testing the charcoal canister venting system?
Click to expand...
Update: just pulled the plugs on the car and it seems to be flooded with gas, so I think now I’m troubleshooting for a clogged/stuck open injector
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 30, 2019
#10
  • Aug 30, 2019
  • #10
Decipha said:
have you checked the ignition switch?

while your cranking verify the check engine light goes off if it does you need to verify the injectors are pulsing and your plugs are firing.

otherwise it sounds like you have a bad pcm which is very rare
Click to expand...
Just recently checked the plugs, pulled them all out, all were covered in gas and damp, brushed them all clean, and put them back in and The thing turned over and fired right up.
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Aug 31, 2019
#11
  • Aug 31, 2019
  • #11
Another update: After cleaning the plugs and putting them back in it fired up? But then ultimately went back to do the same thing it was doing, randomly in traffic started bucking and surging and then shut off and I had to wait for gas in the cylinders to evaporate, and now all the plugs are fouled again, anyone know what could randomly cause you to loose spark or for some reason make the engine run so rich that it stops running?
 
9

97_4.v

New Member
Jun 24, 2019
13
0
1
Indiana, US
Sep 5, 2019
#12
  • Sep 5, 2019
  • #12
Decipha said:
have you checked the ignition switch?

while your cranking verify the check engine light goes off if it does you need to verify the injectors are pulsing and your plugs are firing.

otherwise it sounds like you have a bad pcm which is very rare
Click to expand...
Yes as it cranks the check engine light goes off, but recently we’ve confirmed that it’s related to spark somehow, it just randomly stops firing and then after I pull the plugs after it does this, they’re all wet and flooded with gas, so something is either preventing spark or losing spark or adding an ungodly amount of fuel
 

Decipha

Active Member
Aug 22, 2007
221
36
39
New Orleans, LA
Sep 17, 2019
#13
  • Sep 17, 2019
  • #13
sounds like your injector drivers are hanging the injectors open

prob a bad ecu
 
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