Common Problem Areas?

[fess40]

Ok folks, I'm a classic and foxbody guy. My son is looking for an 05-09 mustang. He'll be 18 next month and is looking for something to take to college. I need a heads up on what to look for with these body styles. Any common issues or areas to be aware of when we go looking?

 

[racerraj]

Spark Plugs in the 05 to 08.5 can be difficult to remove. When the Alternator finally fails, it tends to throw false cam position sensor codes. Filling up with fuel can be difficult after it is at the half-way point. Flip the nozzle over (upside down) and it fills fine. Really a pretty solid car if it hasn't been abused. Bought my 06 GT new, it has 245,000 mostly trouble free miles on it and still going strong. The v6 thermostat housing tends to leak, but easy to fix. Any unusual ticking should be dealt with quickly. Could be cam followers or timing chain parts (tensioner cam phazer guides). I didn't fix mine right away and the cam follower ejected knocking the valve retainer off, dropping it. No damage to the pistons, but I had to pull the head and have it rebuilt. Not a bad job to replace, but if I had replaced the cam follower early if would have been an easy cheap fix.
I'm still on the original clutch, fuel pump, water pump and most everything else.

 

[Red_LX]

I've heard the alternator can be problematic- I dunno, bought my car with 53K on it, closing in on 100K, I've had basically zero issues with the car. I did have to replace the ball joints at 70K- evidently this is not uncommon. Otherwise it's been solid. I drive it daily from about April-November (actually just tucked it away for the winter tonight). It's a fun car and the 3V is still relatively simple to work on if you do need to do work on it.

I did the plugs at 80K, all came out in one piece except one that the hex spun off of and I had to get the Lisle tool to remove it. Fortunately if one does break the Lisle tool makes it relatively easy to get out, but it's an annoying job, you have to let the plugs sit and soak and work them out a couple turns at a time.

Also, if you get a GT, get a oil catch can on it ASAP, and you might as well pull the throttle body off and clean it. When I first got mine it was idling low and throwing a code, turned out it was because the throttle blade was all gunked up with crap from the PCV.

 

[Adieu]

My 2010 GT (same powertrain at 2005-2009) was trouble-free the entire time I owned it, and I drove that car HARD.

My 2009 GT/CS had a throttle body failue, nav unit failure, and internal transmission failure before the car even had 18,000 miles on it. I go through cars like candy, but that thing set a new record for shortest ownership, even for me, at 80 days... I've kept some parts cars around longer.

I bought both used, my guess is that the 2009's failures were due to it going from being stored more than driven for five years and then suddenly becoming a daily driver, who knows. None of those three failures are common.

 

[Dino Dino Bambino]

my guess is that the 2009's failures were due to it going from being stored more than driven for five years and then suddenly becoming a daily driver

My guess is that this car was built either on a Friday afternoon or a Monday morning.

 

[Adieu]

My guess is that this car was built either on a Friday afternoon or a Monday morning.

Nah, owned by a soldier, so stored for long periods of time and then probably beaten mercilessly when he was home on leave.