• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

All the help I can get for sputtering

  • Thread starter Thread starter rick237
  • Start date Start date Oct 26, 2004
R

rick237

New Member
Oct 25, 2004
16
0
0
Oct 26, 2004
#1
  • Oct 26, 2004
  • #1
My car just recently started to sputter just a little bit, but NOT backfiring.
Over the past week or two the just got worse.
Now Ive checked the plugs and just bought new ones.
When i took them out they were gapped at about .032.
Good ole Pep Boys said to gap the new ones at .054, so I did.
It sputtered worse.
So I took them out and regapped them to .040 because a few buddies said so-a little better.
Then I decided to gap them at what they were before this problem occured, which was .032.
IT ran a little better and my timing is at 15.
Make a long story short, I tested the ECM, the coil, Ive had the timing from 10 all the way up to 20, by the way when it was at 20 it seemed to run better than the past two weeks but still sputtered.
Anyways heres whats on the car
[*]90 GT
[*]E303 cam
[*]24lb Injectors
[*]Fuel Pressure Regulator
[*]Holley Systemax Intake
[*]70mm Throttle Body
[*]MAC Cold Air to fenderwell
[*]73mm Mass Air
[*]Aluminum Pulleys
[*]A/C and Smog Pump Delete
[*]Electric Fan
[*]Subframes
[*]Lowering Springs
[*]5spd
[*]Mac Shortie Headers
[*]Off Road X-Pipe
[*]I should have gotten MAC Pro Dumps, But I had to settle for ****TY 2 Chamber FLOW****STERS
 

N8Miller

I need NOS....make it 2 of the big ones
Founding Member
Jul 26, 2000
2,661
0
0
Kingston, PA, USA
Oct 27, 2004
#2
  • Oct 27, 2004
  • #2
how about a fuel filter?
 
J

jd351

Founding Member
Feb 20, 2002
163
1
0
Everett, WA
Oct 27, 2004
#3
  • Oct 27, 2004
  • #3
Gap should be .054", if you can't get a strong enough spark to fire this gap, I would look into problems with the coil circuit (week power to coil) and TFI or having to rich a fuel mixture.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 27, 2004
#4
  • Oct 27, 2004
  • #4
im with JD. the TFI ignition is fairly strong for an OEM ignition. if you cannot support stock gap specs (and you are not running a power adder), something needs to be addressed.

sputtering means different things to different folks - what is it doing exactly and when?

you tested the ECM; does that mean no codes?

good luck.
 
R

rick237

New Member
Oct 25, 2004
16
0
0
Oct 27, 2004
#5
  • Oct 27, 2004
  • #5
whenever I get on it (accelerating) or ever when Im cruising down the street or freeway it feels like its missing. I sputters bad when I accelerate. I tested the ECM and the coil on some machine at Autozone
 

bmorrisj

Member
Sep 26, 2003
449
0
17
Buena Park, CA
Oct 27, 2004
#6
  • Oct 27, 2004
  • #6
the same thing is happening to my car, and im only getting EGR codes, as i have an explorer upper intake, so the egr doesnt work anyway.... im thinking its my TFI module or the electronic pickup inside the distributor...
 
R

rick237

New Member
Oct 25, 2004
16
0
0
Oct 27, 2004
#7
  • Oct 27, 2004
  • #7
I had an MSD pro billet distributer in there and I replaced it with a stock one just to see what would happen and its still doing the same thing. so i figure that the pick up coil is not the problem...... ANY OTHER IDEAS??????? PLEASE HELP IF ANY
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 28, 2004
#8
  • Oct 28, 2004
  • #8
rick said:
ANY OTHER IDEAS??????? PLEASE HELP IF ANY
Click to expand...
as JD (and i) both wondered, how is your ignition coil? you should be able to support more spark gap than what you are right now.

good luck.
 
9

93killerbee

New Member
Oct 15, 2003
44
0
0
ohio
Oct 28, 2004
#9
  • Oct 28, 2004
  • #9
check your spark plug wires, their might be one that is sitting on the header and has burnt a hole in the boot. If its not that check your fuel filter. Also you can try and clean your maf sensor. Good luck
 
R

rick237

New Member
Oct 25, 2004
16
0
0
Oct 28, 2004
#10
  • Oct 28, 2004
  • #10
The plug wires I checked at night and didnt see any arching also Ive checked and re-gapped the plugs and never noticed any burnt plug boots . My coil tested average so I should be able to handle any spark. My fuel filter I havent checked yet but I watched my Fuel pressure gauge as I gave it some gas and it was a constant 40psi
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Is it normal for all of this to go wrong or did I get played when I bought this ONLY A MONTH AGO.
  • ponygal02
  • Nov 14, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
297
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Nov 14, 2025
Noobz347
T
  • Locked
1990 2.3L automatic - real bad engine sputtering
  • the_steve_randolph
  • Jun 13, 2024
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
10
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 14, 2024
the_steve_randolph
T
Electrical Innovate PSB-1 is DOA? Am I an idiot? All plausable. Please Help
  • Dontknowchit
  • Apr 26, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
514
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 26, 2025
Dontknowchit
S
Fuel Spits sputter pops and bangs under load. Help wanted
  • sickntired
  • Mar 23, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
22
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 1, 2024
sickntired
S
Place to Avoid: Jamison Auto Group in Gulfport, MS
  • D Durden
  • Oct 20, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
46
Views
3K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jul 16, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang 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?