• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

The ever so common bucking issue!

  • Thread starter Thread starter TravisGunter
  • Start date Start date Jan 28, 2019
T

TravisGunter

Member
Jan 28, 2019
5
2
13
Fort Stewart, GA
Jan 28, 2019
#1
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #1
Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening everyone! I'm a new fox owner as of about 6 months now. I have an 89 GT 306 with a generous list of all your common upgrades such as GT40 heads, E303 cam, BBK CAI and 70 mm throttle body, Trick Flow upper intake manifold, SCT tune and I'm sure I'm missing alot but you get the point. The engine was stripped and rebuilt about 1,500 miles ago and the T5 trans was rebuilt with hardened internals as well. My issue is around 1900 to 2400 rpm, she tends to buck pretty violently and has pretty sporadic rpm jolts. I put new plug wires in, swapped to a new $360.00 MSD Pro Billet distributor, never changed the plugs themselves though as I'm assuming they're new with the engine rebuild. I've also played around with the timing anywhere from 10 to about 18 degrees to see if that helped at all but no luck. I've replaced the TPS and made sure it was dialed in to about .950 to 1.000 every time I fiddle with it. I even ran smoke tests on it to eliminate any vacuum leaks I found. I'm running thin on ideas so far so any input would help as I am a first time Fox owner. My idle is great and at WOT she pulls like a champ. Also to note....its naturally aspirated so no SC or turbo added. Sorry for such a long thread just looking for help before I break the bank and take her to the shop!
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,868
10,541
203
polk county florida
Jan 28, 2019
#2
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #2
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=698148
This is the famous 'surging idle checklist ' put together by jrichker and it will show you how to properly diagnose idle, stall, bucking and puking problems, well maybe not puking but it helps with everything else, 'but my car is not doing that' you say? Well it will help you fix the bucking problem too, the proper procedures is key to these computer controlled cars, I will add that when you check your tps with the volt olm meter check that the sweep has a steady rise to max volts, open the throttle slowly to make sure there are no 'dead' spots in the sweep.The
Just start at the top of the list and do each step one by one, don't skip around.
 
Reactions: wesmc and TravisGunter

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,216
17,899
224
Massachusetts
Jan 28, 2019
#3
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #3
My guess is the SCT tune and e303 are not playing well together.
 
Reactions: TravisGunter

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,868
10,541
203
polk county florida
Jan 28, 2019
#4
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #4
I missed that whats wrong with me today?
 
Reactions: TravisGunter
T

TravisGunter

Member
Jan 28, 2019
5
2
13
Fort Stewart, GA
Jan 29, 2019
#5
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #5
So you guys think a custom tune would do me justice? Of course after I eliminate any and all of this surging idle checklist and cant find anything.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,216
17,899
224
Massachusetts
Jan 29, 2019
#6
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #6
Hard to say. If you google search "E303 cam bucking" you'll see it's an issue that does occur time to time with the E303.

It's really a decision as to what's more cost effective. A chip and custom tune, or perhaps a new cam.

But before exploring any of those paths, I would rule out a mechanical issue by running through the surging idle checklist first.
 
Reactions: TravisGunter
T

TravisGunter

Member
Jan 28, 2019
5
2
13
Fort Stewart, GA
Jan 29, 2019
#7
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #7
Thanks for the input. I'll definitely look into eliminating mechanical issues first. Appreciate it guys!
 

a91what

SendMeUrDataLog
10 Year Member
Apr 6, 2011
10,739
6,720
214
Hillsborough county
Jan 29, 2019
#8
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #8
The tune needs 3-4* of timing pulled out in the low load area of the tune, the cam is not "in" yet and extra/ too much timing can cause the surge or bucking sensation.
The other scenario is that the AFR is too lean in that area but thats likely not the case, usually pulling power out of the engine with timing stops the bucking that is common with letter cams.

you can test this by setting the timing to around 24* and leaving the spout out and going for a drive.
 
Reactions: TravisGunter and Steel1

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,016
1,613
194
NJ
Jan 30, 2019
#9
  • Jan 30, 2019
  • #9
Just take the tune out.
The e cam has been run for damn near 30 years without a tune.
 
Last edited: Jan 31, 2019
Reactions: TravisGunter
T

TravisGunter

Member
Jan 28, 2019
5
2
13
Fort Stewart, GA
Jan 30, 2019
#10
  • Jan 30, 2019
  • #10
2000xp8 said:
Just take the tune out.
The e cam has been for damn near 30 years without a tune.
Click to expand...
You aint wrong there. Anything's worth a shot I suppose. Couldnt hurt to try it without
 
T

TravisGunter

Member
Jan 28, 2019
5
2
13
Fort Stewart, GA
Feb 3, 2019
#11
  • Feb 3, 2019
  • #11
Just an update. 2000xp was right. Took the tune chip out, dialed in my idle and air fuel ratios, and she runs smoother than ive ever felt. Thank you guys so much for the help. Also had to dig a little into the surging idle checklist to better set the idle and tps in place so thanks for that as well.
 
Reactions: General karthief and a91what

a91what

SendMeUrDataLog
10 Year Member
Apr 6, 2011
10,739
6,720
214
Hillsborough county
Feb 3, 2019
#12
  • Feb 3, 2019
  • #12
Glad to see you got it figured out.
 
Reactions: TravisGunter
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
1987 5.0 speed density Foxbody crank no start
  • Alan2204
  • May 23, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
208
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 30, 2026
Mcmahst
9
Engine Donor '00 Mountaineer meet '91 Fox
  • 91firecracker
  • May 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
41
Views
719
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 28, 2026
91firecracker
9
H
Strange steering/brake issue
  • Haxmaster
  • Jun 2, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
51
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 3, 2026
squeak93
P
2002 T5 transmission vibration issue
  • puffoo
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
149
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech Feb 22, 2026
puffoo
P
A
Resolved Electrical Help Please
  • Alabama
  • Jan 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
255
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 22, 2026
AeroCoupe
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 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?