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Engine Runs perfect, dies when warmed up, starts perfect.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andresquintana.mma
  • Start date Start date May 23, 2020

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
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May 23, 2020
#1
  • May 23, 2020
  • #1
I was having problems with my car idling bad, seems to be fixed now but about two weeks ago when the idle was acting funny it started dying all of a sudden. I thought it was just a side effect to the surging idle. Now that I dont have a surging idle it still dies when it warms up, but starts fine and while driving theres no pronlems its only when Im stopped and the car idles it will die. When I was looking into the surging idle I tried to pull codes but couldnt because my sti wire has too much ohms. Id hook up the obd1 scanner and it would connect but wouldnt pull codes. So im not sure if my wiring got messed up or if my car is dying because of
the spark plug wires being burnt by the header? Any advice or checklist to follow would be great, only problem is I cant pull codes unless I fix the sti connector which Im assuming Id have to replace the main wiring harness and possibly the computer?My car is an 88 GT with a mass air conversion kit, has a cobra intake, 3.73 gears full exhaust and thats all I know of. Thanks for all the help in advance!
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
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In the garage
May 24, 2020
#2
  • May 24, 2020
  • #2
those are symptomatic of either a bad PIP or TFI, but if the wiring is jacked up, you could have some other issues. trace back the wires from the test plugs to see if there are any broken or gounding out wires. A burnt spark plug wire will make the car have a miss but will still run. How did you set the base idle reset?
 

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
207
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May 24, 2020
#3
  • May 24, 2020
  • #3
mikestang63 said:
those are symptomatic of either a bad PIP or TFI, but if the wiring is jacked up, you could have some other issues. trace back the wires from the test plugs to see if there are any broken or gounding out wires. A burnt spark plug wire will make the car have a miss but will still run. How did you set the base idle reset?
Click to expand...
Ok thank you, I replaced the distributor about half a year ago, can they go bad that fast? I’ll trace the wire as well it goes along the fire well into the kick panel correct? I can post a video if that would help?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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May 24, 2020
#4
  • May 24, 2020
  • #4
Did you go through the surging idle checklist?
Did you reset the computer?
 

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
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May 24, 2020
#5
  • May 24, 2020
  • #5
General karthief said:
Did you go through the surging idle checklist?
Did you reset the computer?
Click to expand...
Went through the beginning of surging idle check list because I couldn’t pull codes I have not reset the computer. I’m not to sure how to do that but I can google it. I’ll try to reset the computer here in a little bit when it cools down.
 

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
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May 24, 2020
#6
  • May 24, 2020
  • #6
I was trying to post a video but the file is to large
 

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
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May 24, 2020
#7
  • May 24, 2020
  • #7
Reset the computer no luck still dies after it’s warm and still starts up again great. I’ll go thru the surging idle check list and skip the codes since I’m not able to pull them
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,938
10,578
203
polk county florida
May 24, 2020
#8
  • May 24, 2020
  • #8
The checklist tells you about not being able to pull codes.
take the computer out, open it up and see if there is a burnt trace or leaking capacitor or whatever them things are called.
it also tells you about testing the wires to the computer.
 
Reactions: txstang84

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
207
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May 24, 2020
#9
  • May 24, 2020
  • #9
General karthief said:
The checklist tells you about not being able to pull codes.
take the computer out, open it up and see if there is a burnt trace or leaking capacitor or whatever them things are called.
it also tells you about testing the wires to the computer.
Click to expand...
Ok great I’ll take off the kick pannel right now. I tested the ground wire at the sto and the whit and red wire at the sti ground was good and sti was bad. I’ll check the computer next. Disconnected the egr no change, inolugged iac and made the idel worse but still died plugged it back in ran the way it was and cleaned mass air flow no change. I still need to grab the spark plug wires and I’ll chabge the spark plugs while I’m at it. Thanks for the advice!
 

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
207
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May 25, 2020
#10
  • May 25, 2020
  • #10
Horrible update haha I went to the store in the mustang to get some spark plug wires and driving back I heard the car back fire and it’s never done that before and right before I got home I heard a loud pop and it didn’t want to turn back on, had to push it all the way back to my house good thing I was kinda close. Good thing I have a spare engine if worse comes to worse.
 

Andresquintana.mma

Active Member
Nov 28, 2014
207
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May 27, 2020
#11
  • May 27, 2020
  • #11
good update, trouble shot the car and bad distributor, i was in disbelief because the distributor was new. The crank but no start checklist is amazing! Ill see if it still has a surging idle in the morning!
 
Reactions: Cheapskate207 and General karthief
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