USMC_02gt

Two days ago trying to start my car, the engine would turn over, get a sound like a backfire, and the engine would shut off after a second. So i thought maybe time for a tune up. After replacing the OEM plugs with Bosch Platinum +4's, I attempted two starts and the car sluggishly attempted to turn over, but did not. So, i double checked my work and everything checked out fine. Next attempted start, all i get is clicking from sounds like the starter. The plugs don't require gapping, they are torqued to the correct specs. Also now occassionally, when turning the key one click, the speedometer and the tachometer max out then back to 0 before i attempt a start.

Can anyone help? Thank you!

George

Rusmisel01GT

If it is clicking, then the starter is fine... it mind sound stupid but check your battery... get a jump.

mikev08826

maybe the coil packs? How many miles on it?

mikev08826

To me it doesn't sound like the battery. Especially in an '02.

And clicking doens't mean the starter is ok. Sounds like there must be a few miles on there.

USMC_02gt

I haven't had a problem with the starter before.. This is the first problem i have had with the car since i bought it!! Go ford! I just hit 90k right before this happened .... I'll try a jump, but the battery was acting fine and all of a sudden it goes nuts!! One of the guys at a local shop said if the coil packs were bad i would at least get a check engine light? Any more thoughts?

mikev08826

I test drove a navigator that had a bad coil pack & no check engine light.

I'd bet my money on the coil packs. Usually go around 100,000. I'd also look somewhere other than ford to buy them....when I got my ride a few years ago they were expensive as hell.

If it was my car, I'd put new coil packs on...if that's not the problem, I'd go starter.

USMC_02gt

Are there any quick ways to test the coil packs? Don't have many options this late at night! The Haynes repair manual for the mustang sucks too... They combined all the engine work from the cobra, v6 and gt all in one book, and not enough pictures of the GT!

mikev08826

I've never owned a hayes that has helped the slightest. I'm just too f'n lazy & cheap to buy one from the dealer.

I'm not familiar w/ any way to check the coil pack. But the go around 100,000. Look up in the post. I called it and asked how many miles you had on the car.

May not be the coil packs...but they'll go in 10,000 anyway.

USMC_02gt

Yea replacing them would be the big suck .... Cheapest I was finding earlier was about 40 bucks a pop times 8.... arggg... I was questioning the design of thiis particular system.. Instead of the packs being bad, i was wondering if I put them back on correctlly. They way the coil packs go back on is very odd, and i was wondering the best way to tell that they are ALL seated correctly, you can kinda feel them slip back on, but who knows.. perhaps the spring jumps back up in the rubber... and you cant see it.... hmmm.... is there a *best* way to put them back on? Ive worked on bunches of cars before this one, and this quickly became the project from hell hahahah

mikev08826

Dude, I thikn your in denial that your coil packs are shot.