Hot Start Problems & Low Power

[89lxsc]

My Supercharged '89 LX is having hot start problems and has loss it's power. These problems happened when I last changed my head gaskets. I had an intake missfire on initial start because of bad timiming and had this issue ever since. Idle used to be 18-19" now is 13-16". Recently the air temp and water temp sensors tripped an error. Both have ~10,000 mile on them and are ford parts. I did a compression test today and have 145-150 across the board.

Mod parts are:
T trim Vortech
80mm Vortech MAF in fender on 4" intake pipe
30# injectors
FMU
Vortech Fuel pressure regulator
Explorer GT40 style intake
GT40P heads
1:1.72 Roller Rockers
MSD 6A
T-Rex booster pump
Two stage water/alcohol injection
All new sensors

Everything else has 130K on it.

 

[jrichker]

Dump the codes and see what the computer says is wrong…Codes may be present in the computer even if the Check Engine light isn’t on.

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.

See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html

IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is less than $30 or so at AutoZone or Wal-Mart.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/p-7208-equus-digital-ford-code-reader-3145.aspx– It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $30.