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I have a 1988 mustang, 2.3 4 banger. Recently, the car has started acting strange. After running for a few minutes, the car will start bucking and dying for power, and wont rev past 3000RPM or so without violently surging forefard, then loosing power, surging foreward, ect.. I tested the fuel pressure, and its maintaining a steady 40psi at load. Strangest part is, if I flip the ignition off and back on, the car will run fine for a few more minutes, and then begin acting up again. Anyone have any ideas, im really stuck here!
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Kinda sounds like engine electrical issue. I had a similar problem with my 88 2.3 years ago. Ended up being the Ignition module on the dist. It maybe that it's doesn't act up intil the electrical component gets hot, it cools off when you shut off the ignition. They it takes a few to get up to temp again. It could also explain the problem with rev over 3K. Could also be a number of other things.
Try a simple tap test. Take a screw driver, prefereby with a rubber handle, and lightly rap (don't have to hammer on it) on your ignition components (car running) with the rubber/plastic handle. ...try the ignition coil (escpecially at the suplly voltage connection...and try the ignition module on the distributor.
Often times if you have an electrical component going bad it will act up when you rap on it a little. If the car starts to stall or stutter when you rap on the distributor ignition module then it's likely going bad. If you're lucky you'll find the issue this way, it's an easy test to try and those components are easy to replace.
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I have a 1988 mustang, 2.3 4 banger. Recently, the car has started acting strange. After running for a few minutes, the car will start bucking and dying for power, and wont rev past 3000RPM or so without violently surging forefard, then loosing power, surging foreward, ect.. I tested the fuel pressure, and its maintaining a steady 40psi at load. Strangest part is, if I flip the ignition off and back on, the car will run fine for a few more minutes, and then begin acting up again. Anyone have any ideas, im really stuck here!
Pull codes, but like said above it's either your PIP or TFI.
Also fuel pressure should be 38-40 with the vacuum line OFF
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Ex 2.3 N/A car, was a 2.3 turbo, now getting a complete forged & stroked 408W, shooting for a TT setup
1992 GMC Sonoma 4x4
185,000km's|4.3 auto|current DD getting 24mpg
1991 Mazda MX6 DX
299,000 km's (over 186K miles)| TOTALED!
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Weird 1988 2.3 power problem. Please help!
