• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Please help 98 cobra won't start

  • Thread starter Thread starter SpeedyFE
  • Start date Start date Oct 15, 2008
S

SpeedyFE

New Member
Apr 10, 2008
4
0
0
Oct 15, 2008
#1
  • Oct 15, 2008
  • #1
Hello everyone.

I have a 98 cobra, I bought it as a roller. The original dash harness was there, but no engine, headlight harness, computer or computer harness, or engine harness.

I bought a cobra DOHC 4.6 engine and trans and from someone else I also bought a 1998 cobra computer, injector (engine) harness and a computer wire harness. (all from the same car)

When I go to start it, I turn the key, and I dont hear the fuel pump prime, and the car just sits there and cranks. I do have spark, but I dont think the fuel pump is coming on. I checked the inertia switch, that is ok, and I was told that if it was the PATS system, it would not crank at all, so I also ruled that out. Please any help would be great!

Thanks

Paul
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
28
119
Motor City
Oct 15, 2008
#2
  • Oct 15, 2008
  • #2
If the PATS system isn't working properly, the car will still crank, but it will not start. If you have the whole harness and computer from the same Cobra it should start. When I turn my key on in my Cobra, I hear the fuel pump. If you don't hear the fuel pump, then it's the fuel pump. A customer of mine bought awrecked 98 Cobra last year. It wouldn't start. He set it aside for the winter, then dug it out this spring. He narrowed it down to the fuel pump. He replaced it and it started right up. I would replace the pump and go from there.

BTW...what are the computer numbers on the computer? Give them to me, and I'll run them on my computer at work and make sure it is a genuine 98 Cobra computer.

It'll be the numbers with 12A650 in the middle.
 
S

SpeedyFE

New Member
Apr 10, 2008
4
0
0
Oct 15, 2008
#3
  • Oct 15, 2008
  • #3
The weird thing is that when I used a 96 computer with the 98 wiring, the fuel pump primes on when i turn the key, then the car would start, but then after it reved up to 2K about, it just died out after about 2secs. That is when I tried the 98 computer and now the fuel pump wont even kick on...hope this doesnt over complicate things
 
W

Will Smith

New Member
Aug 8, 2004
191
0
0
Cape Coral, FL
Oct 15, 2008
#4
  • Oct 15, 2008
  • #4
sounds like a pats problems to me... it will run off your old pcm but not really casue of the diff setups in the engine but try this... see if you can get the guy that sold u the motor to give u one of his keys... put it by the ignition cyl. and yse the key u are used to in the ignition cyl... i dont know if that has its own PATS module but some rly on the pcm if i am not mistaken... I work on too many fords durign the day to remember which ones do and dont lol...
 
S

SpeedyFE

New Member
Apr 10, 2008
4
0
0
Oct 16, 2008
#5
  • Oct 16, 2008
  • #5
Thanks for the tip, but there is no way for me to get the key. As far as I understand from many people, if the PATS is coming on, the car wont even crank.
With either PCM I use, it cranks and in the 96 PCM case, it starts, then dies...
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
28
119
Motor City
Oct 16, 2008
#6
  • Oct 16, 2008
  • #6
For the PATS to work, the car must have the same dash harness, motor harness, ECM, speedometer and steering column, with ignition and key for it to run. I changed a speedo in a PATS car for a guy who fudged his up with gauges and the car wouldn't start with the other speedo. CRAZY!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
98 gt fuel pressure issues
  • chasecollier1984
  • Jun 2, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
30
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 2, 2026
chasecollier1984
C
F
2004 Mustang GT – Fuel Pump Not Priming
  • Fayio
  • Apr 22, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
181
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Apr 27, 2026
n0v8or
N
1
Electrical Headlight harness trouble
  • 1985fox
  • Apr 14, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
192
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 17, 2026
AeroCoupe
0
V6 to V8 Swap info
  • 02_2v_Curtis
  • Jan 11, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
582
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Jan 11, 2026
02_2v_Curtis
0
S
Help needed - Cranks, no Start
  • sleeping93coupe
  • Nov 30, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
281
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 30, 2025
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L 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?