I started experiencing this problem about a week ago. Randomly, the engine will seem like it is trying to die. It will cut out, in the middle of driving, the check engine light will flash and then it will be back to normal. It starts after I have driven for about 10 minutes or so. But, like I said, it just randomly happens and sometimes doesn't happen. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
Having a problem with my 98 GT
- Thread starter WillNeedHelp
- Start date
Maxpowers
Member
Have the CEL checked and see what it says. Very good place to start to push you in the right direction.
fuel ??????????????????
tough call I would start with fuel ... got a fuel pressue tester ? change fuel filter & drop it down gently so you can check what inside pour it glass bottle , maybe a bad load of gas or maybe fuel pump on its way out need to test fuel , then electric , but the way you describe it I would say check the fuel ststem first then all other stuff ....good luck
tough call I would start with fuel ... got a fuel pressue tester ? change fuel filter & drop it down gently so you can check what inside pour it glass bottle , maybe a bad load of gas or maybe fuel pump on its way out need to test fuel , then electric , but the way you describe it I would say check the fuel ststem first then all other stuff ....good luck
Maxpowers
Member
Maxpowers
Member
CEL lights are stored in the computer.
Load = in gear and accelerating. Does it only stutter when you are trying to pick up speed, or will it do it when you rev the engine in neutral?
So far it has only happened when I have been driving. Never at an idle. Has done it at a steady speed. I know Autozone has the the machine to tell you what the CEL code is, but they told me that it would only work when the light was on. Are they wrong or do I need to take it into a shop and have them do it?
LI98GTStang
Founding Member
Load is when you press the throttle down and ask the car to accelerate as opposed to keeping a steady speed or slowing down. The computer does have a memory and the code could be stored the memory of the computer and can be read via scanner.
Agree, at this point it could be a few things, but getting the code read might give you direction on where to focus your efforts on. Just off the top of my head, could be clogged fuel filter, bad cat or O2 sensor, bad coil pack, spark plug or wire IAC (always suspect IMO) etc.... See what we mean?
trinity_gt
10 Year Member
The flashing SES light means the PCM is detecting misfires occurring. This may point to a coil pack issue. Get the code(s) read at an Autozone (or wherever) and post back. You'll probably see P0300 but you might also see one or more of P0301 to P0308. If you've got a coil going bad you might be able to identify which one by looking at which cylinders are showing misfires.
If there's no rhyme or reason to the misfire indication, you may have a fuel pressure problem. For that you might want to have a fuel pressure gauge connected to the fuel rail and drive around till it happens and see if the gauge shows any crazy activity.
The fact that it happens after ~10 minutes of driving might point to a thermal issue (e.g. the ignition coil insulation breaks down when it gets warm...)
If there's no rhyme or reason to the misfire indication, you may have a fuel pressure problem. For that you might want to have a fuel pressure gauge connected to the fuel rail and drive around till it happens and see if the gauge shows any crazy activity.
The fact that it happens after ~10 minutes of driving might point to a thermal issue (e.g. the ignition coil insulation breaks down when it gets warm...)
Possibly electrical like a shorted wire. Mine did the same thing when I had a shorted O2 sensor wire. The problem is where to look. It happens randomly so it is nearly impossible to track. Was there any work done to the car that preceded the issues you are having?
My issue was an intermittent short. It would reset and cause problems at random. It finally got to the point that the car shut down completly and kept blowing the PCM fuse. It could be you are experiencing something similar. As you hit a rough patch of road it could be shorting out and cause the theft light to flash as the PCM loses contact. Keep in mind this is only one reason for the issue you have.
Is the theft light flashing in a series of flashes? If so count them and come back.
Is the theft light flashing in a series of flashes? If so count them and come back.
Maxpowers
Member
Sometimes you need to know you are at a loss and get a second set of eyes on it. Get a friend or a shop to take a look at it.
i have thing exact same problem with my car right now when im driving down the road it will start missing and when im in town it will randomly like die and come back on and usually if i go wot it would go away and then some other times it would get worse ive got new plugs wires and coil packs i got a new fuel filter on it to it does it at an idle sometimes to i still dont no whats wrong with it and its making me mad mines been like this for awhile to
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