massive amounts of help needed!!!

[Phatt_daddy]

I am trying to figure out what is wrong w/ my baby and I need some massive amounts of help. When ever I start the car the first problem is that the satarter sounds like it is not meshing with the flywheel, grinding. starter bolts are tight- that has been checked and re-checked.
Then we get to driving, everything goes good for say about a 10 min trip then I can't keep it running with out holding the gas in a little. If I floor it it dies like it is starving for gas if I let off the gas for it to idle it dies w/ the same symptoms. I have to gently bring the rpm's up to about 2000 to be able to floor it then it starts blowing black smoke and backfiring a little, if I can keep it running.
It is still fuel injected, with new plugs, o2 sensors, cap and button, and wires. Oh yea there is also a strong smelll of gas like it is runing really rich.

Please help me figure this out before I decide to carb it.
Engine is an 84 lincoln engine, bored .040, with a small slightly above stock cam, and stock 84 heads. If al that helps.


Thanks,
Nate

 

[Hickfied]

Something is way out of range for it to be that rich. I would give it a nice tune up (clean MAF, IAC, TB, reset TPS and idle speed, and new 02's). My bet would be the 02's, but I would go through the whole thing because if a few sensors are just out of range a little, they can all add up and 'cause the car to run badly.

 

[Jaswir]

dump codes

 

[rd]

Look for obvious things like disconnected wires, and especially vacuum leaks, then pull the codes.

w/o the codes you really are shooting in the dark.

 

[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 about $30 or so at AutoZone or Wal-Mart.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?3829 – It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $35.

Wal-Mart may now have the LCD display scanner for less than $35

 

[facemelter71]

Allmost 100% positive.Look at your map sensor at the back of your intake to the right on the bulkhead its black with one vacuum line and one connector running to it.replace map sensor and run new vacuum line.That should fix it.i had the same problem on my 87 and it was a kinked vac line.car ran like **** and allmost always stalled always fell on face when pushed gas.yep thats it the map sensor and vac line.

 

[MAC'n89Blckstng]

Allmost 100% positive.Look at your map sensor at the back of your intake to the right on the bulkhead its black with one vacuum line and one connector running to it.replace map sensor and run new vacuum line.That should fix it.i had the same problem on my 87 and it was a kinked vac line.car ran like **** and allmost always stalled always fell on face when pushed gas.yep thats it the map sensor and vac line.

My friend did the same on his horribly running 87 (blew a ton of black smoke) and now it runs like a champ.

 

[Phatt_daddy]

alright I will give alll a tryt but can anyone help me out with the starter problem? It is a new unit albeit you get what u pay 4 from advanced auto parts. If I were going to replace the whole wiring harness that included all sensors from the computer to the engine, Is there 1 for the sd cars? or would it be better to go ahead and upgrade to mas air?

 

[facemelter71]

yea painless wiring makes that kit your talkin about.but i didnt get your starting prob.what was it.

 

[Phatt_daddy]

well everytime I go to start the car it sounds like the starter isnot meshing well with the flywheel. I have checked and rechecked the bolts and they are tight.