SN95 easy to work on?

fd06stang · Dec 15, 2018

I’m looking at purchasing a SN95 Mustang and wanted to know how easy it is to work on? I’m fairly new to working on cars but want to pick up a 99-2004 Mustang and know that I would want to or need to do some work on it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

stormsedge · Dec 15, 2018

There is nothing too complicated about 99-04 Mustangs...pretty typical front engine/rear wheel drive. Most auto parts stores will read engines codes for free if you have one, and parts are easy to obtain. There is a lot of information on them and lots of forums. Purchase the shop manual relevant to the year model you purchase. Probably a better car than most upon which to grow your mechanical skills.

wmburns · Dec 16, 2018

IMO one of the reasons why Mustangs are such a popular car for home DIY'ers is that it's so straight forward to work on. One of the other reasons is that Ford does not make wholesale changes to the car every other year. However IMO the 1999+ Model year is superior electrically.

I personally have installed transmission, clutches, whole motors, rear ends, suspension, gas tanks in my drive way using nothing more than hand tools, a Ford manual, and an ODB2 scanner.

If interested in getting a full Ford service manual with wiring diagrams on data DVD I may be able to help. PM if interested.

Here's some information on an affordable Windows based ODB2 scanner. IMO there's no better way to begin the journey of learning how to work on your own car than leaning how to incorporate modern ODB2 methods in your trouble shooting "tool box". This will put you way of head of the typical "newbie" and in some cases will put you on the same footing as a professional garage.

ForScan ODB2 scanner w ELM327 USB
https://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/resources/forscan-odb2-scanner-w-elm327-usb.57/

OneSick99GT · Dec 17, 2018

If your planning to buy one and fix it up(add performance parts) anything that drastically changes the airflow/fuel mixture it will need taken to a tuner. Just depends on your plans. But they are fairly easy to work. You have the proper support here at stangnet if you need help with anything. Most of the techs on here do this for a living so your in good hands.

Neuron · Dec 22, 2018

Hell of a lot easier to work on than a FWD car in my opinion.At least on the 4 I have owned.

Mustang5L5 · Dec 23, 2018

Neuron said:
Hell of a lot easier to work on than a FWD car in my opinion.At least on the 4 I have owned.

+1

I've wrenched on a few newer cars and the 94-04s are very easy to work on in conparioson. I changed the alternator in my 03GT in 20 mins. Try doing that on a fwd car

kiddiccarus · Dec 29, 2018

They are called a "Me Too" car for a reason. Popularity among those of us who can turn a wrench keeps these on the road. Hate to say, plenty of parts at the pull-a-part also. Youtube, a Haynes Manual, ODB2 scanner and a good forum will get you all you need on the SN95 Platform. Do yourself a favor. Don't get a 94-95 though.

RaggedGT · Dec 29, 2018

I like the 94’s

jozsefsz · Dec 29, 2018

kiddiccarus said:
Don't get a 94-95 though.

Why not? If we're talking about easy to work-on, the pushrod 5.0L is about as easy as it gets, and parts couldn't be cheaper. The rest of the car is fundamentally the same.

Neuron · Dec 29, 2018

'94/'95 last of the 5.0 OHV. Owned a '95, great car, especially after I supercharged it. Needed more HP to go along with the new body(don't they always) but the '96-'98 wasn't any better/worse. OP must have had a bad experience I guess.

kiddiccarus · Dec 29, 2018

If he is sticking 5.0 yes, but if he is looking at the V6 he will have HP issues and that 2.73:1 open diff will have to be swapped.

wmburns · Dec 29, 2018

I may be un popular for saying this but it seems to me that the preference may possibly depend upon IF you are comfortable with ODB2 and PCM based trouble shooting. I personally consider an ODB2 car to be easier to work on. But I do own a very powerful ODB2 scanner (autoenginuity).

No question about it. A pre-ODB2 car is easier to modify and mold to what ever upgrades float your boat. The PCM won't fight you when modifications are made.

I personally don't modify my cars. My focus is on fixing them and keeping them running in daily driver roles. Relalbility is vital. Electronics don't scare me. I try to work fairly hard on improving my electrical trouble shooting skills. That's why I would prefer to work on the 1999+ ODB2 cars. But I understand why people prefer what they understand (can anyone say carburetor and two wire ignition?).

jozsefsz · Jan 4, 2019

Can't argue that the 3.8 v6 brings its own challenges, though that was used in 94-04 I believe so not really a ding against 94-95.

The 94-95 is probably the worst of both worlds from a PCM standpoint - OBDI but EEC-IV. A bit resistant to mods without tuning, and a bit more difficult to work with than OBD2. Thankfully it's easily chippable and tuneable if you modify it enough to justify it, and other than missing knock-sensors and rear O2 sensors, it's pretty much the same beast to tune it. I definitely wouldn't say it's as primitive as a carb and 2-wire, which I honestly think is a bigger pain to get right than digital tuning.

MoneyMike11 · Aug 14, 2019

fd06stang said:
I’m looking at purchasing a SN95 Mustang and wanted to know how easy it is to work on? I’m fairly new to working on cars but want to pick up a 99-2004 Mustang and know that I would want to or need to do some work on it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have a 2004 SN95, and the only thing I ever did to a car was change the oil. But I started doing things myself. the SN95 is pretty simple to work on. Easier than I thought. You’ll see once you dig into it

DarthStang2003 · Sep 2, 2019

Mustang5L5 said:
+1

I've wrenched on a few newer cars and the 94-04s are very easy to work on in conparioson. I changed the alternator in my 03GT in 20 mins. Try doing that on a fwd car

Agreed!!!!!

SN95 easy to work on?

fd06stang

New Member

stormsedge

wmburns

OneSick99GT

Active Member

Neuron

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

jozsefsz

Neuron

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny

wmburns

jozsefsz

MoneyMike11

New Member

DarthStang2003

Member

Similar threads

SN95 easy to work on?

New Member

Active Member

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

The first widely accepted Tranny

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

The first widely accepted Tranny

New Member

Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency