Need some help please

[89LXhelp]

Hello everyone,

I'll try to keep this as brief as possible. I purchased an 89 LX with about 120k on it about 2 weeks ago. I am in the military and so was the guy I purchased it from so I took his word for it when he told me he's never had any major problems with the car. The first week driving it everything was fine. But starting today I was driving back to the base and it started dying on the highway everytime I put the clutch in to shift.

Once I pulled the clutch out it would start and a few times it backfired. I've been outside for the last couple hours trying to figure out I replaced the distrubuter cap and plugs but I dunno really what else to do it could be all kinds of things. I'm in the military and cash is tight so I really hope it's not anything to expensive but are there any thoughts?

 

[Blandnuts]

I would do a tune up which you've already done some.
-cap,plugs,wires,rotor,fuel filter,oil change

I would check these few things and get back and post your finding (if any)
-check timing
-check TPS (throttle positioning sensor)
-check all vacuum lines and replace ones that are cracked
-clean out the IAC (idler air control valve)
-pull any codes


Does the car idle fine? If you give it a revv does the idle bounce around and then settle?




Fred

 

[jrichker]

Most military bases stateside have an auto hobby shop. It is a great place to work on your car and sometimes you can get some help too.

A paperclip is all you need to dump the codes, so on the short list of cheap things to do, this is #1.

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. You watch the flashing test lamp or Check Engine Light and count the flashes.

See Troublcodes.net Trouble Codes OBD & OBD2 Trouble Codes and Technical info & Tool Store. By BAT Auto Technical

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.

The STI has a gray connector shell and a white/red wire. It comes from the same bundle of wires as the self test connector.

89 through 95 cars have a working Check Engine light. Watch it instead of using a test lamp.

The STI has a gray connector shell and a white/red wire. It comes from the same bundle of wires as the self test connector.

There is a single dark brown connector with a black/orange wire. It is the 12 volt power to the under the hood light. Do not jumper it to the computer test connector. If you do, you will damage the computer.

What to expect:
You should get a code 11 (two single flashes in succession). This says that the computer's internal workings are OK, and that the wiring to put the computer into diagnostic mode is good. No code 11 and you have some wiring problems.

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.

Alternate methods:
For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see Actron® 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 EQUUS DIGITAL FORD CODE READER (3145) – It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $30.

See the "Surging Idle Checklist for help with all your idle/stall problems. The first two posts contain all the updates to the fixes. At last count there were 24 possible causes and fixes for surging idle/stall problems. I continue to update it as more people post fixes or ask questions.

 

[HISSIN50]

Be sure your VSS is connected.

 

[85ragtop]

Added "help" to the title for you.

 

[davorstang]

proooob

check neutral safety switch , or fuel cut off in the back by the trunk