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Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter new2stang02
  • Start date Start date May 19, 2009
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new2stang02

New Member
Mar 19, 2009
11
0
0
May 19, 2009
#1
  • May 19, 2009
  • #1
My mustang seems real hesitant on take off and i was told that the timing was off any idea how to adjust it??
 

MustangLX-5.0

Founding Member
Dec 2, 2000
856
7
38
Lehigh Acres Fla.
May 19, 2009
#2
  • May 19, 2009
  • #2
Don.t know who told you the timing was off but I highly doubt that's the case.The timing isn't adjustable on V6's and most other cars today.Since it uses a coil pack and not a distributor.The PCM controls the timing via the crank and cam sensors.If you do have a timing issue,one of those sensors would be to blame.The cam position sensor is mounted where a distributor normally would go if it had one (just above the water pump on the left).The crank sensor is mounted just behind the crankshaft harmonic balancer.It uses a magnetic coil to detect the crank position by detecting the teeth on the rotating sprocket.

Can you provide a little more info as to what's going on with your stang? Did a shop inspect it? How long has this been going on? Oh...and what year is this?
 
N

new2stang02

New Member
Mar 19, 2009
11
0
0
May 20, 2009
#3
  • May 20, 2009
  • #3
its a 94 a new set of heads was put on and it started to hesitate leaving a light or stop sign. the timing was a thought by a friend of mine I was also told that the timing would have to be adjusted through a chip or somthing like that i also have a exhaust leak do you think that could be the reason for the slower take off
 

MustangLX-5.0

Founding Member
Dec 2, 2000
856
7
38
Lehigh Acres Fla.
May 21, 2009
#4
  • May 21, 2009
  • #4
How much hesitation? Is it more like a delay when you step on the gas pedal? Or is it more like a big power loss at first then it picks up afterwards? The timing shouldn't have to be adjusted after a head change,unless different types of heads were used.Does it ever backfire or smoke? Does the hesitation problem ever get better or worse after the engine has been running for a little while?

The only other reason I could see timing adjustments are needed is if one adjusts the cam,changes the cam and or mis adjusts the cam sprocket.Or other modifications having to do with pistons,crank or cam.If the heads are factory type,then you shouldn't need adjustments.Timing is already calibrated for those.No further adjustments should even be needed.

An exhaust leak wont cause this unless it's leaking inside the head or EGR flow is excessive.The only real problems with exhaust leaks are noise,odor,O2 sensor over correcting for presumed lean condition (detecting oxygen from leak).
 
N

new2stang02

New Member
Mar 19, 2009
11
0
0
May 22, 2009
#5
  • May 22, 2009
  • #5
it really only does it when the motor is cool the heads are just stock so no after market work has been done i would like to get it fixed but after i drive like a mile or two it gets better do you think the exhaust leak has anything to do with it
 

MustangLX-5.0

Founding Member
Dec 2, 2000
856
7
38
Lehigh Acres Fla.
May 23, 2009
#6
  • May 23, 2009
  • #6
I don't know if this is relevant,mine has been doing something similar.Funny thing is it has been doing this ever since I bought it in March of 2000.Head gaskets were replaced in May of 2000.I have a 5 spd manual trans.Only when it hasn't been running for at least a day does it do this.I'll start it up,runs fine,no shuddering,no misfires ..nada.I'll back out of my driveway within 30 seconds of starting it.It hesitates a little when i'm applying the gas and letting off the clutch,but it goes.Then I'll put it in 1st and start taking off.During the time I am letting off the clutch and gassing it,this it when it will start hesitating...during the immediate take off.As it's hesitating,if I try to give it more gas it will sometimes stumble and backfire a little.After a few seconds it will clear up.I will notice it in 2nd gear at the low end,as i'm letting off the clutch and giving it gas.It doesn't stumble like it did at first but the power can seem rather anemic then all of a sudden it clears up.After a minute or so,this problem is gone.Again,only when the car has sat for at least a day,after first starting it.It's much worse on very damp and humid days.More noticeable in early morning when the morning dew is still out.Don't know what causes it.I have done LOADS and loads of work + maintenance to this car for the past 9 years i've owned it.Everything from MAF sensor to all 4 O2 sensors,Evap control valve,wires and plugs a few times,coil pack twice, ran a fuel induction twice + all the other dozens of things I have not mentioned that has no relevance to this.

I brought that up as I thought theres a chance it may be related to what you're experiencing.Is it anything like what I described above? Is your stang an Auto or 5 spd ? Has any other work been done to it? Did it run like this before the work was done? Do you get a Check Engine light? I wanted to point to the MAF sensor but if this didn't happen before the head work then I highly doubt the MAF sensor is faulty.Unless some dirt or oil got in the sensor wire.You may want to check and make sure every sensor is plugged in.Check the Throttle position sensor to make sure that has no been unplugged (it's on the back side of the throttle body).

Has the car been sitting for awhile? eg..a couple months? Has the injectors been cleaned in the past year or two?

A lot of questions,yeah....A lot of things can cause the engine to hesitate so you need to rule these things out.
 
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