• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

Misfiring, loss of power, popping. Where to start?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 94' Five.0
  • Start date Start date Apr 19, 2008

94' Five.0

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2002
206
0
16
Raleigh, NC
Apr 19, 2008
#1
  • Apr 19, 2008
  • #1
Hey folks, I've got an issue and I'm really not sure where to start. I'm hoping to narrow down the possible culprits before I just start replacing parts.

The main problem is limited to the right side. There is hesitation and a loss of power with popping in the right exhaust during acceleration between 2nd and 3rd gear. The problem isn't present at idle though I've noticed some very random idle surging at times. The popping isn't constant after the car warms up but the hesitation is still there.

While checking for vacuum leaks I found a rotted line from the intake to the canister purge regulator. Replacing the line didn't solve the problem but it did seem to make the idle a little stronger. The plugs, distributer cap/rotor, and plugs were replaced about 4-5 years ago. I'm still using the original wires and coil. When I started checking the ignition system I noticed a funny reading on the coil. The secondary resistance is within spec but the primary is reading virtually no resistance. Enough that it is triggering the continuity tone on my DMM. So I'm not sure if this means the coil is bad or not. The coil terminal and connecting wire looks pretty corroded and misshaped. I pulled codes and I'm getting 172 and 173, which means the right O2 sensor is faulting lean and rich.

Could a bad O2 sensor cause this problem or even the coil? I'll probably end up changing all the plugs again and maybe the wires (though they still look pretty good minus the coil wire). Has anyone run into this type of problem before and found a fix?

Thanks
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Apr 19, 2008
#2
  • Apr 19, 2008
  • #2
Were codes cleared after the vac line was fixed?

It sounds like the coil has seen better days. I'd probably replace it for the sake of doing so. I like keeping a used coil in my trunk as a spare, so you could do that with your old one (for a limp-home if needed).

You can switch the O2's and see if the code chases that particular sensor or if it stays on that side of the engine.

Good luck.
 

94' Five.0

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2002
206
0
16
Raleigh, NC
Apr 19, 2008
#3
  • Apr 19, 2008
  • #3
Were codes cleared after the vac line was fixed?
Click to expand...

Ahh good catch, I completely forgot to clear them after fixing the line. I went out this afternoon, cleared the codes, and drove the car for about 45 min.

I didn't see the CEL come on again, but 45 min is a pretty quick test. However the light had been switching on and off pretty frequently during short drives before.

The hesitation and popping was still there though. Since its only on one side I'm not sure if the problem is the coil or not. However its condition would warrant a swap anyway. Maybe its an injector, plug, or wire issue.
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Apr 19, 2008
#4
  • Apr 19, 2008
  • #4
i'd check the spark plug wires
 

94' Five.0

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2002
206
0
16
Raleigh, NC
Apr 20, 2008
#5
  • Apr 20, 2008
  • #5
The CEL came back on today and I pulled code 173 by itself this time. Im guessing its an ignition problem since the right bank is reading rich? I'm running all stock ignition and fuel systems. I pulled the wires and tested them with a DMM. I didn't notice any irregular measurements and there wasn't any sign of burns or splitting. The cap and rotor button looked to be in good order.

Aside from replacing all the plugs, wires, cap/rotor, and coil is there any sensors I'm overlooking that could cause this?
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Apr 20, 2008
#6
  • Apr 20, 2008
  • #6
If it was me, I'd swap the O2's around.

I'd also mist the wires with water from a spray bottle at night. This is a nice dynamic test (stuff can ohm-out ok but once you ram a zillion volts through it, it leaks like a sieve). Be careful of moving parts under the hood and all that.

If you think you have a slight miss, you can run a cylinder balance test. This will atleast give you a cylinder to look at.

Good luck.
 

Adam95GT

New Member
Aug 14, 2006
2,564
3
0
Burlington, NJ
Apr 21, 2008
#7
  • Apr 21, 2008
  • #7
HISSIN50 said:
If it was me, I'd swap the O2's around.


Good luck.
Click to expand...


Bingo... I had this same problem same code... faulty 02... they can cause tons of stupid problems
 

94' Five.0

Founding Member
Jun 11, 2002
206
0
16
Raleigh, NC
May 4, 2008
#8
  • May 4, 2008
  • #8
Small update...after new plugs, wires, cap/rotor, clean MAF, and flooding the Dist bowl, the popping seemed to have vanished. I still noticed some random hesitation and the lean code for the right O2 sensor was still present.

I replaced the O2 sensors today and so far so good. The CEL hasn't come back on and I haven't noticed the miss on the right side yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it was just the sensor all along.

Now on to the oil leaks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Help! 2003 GT misfire when hot
  • Modular03
  • Feb 10, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
422
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Feb 13, 2026
Mustang5L5
1
Engine 91 mustang 302 Low acceleration car backfires pops and acts like it doesn’t want to take fuel
  • 1991Fox5.0
  • Oct 4, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
16
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 6, 2025
1991Fox5.0
1
B
Electrical Why does my fox body keep frying eecs
  • brandyn200
  • Jun 20, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
291
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 25, 2026
AeroCoupe
J
Spuddeeing 06 4.0!
  • jester242
  • Dec 22, 2025
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
141
2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk- Dec 22, 2025
jester242
J
P
2000 GT Random Power Loss
  • Pinellas50
  • Mar 9, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
317
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 23, 2026
Pinellas50
P
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?