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

Car dies randomly(with video)

  • Thread starter Thread starter MotiV8ed_95GT
  • Start date Start date Apr 13, 2009

MotiV8ed_95GT

Member
Dec 3, 1998
57
0
7
Monkton, MD
Apr 13, 2009
#1
  • Apr 13, 2009
  • #1
See sig for recently installed combo. Just installed my quarterhorse chip and loaded a basic tune. Not sure if its related to the chip/tune or not, but my car randomly just cuts out. Usually it catches itself, going down the road the tach zero's real quick then comes right back up. If it does it at idle it will almost die then it will come back on. I caught it on video today, on a cold start, dies at about 55 seconds. I am not sure the quarterhorse is to blame. I am thinking possible bad pickup in the distributor.



Any ideas?

Thanks,
Ross
 

Venom351R

Founding Member
Apr 27, 2002
4,548
41
98
MAINE
Apr 13, 2009
#2
  • Apr 13, 2009
  • #2
was it a custom dyno tune chip or a mail order chip?
 

MotiV8ed_95GT

Member
Dec 3, 1998
57
0
7
Monkton, MD
Apr 13, 2009
#3
  • Apr 13, 2009
  • #3
I just loaded a 94-95 Cobra tune with the idle turned up to 800 and the egr and thermactor turned off. I am going to remove the chip and see how it acts when I get a chance.

Ross
 
I

Itkix

New Member
Mar 9, 2009
116
0
0
Apr 13, 2009
#4
  • Apr 13, 2009
  • #4
I loaded mine with the 1994-1995 Gt tune Cbaza def, T4mO.bin, we kinda got the same setup, did you change injectors to 24.
 

MotiV8ed_95GT

Member
Dec 3, 1998
57
0
7
Monkton, MD
Apr 13, 2009
#5
  • Apr 13, 2009
  • #5
Yeah the first tune I tried was the t4m0 with the injector slopes changed for the 24lb's. I like the cobra tune it seems to have better drivability. My check engine light is on too so I need to pull the codes for that. As soon as it stops raining I am pulling the quarterhorse entirely to see if it still dies with it out of the car.

Ross
 

Zero_chance

Founding Member
May 29, 2001
1,244
7
59
Maricopa, AZ
Apr 14, 2009
#6
  • Apr 14, 2009
  • #6
I always thought having a car be solid (as in issue free with no known problems like a check engine light) were pretty key to having a smooth running car before and after a tune. I wouldnt bother tweaking anything until you resolve any known issues. You could after all have a code for the PIP sensor, etc.
 

R.J.

Member
Aug 20, 2003
813
0
16
Warwick, Rhode Island
Apr 15, 2009
#7
  • Apr 15, 2009
  • #7
With the new throttle body maybe you need to reset your idle and TPS voltage. Try this:

Begin with a cold vehicle. The idea here is to get the car to a firm cold idle with enough air bleed capacity left in the idle circuit for IAC adjustment.

The idle stop should be set first. Back out the idle stop screw, away from the bell crank arm, until about 1/2 turn past the point where it no longer makes contact (blade fully closed). Using a 0.010" feeler gauge, tighten until gauge just drags between screw and bell crank arm. Remove feeler gauge. Tighten screw exactly 1 1/2 turns. If the screw is very loose, put a drop of loc-tite or silicone on it, so it doesn't work out of adjustment.

Now remove the connector to the Idle Air Controller (IAC) just on the other side of the throttle body. Start the car and allow vehicle to warm for 2 minutes. Give a small "blip" to let it settle. If it is having a hard time staying running you may have to get an assistant until you can get to the front of the car. Now open or close the air bleed screw (CCW opens) next to the IAC until the car idles at 575 to 600 rpm. For guys with aftermarket cams and an EEC tuner, you might want to idle a bit more briskly, say 650 to 675.

Obviously, this rpm range is by what the car and driver wants...IE, no set idle speed, whatever works for YOU.

Turn off the car. Now count the number of turns clockwise to close on the idle air bleed screw. If it falls between 1/2 and 2, it's okay, now reverse it out the same number of turns. Log the number somewhere in case you need it for the future. Reconnect the IAC. You are done.

If the air bleed screw is above 2 turns, it's a good idea to tighten the idle stop screw another 1/2 turn, and then repeat the idle setting. If it is below 1/2 turn, then loosen the idle stop screw by 1/4 to 1/2 a turn, and repeat the idle setting. Be sure to put another drop of silicone RTV on the stop screw if it was disturbed. Reconnect the IAC.

Now remember we adjusted the set screw on the throttle body. That means that the voltage reading from the TPS sensor has changed. It should read between .96 and .99 volts. Anything outside of that range will cause all sorts of issues including misfires and rough idle.

you will have to back probe the TPS connector. With the connector attached to the TPS stick a paper clip into the rubber boot on the connector where the top and middle wires go into the connector. The rubber is very flexible the paper clip will slide in between the rubber and the wire.

Set your multimeter to volts. Turn ignition to ON. Then place your multimeter leads on the metal pins. If it comes up as a negative that is okay as long as you are -.96 to -.99. If you get this reading then great you are done and hopefully your issues are gone. If not proceed to step 9

This is where and extra pair of hands come in handy. Using a large screw driver you will need to loosen the bolts that hold the TPS. DO NOT USE A SCREWDRIVER THAT IS TOO SMALL BECAUSE YOU WILL STRIP THE BOLTS. They probably will be really tight so you have to really lean on the screwdriver and use some finesse.

Once the bolts are loose you will need to move the TPS up or down and continue to read the voltage. Once you get it to the desired setting you can retighten the bolts. What I do is I find .97 and then as carefully as possible I tighten the TPS down. what will happen is the voltage will change usually to .96 or .98 but that it okay. Once you are done with this manually open the throttle body a few times and close it then reread the voltage and make sure it is still within our desired range.

Depending upon how loose your set screw was you might want to cover it in RTV to hold your setting. At this point you have CORRECTLY reset you idle.
 

MotiV8ed_95GT

Member
Dec 3, 1998
57
0
7
Monkton, MD
Apr 15, 2009
#8
  • Apr 15, 2009
  • #8
I never did adjust the TPS, I figured it would be OK because the 94/95 computer automatically does this. I will try anyway tho. Hoping to pull codes tomorrow. Thanks for the input.

Ross
 

MotiV8ed_95GT

Member
Dec 3, 1998
57
0
7
Monkton, MD
Apr 16, 2009
#9
  • Apr 16, 2009
  • #9
Slight update I made a couple minor adjustments in the tune and ran a datalog today. Put about 50 miles on with no issues at all. Only think I noticed in my datalog was the the drivers side 02 sensor took a long time to"get going" if that makes sense. It sat at just off 0 for a while.

Ross
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Engine 85 GT Backfires through Carb
  • DienstXIV
  • Oct 3, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
19
Views
638
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 7, 2025
85GTStangGuy
Car idles good, then VERY SUDDENLY dies
  • Vulpes5.0
  • Jan 17, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
25
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 4, 2024
Vulpes5.0
Engine Car randomly shuts off or miss fires, what to look for?
  • GSXR1216
  • May 1, 2023
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
13
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 9, 2023
AeroCoupe
1
94 GT HCI: Won't find /hold idle when Warm to Temp
  • 1994FiveO
  • Jun 10, 2023
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
2K
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Jun 14, 2023
1994FiveO
1
Electrical Loosing all electrical power intermittently?
  • GSXR1216
  • May 29, 2023
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 5, 2023
nickyb
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?