Need help!! My GT drives like crap!

[krispy521]

Since I bought the my Mustang in June, I thought it was either misfiring or one of the tires were out of balance. I just put the snow tires on and had them balanced. It drives like the e-brake is on, but it isn't. My pick up sucks, it is whinny, and it vibrates a lot. My check engine light doesn't come on, but there is definitely a skip at about 1100 rpms.

The only upgrade in the car is the K&N filtercharger. I have cleaned it several times and I have cleaned the MAF sensor with electronic cleaner, but still no improvement.

Please help me with any suggestions.

 

[ponysarepretty]

Maybe sparkplugs... seafoam it

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Please, tell us more about the GT in specific.

What year is it ?

What type of transmission do you have ?

How many miles are on the vehicle ?

Has the vehicle been in any kind of accidents ?

How long have you had the vehicle ?

Since you have had it, have you ever changed the fuel filter and spark plugs ?

Though you stipulated the check engine light doesn't come on, has it ever ?

These are all questions, which the answers to will help in better determining your problem.

 

[krispy521]

What year is it ? 2002

What type of transmission do you have ? Auto

How many miles are on the vehicle ? 30,000

Has the vehicle been in any kind of accidents ? maybe minor

How long have you had the vehicle ? since june

Since you have had it, have you ever changed the fuel filter and spark plugs ? no, I haven't changed either

Though you stipulated the check engine light doesn't come on, has it ever ? No, nothing.

 

[krispy521]

Maybe sparkplugs... seafoam it

What is seafoam? If i replace spark plugs, what do you guys recommend for replacements. Is it hard to replace the plugs in 4.6? They each have a coil. right?

 

[Malevolyn]

Seafoam is carb cleaner. Although, there are more ways to use Seafoam than directed.

 

[ponysarepretty]

Seafoam is carb cleaner. Although, there are more ways to use Seafoam than directed.

seafoam is god end of discussion

i would take it to a mechanic to get teh checked out seeing as how the spark plugs should last the best part of 100k miles.

 

[tomustang]

maybe you used bag gas and the fuel filter is clogged

 

[krispy521]

That could be possible, but if I am driving and I put the car in neutral there is no change. The pull is still there.

 

[BooWFO]

Sounds like several things to me.
Is it possible that you have a caliper hanging?
Is it possible the ABS and Trac Control are kicking in too much? (sorry don't have either so I can't help with their characteristics)
Bad load of gas causes all kinds of things, try some injector cleaner and some fuel dryer.
Plugs are very easy to do. Undo the bolt that hold the COP down and gently remove it, it will come out from under fuel rail at an angle. Then remove plugs. there has been LOTS of debate over Loctite on new plugs, anitseize on new plugs and so forth make your own choice there. And DON'T over tighten.
have you checked Air pressure in the tires?
Have you gotten an Alignment done?
Is the driveshaft straight and TURE?
Has the rear gears been changed?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I am going to agree with the above and say that it is a stuck caliper. Have you had a brake job done lately, perhaps by someone that may not have known what they were doing?

 

[timeless2]

That could be possible, but if I am driving and I put the car in neutral there is no change. The pull is still there.

Fuel filter gets my vote. A plug change won't hurt either.

Don't think it is a braking system issue, if the car is in neutral and stationary and still has trouble running smoothly.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

if the car is in neutral and stationary and still has trouble running smoothly.

Where does he say that? I am not seeing it... However after shovelling six tons of snow I am not at my best when it comes to reading comprehension.

However, I did notice where he says that he "cleaned his K&N several times"

Probably so oiled up that is trashes the MAF every time he starts it.

I suggest paper filter, clean MAF one last time, reset PCM, throw away K&N.

 

[timeless2]

Where does he say that? I am not seeing it... However after shovelling six tons of snow I am not at my best when it comes to reading comprehension.

However, I did notice where he says that he "cleaned his K&N several times"

Probably so oiled up that is trashes the MAF every time he starts it.

I suggest paper filter, clean MAF one last time, reset PCM, throw away K&N.

My bad, I read this wrong....

That could be possible, but if I am driving and I put the car in neutral there is no change. The pull is still there.

However, a neutral load is where I was going with this being fuel/air related.

Oiled elements seem to cause more issues than the HP they gain, if any.

 

[mogs01gt]

Since I bought the my Mustang in June, I thought it was either misfiring or one of the tires were out of balance. I just put the snow tires on and had them balanced. It drives like the e-brake is on, but it isn't. My pick up sucks, it is whinny, and it vibrates a lot. My check engine light doesn't come on, but there is definitely a skip at about 1100 rpms.

The only upgrade in the car is the K&N filtercharger. I have cleaned it several times and I have cleaned the MAF sensor with electronic cleaner, but still no improvement.

Please help me with any suggestions.

hmmm sounds like the throttle position sensor.Usually if you have am mis fire, the ECU will pick up on it and give you a CEL light.

 

[Dark Knight GT]

What year is it ? 2002

What type of transmission do you have ? Auto

How many miles are on the vehicle ? 30,000

Has the vehicle been in any kind of accidents ? maybe minor

How long have you had the vehicle ? since june

Since you have had it, have you ever changed the fuel filter and spark plugs ? no, I haven't changed either

Though you stipulated the check engine light doesn't come on, has it ever ? No, nothing.

If you have an extended warranty program, then I would take it back to the dealer, and let them have a look at it. If it's not under extended warranty, then you're going to have to deal wtih this yourself.

At 30,000 miles, it probably wouldn't hurt to do a fuel system flush. You can just add a can of Seafoam to your gas tank when you fill it up, and it should clean the fuel system. I would change the fuel filter as well. If you can, you might want to pull the spark plugs and see what condition they are in as well.

Since you haven't had the SES light, that tells me it clearly isn't something any of your sensors are detecting. Have you checked for maybe a slight exhuast leak, or a possible intake leak ?