idle/start problem. Help!

[96gtmustangman]

Hi, my name is Jason and I'm new to this forum, and I need some help with my 96 GT.

Yesterday I was driving to school and when I left the curb in front of my house it hesitated a little bit, but then it was ok. Then about half mile farther down the road it started lurching wouldn't respond when I gave it some gas. So, I put the clutch it and tried to rev it up and hoping that would help. But, when I put the clutch in the RPMs just dropped to about 500 and was running rough shaking the whole car. I gave it some gas and tried to get the RPMs back up, it still ran rough, but the RPMs did come up a little, but then dropped back down and wouldn't come up no matter how much gas I gave it. So, I pulled to the curb, left it running and popped the hood hoping maybe I could see something or at least be able to hear it better. It was still running really rough shaking the car until it finally died. I started it again and it barely ran at all, shaking the whole car and barely staying running. Finally it died and wouldn't start again.
So, I got it towed back to my house. This morning I went back out to try and see what I could find out. I tried to start it and after a couple of tries it started but still ran really rough and wouldn't respond to any gas I gave it.
Thats all I've done so far, I'm just a college student so I dont really have the money to take it to the shop. Here is what I've checked so far:
When I turn the key on there is a whine coming from the gas tank for about 2-3 seconds, I'm assuming from this the fuel pump is OK. I then checked the fuel rail shrader valve and there was pressure and when I pushed on it gas came out. I replaced the mass air flow sensor about 7,000 miles ago. I replaced the wires and plugs about 4,000 miles ago. My engine has 139,000 mikes.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Jason

 

[Mike97gt]

what do you have doen to your car?plus any check engine light on?

 

[96gtmustangman]

I haven't done anything to it yet. I'm thinking of replacing the fuel filter though.

Yes I do have a check engine light on, but it has been on since I bought the car, Auto Zone ran the trouble code on it and told me that it was a smog sensor of some sort and that it wasn't any big deal. It is possible that it has thrown a code since then, but I wouldn't know if it did.

Jason

 

[Mindstatic Pro]

Hard to tell from the information so far but off the top of my head, I would say it sounds like a misfire. You have come to the right place for answers though. Lots of ford techs and knowledgable wrenchers here.

 

[jstreet0204]

Sounds like you are on the right track with the things you have checked so far. It is possible that you have fuel pressure, just not enough. If you dont have access to a fuel pressure guage, then the next thing I'd try, is checking the plugs. After cranking it a few times, look to see if the pugs are fuel soaked. This will let you know that the problem is spark related, not fuel related. Then start checking plugs, wires, and coil packs.

 

[Mike97gt]

try to see if you can get the codes scaned. don't listen to their input they don't know anything. just get the codes and post them here.

if you can get a fuel presure gauge see if you have enough fuel presure.

 

[Mindstatic Pro]

try to see if you can get the codes scaned. don't listen to their input they don't know anything.

+1

 

[96gtmustangman]

Thanks everybody for the responses!

Heres what I've done so far since yesterday...
1. I replaced the fuel filter
2. I rented the obd2 scanner from Auto Zone and got 4 codes. I think they are all related to the emmission sensors. I wrote them down but lost the paper I wrote them on. 1443, and 0130 are the only ones I can remember. Still I think they are the same ones that it threw a couple of months ago.

But, when I replaced the filter no fuel came out of the lines on either side of the filter. And when I tried to start the car afterwards nothing happened at all. After trying to start it a couple of times I went back to the fuel rail and there was no pressure behind the shrader core. So, I'm back to thinking that it may be the fuel pump?