Danny411

I have a 2000 Ford Mustang 3.8 that cranks but won't start.

I got the car and it worked perfectly the entire day ( must of started it about 10 times )!

The next day it would not start sometimes it sputters/coughs .

I changed the spark plugs and wires. My battery is brand new.

After i started i attempted to start it many, many times, i pulled a plug and its black and has fuel on it

I also checked all the fuses ( under the dash and the hood)

I contacted the old owner and he said he never had any problems.

I get no codes coming off of it.

I have a good fuel pump because i hear it prime when i turn the car on, and gas spits out the schrader valve when i tested it....

I also forgot to mention that i did manage to get it started a couple days ago, and realized that BOTH catalytic converters where blocked THEY WHERE RED HOT, i took the exhaust system off and it started and would only stay running if i had my foot all the way down on the gas, if i tried to shift into drive it would almost die and would not move an inch. I put the exhaust back on and now it will just cough, it won't stay running. Please help me out!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Daehawk

CATS are supposed to be red hot. Its the way they work.

PNYXPRESS

Sounds like the Cam position sensor has gone bad.

Jim74656

I second this as well

BabyGT

Cats should never glow red hot, that is a symptom of them being clogged. they should never be any color other than what the rest of the exhaust looks like.

BabyGT

also depending on at what point he disconnected the exhaust the o2 sensors would potentially be missing from the system now causing the car to freak out and not run right.

gyea

Agree with the above most likely a cam sensor...
BUT! I did have a similar problem and it was a massive vacuum leak on the throttle body (hose broke)