Progress Thread Finally got my first Fox Body - 1988 GT

[DudeStang]

Theoretically you "could" check for power anywhere along the wire but you really should check at the connector.
If there is no power there trace the wire back and look for breaks/damage.

If you have a cut or something in the wire you could splice in a new piece of SAME gauge wire with solder and shrink wrap.

Clicking is usually a good sign of a functioning relay.

Circuit could be damaged anywhere.
Keep at it you'll figure it out !

I ordered a multi-meter which should be arriving today. My wife is traveling this weekend so I should be able to spend most of Saturday and Sunday tinkering with the car.

I also ordered a few other small miscellaneous things that I had been wanting to put on the car - upper radiator brackets, arm rest plugs (two are currently missing), red "mustang gt" insert decals for the rocker panel area, and a K&N drop in filter for the stock airbox. Obviously the horn is the priority but I'm excited to get some small pieces to the car as well.

 

[DudeStang]

Video evidence of my most recent efforts, lol

 

[Rdub6]

Video evidence of my most recent efforts, lol

Seems like you’re getting it narrowed down. That multimeter will help you out with the wiring!!

But.......where’s the blooper reel of you wrestling with the inner fender?

 

[General karthief]

Splash shield?
Inner fender panel?
That plastic pita thing in the wheelwell?

 

[DudeStang]

Neither my friend or my wife were in the garage when I finally tackled the inner fender splash shield plastic pita thing, lol. I should have left the camera on for at least a little bit. I will be sure to record when I eventually try to put it back in. I want to clean up some of the rust and put some paint/protectant, as well as getting the horns mounted, before I mess with that again.

 

[DudeStang]

Found the battery dead on the fox today. I think it’s been a little over two weeks since I last started it. Anyone know if this means the battery needs to be replaced or if it might be the alternator? Or is there any particular way to tell?

When I bought the car, the seller had to jump start it because it had been sitting but I think it was no more than a week or two.

 

[BlakeusMaximus]

There should be a date of manufacture on the battery. My guess is that it’s ready to be replaced. Look for a bright colored round sticker on the battery for the date.

 

[DudeStang]

Here’s some pics. Based on the sticker on the side it seems it could be from June 2015 but based on the stamp on the front, maybe it’s older...I’m finding conflicting code reading guidance in my googling..

 

[Rdub6]

Hard to tell, because when I blow up the pic it’s too fuzzy, but sometimes there are “cutouts”, “perforations” whatever you want to call them, in the label. You may want to clean the label where I’ve circled and you may find a list of Months/ years. Again..... can’t see well in pic.... just guessing.

 

[BlakeusMaximus]

Average life span is 4-5 years. Get a new one.

 

[DudeStang]

Hard to tell, because when I blow up the pic it’s too fuzzy, but sometimes there are “cutouts”, “perforations” whatever you want to call them, in the label. You may want to clean the label where I’ve circled and you may find a list of Months/ years. Again..... can’t see well in pic.... just guessing.

Not seeing anything. Here’s a closer up picture.

 

[DudeStang]

Average life span is 4-5 years. Get a new one.

Yeah...I was thinking the same thing. Going to try and pick one up today so I can proceed with horn trouble shooting.

I do want to spend some time working on this rust (and the rust on the engine bay side of the shock tower) though.

 

[DudeStang]

Put in a new battery. Car fired right up.

 

[Bazooka1]

Nice GT good start

 

[DudeStang]

So, interesting development...just for sh*ts and giggles I mounted one of the old horns to the frame (again) and plugged it in, and pressed the pad and the horn worked :-O

Only difference between today and doing the same thing last weekend was the new battery.

Here’s how it’s mounted at the moment:

 

[DudeStang]

So I got the fox up on ramps to change the oil and got a few shots underneath to hopefully try and start pinpointing leaks. Commentary from the peanut gallery very much welcome here, lol.

On the oil drain plugs - I cleaned them with brakleen but I’m wondering if they both need to be replaced....

 

[DudeStang]

Some more

 

[DudeStang]

Last few...can anyone tell me what the thing is that I circled

 

[Rdub6]

I’d spend some time with a rag and degreaser and get everything as clean as you can. Then you can better see what is actually leaking.

Some copper washers on the drain plugs should fix those leaks!

 

[Rdub6]

Last few...can anyone tell me what the thing is that I circled

It was connected to an old exhaust pipe. Looks like someone cut it off there and left that piece in the hanger.