• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Engine problem when hot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Isaac-1
  • Start date Start date Aug 1, 2004
I

Isaac-1

Founding Member
Sep 8, 2001
824
1
16
SW Louisiana
Aug 1, 2004
#1
  • Aug 1, 2004
  • #1
I have a strange problem with my car, this has been going on for about 6 months, but only happens after driving the car for long distance (over 250 miles). Basicly after driving a long distance on a highway trip everything will seem fine at cruising speed, but the car has no power to pass, if I try to take off hard from a dead stop the car lurches and surges HARD. In extreme cases I can drop it into neutral stand on the gas and the rpms will not go over 3200, they will climb ok up to about 3200 then hang, if I keep my foot on the floor a couple of seconds later the car will start making an odd sound (running rich/lean? no pinging sort of sputering though) the rpms will slowly fall to about 3000 then climb back towards 3200. If I stop for gas or otherwise let the car cool down when on a long trip the problem goes away for a bit, but relativley quickly returns once I have driven a while. No codes are being tripped even when I stand on the gas in neutral (I have not dared do that for more than a few seconds though for fear of doing real damage) This happens at both partial and WOT, in case that helps I know the computer acts different and uses diffent inputs for each. Could this be a fuel pump issue? I know in the cooler months simply stopping 5 minutes to fill up the gas tank would make it go away for a good bit(the gas was much colder then too).

thanks for any help you can give my mods are in my sig.
Ike
 
3

3.8L_of_Pain

New Member
Jul 4, 2004
123
0
0
Southern California -- Orange County
Aug 1, 2004
#2
  • Aug 1, 2004
  • #2
I am not sure - it could be numerous things. But check your Throttle Position Sensor (TBS). Perhaps the TBS is not properly detecting the position of the throttle valve and therefore not adding fuel. Just a hypothesis.
 
I

Isaac-1

Founding Member
Sep 8, 2001
824
1
16
SW Louisiana
Aug 1, 2004
#3
  • Aug 1, 2004
  • #3
I have not checked the TPS when this is actively happening, I do have a code scanner that will check it "next time", however I have only checked it after getting back from a trip after the car had cooled for 5 - 10 minutes (I had to go into the house to find it) at that time it seemed to be fine. It also seems that if it is heat related that something sitting on top of the intake like the TPS could not cool down in the time it takes to pump a tank of gas. Internaly its not that fancy either, no heating element like the MAF has, etc just a simple low voltage position sensor. I may just change it out rather than trying to test it, it is cheap and easy to change (2 screws).

Ike
 

Warbird19

Founding Member
Sep 27, 2001
742
0
16
Washington, Federal Way
Aug 2, 2004
#4
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #4
Clean your MAF sensor with intake cleaner, sounds like you just have a dirty MAF sensor
 
I

Isaac-1

Founding Member
Sep 8, 2001
824
1
16
SW Louisiana
Aug 2, 2004
#5
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #5
I will try cleaning the MAF, it can't hurt to try, but why would it take several hours of driving before it started going crazy? Also I may be wrong, but I thought the MAF was not used for input by the computer at WOT? Anyone else have a thought, this has been going on for 6 months and I really need to make it stop.

Ike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
2001 Mustang GT, scorched metal smell and noise from trans/diff?
  • AndyE2255
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
397
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 28, 2025
gkomo
Hard to start when engine is cold
  • 86_Capri
  • Mar 11, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
31
Views
747
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 21, 2026
86_Capri
F
Trouble Shooting Sudden Shift of AFR at low RPM
  • Farva_84
  • Jun 6, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
430
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 8, 2025
Farva_84
F
J
'96 Cobra: A/C gets weak and engine misfires under load when warm
  • jruhnke
  • Oct 22, 2025
  • SVT Tech Forum
Replies
2
Views
265
SVT Tech Forum Nov 20, 2025
nickyb
B
'03 GT Fuel Pump/Pressure/Delivery Issue
  • Brodach
  • Oct 21, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
806
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 31, 2025
gkomo
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L 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?