• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

My car died tonight

  • Thread starter Thread starter sunil6784
  • Start date Start date May 18, 2005

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
620
0
18
Boston, MA
May 18, 2005
#1
  • May 18, 2005
  • #1
So i'm driving over to my buddy's house. I was driving down the road when all of a sudden the car starts bogging. Like it was misfiring. Then while pressing on the gas, i couldn't even get the rpms up and it finally died. Then i tried to start her back up, but it wouldn't turn over. I kept trying, and finally once in a while i can get it running, but roughly. If i just let it idle, it would die. So i tried keeping the rpms up to about 3000 or 3500. This would work for a while, but then it would start bogging down again and die.

Also, i ran my tank pretty low, but not low enough that the light would come on. So i'm thinking that i picked up crap from the bottom of my tank. I know of a Bronco that did this and it fouled the plugs. Could this be my problem?
 
8

89rdgt

New Member
Apr 24, 2004
103
0
0
Washington
May 18, 2005
#2
  • May 18, 2005
  • #2
your light could be broken and you just ran out of gas. Or usally the symptom you discribe would be a fuel pump that took a dump. Can you hear the wine? Test for power on each side of the inertia switch with a testlight if you got power. Then time for a fuely pump.
 

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
620
0
18
Boston, MA
May 18, 2005
#3
  • May 18, 2005
  • #3
Yea, I could hear the fuel pump...I tried adding some fuel too. I should've added that in my post. The fuel didn't help either...
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
May 18, 2005
#4
  • May 18, 2005
  • #4
Check for fuel pressure & spark. One of them is bound to be malfunctioning

Remove push on connector from starter solenoid and turn ignition switch on. Place car in neutral or Park. Remove coil wire from distributor & and hold 3/8” away from engine block. Jumper the screw to the big bolt on the starter solenoid that has the battery wire connected to it. You should get a nice fat blue spark.
Most of the items are electrical in nature, so a test light, or even better, a voltmeter, is helpful to be sure they have power to them.
No spark, possible failed items in order of their probability:
A.) MSD or Crane ignition box if so equipped
B.) Coil
C.) TFI module
D.) PIP sensor in distributor
E.) ECC relay next to computer - look for 12 volts at the fuel injector red wires
F.) Fuse links in wiring harness - look for 12 volts at the fuel injector red wires. All the fuse links live in a bundle up near the starter solenoid.
G.) Ignition switch - look for 12 volts at the ignition coil red/lt green wire.
H.) Computer

See the following links for wiring diagrams...

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/16/71/3c/0900823d8016713c.jsp for 79-88 model cars

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/19/59/5a/0900823d8019595a.jsp for 89-93 model cars

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB..._us/0900823d/80/1d/db/3c/0900823d801ddb3c.jsp for 94-98 model cars

Clue – listen for the fuel pump to prime when you first turn the ignition switch on. It should run for 5-20 seconds and shut off. To trick the fuel pump into running, find the ECC test connector and jump the connector in the lower RH corner to ground. See http://www.mustangworks.com/article...c-iv_codes.html for a description of the test connector. If the relay & inertia switch are OK, you will have power to the pump. Check fuel pressure – remove the cap from the schrader valve behind the alternator and depress the core. Fuel should squirt out, catch it in a rag. Beware of fire hazard when you do this. In pinch you can use a tire pressure gauge to measure the fuel pressure. It may not be completely accurate, but you will have some clue as to how much pressure you have.

No fuel pressure, possible failed items in order of their probability:
A.) Tripped inertia switch – Coupe & hatch cars hide it under the plastic trim covering the driver's side taillight. Use the voltmeter or test light to make sure you have power to both sides of the switch
B.) Fuel pump power relay – located under the driver’s seat in most stangs built before 92. On 92 and later model cars it is located below the Mass Air Flow meter. Look for 12 volts at the Pink/Black wire on the fuel pump relay.
C.) Clogged fuel filter
D.) Failed fuel pump
E.) Blown fuse link in wiring harness. Look for 12 volts at the Orange/Lt Blue wire on the fuel pump relay. The fuse links live in the wiring harness near the starter solenoid.
F.) Fuel pressure regulator failed. Remove vacuum line from regulator and inspect for fuel escaping while pump is running.

Fuel pressure OK, the injectors are not firing.

A.) A Noid light available from Autozone, is one way to test the injector wiring.
B.) I like to use an old injector with compressed air applied to the injector where the fuel rail would normally connect. I hook the whole thing up, apply compressed air to the injector and stick it in a paper cup of soapy water. When the engine cranks with the ignition switch on, if the injector fires, it makes bubbles. Cheap if you have the stuff laying around, and works good too.

a.) Pull an injector wire connector off and look for 12 volts on the red wire when the ignition switch is on.
b.) No power, then look for problems with the 10 pin connecter (salt & pepper shakers at the rear of the upper manifold).
c.) No power and the 10 pin connections are good: look for broken wiring between the orange/black wire on the ECC relay and the red wire for the 10 pin connectors.
 

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
620
0
18
Boston, MA
May 18, 2005
#5
  • May 18, 2005
  • #5
Wow...thanks for the help.
 
P

Project89

New Member
Apr 24, 2005
94
0
0
Panama City, Florida
May 18, 2005
#6
  • May 18, 2005
  • #6
Now if that does not clear up the problem try this, my apologies for being vague but I am not a mech, just a shade tree mech. My car did the exact same thing so I just started snooping around the car and scratching my head when I found a cable next to my H-Pipe under the drivers side that had gotten hot and partially melted. I believe the cable runs into the tranny (never jacked it up). I traced it going into the firewall (drivers side) beside the brake booster. Well anyways I taped the melted spot w/some crappy tape and it worked for a couple of days until that tape melted and I replaced that w/hi-temp tape. Haven't had a problem since.......
 

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
620
0
18
Boston, MA
May 18, 2005
#7
  • May 18, 2005
  • #7
Project...thanks for the tip.

One thing I should add is that I was driving it around a few hours before and it bogged down once for a second, then was fine. I was thinking about this. Could it be the Fuel filter?? I'm not sure when its been changed. The previous owner wasn't too good on maintainance items. The car only has 68,000 miles on it. Worth a shot?
 

DJTR

Member
Mar 19, 2004
228
0
16
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada
May 18, 2005
#8
  • May 18, 2005
  • #8
Definetly could be a filter for sure!
 

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
620
0
18
Boston, MA
May 19, 2005
#9
  • May 19, 2005
  • #9
It was the fuel filter,I changed it today. I think the original was still in there. I got a motorcraft from the ford dealer. She purrs like a kitten now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

8
Foxbody high rpms and surging rpms
  • 86foxseth
  • Jun 9, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
183
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 13, 2026
Noobz347
A
1987 5.0 speed density Foxbody crank no start
  • Alan2204
  • May 23, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
254
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 30, 2026
Mcmahst
Distributor installed wrong
  • djj62478
  • Jun 14, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
156
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 21, 2026
CAMTWO1070
Engine Surging idle on start-up
  • keel
  • Aug 11, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
16
Views
897
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 31, 2025
keel
B
'03 GT Fuel Pump/Pressure/Delivery Issue
  • Brodach
  • Oct 21, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
8
Views
877
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 31, 2025
gkomo
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang 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?