bmmf

Hi All,
I am a newbie to the forum and hopefully someone out there can help me before I take it to the dealership.

Car:
02 Ford Mustang GT
5 speed

The problem:
When I go to give the car some gas it just revs but no acceleration. Then I let up off the gas its fine and cruises like it should but everytime I go to give it gas it just revs. It only happens when I go to give it medium to a lot of power. The car struggles real bad driving up hills but its less noticeable on flat ground.

Things I've changed:
Fuel filter
Spark plugs and boots/wires

Thanks,
Phil

cliffyk

When you say "it just revs" do you mean the RPMs increase but the car does not accelerate? If so then it sounds as though the clutch is slipping, is there any free play in the pedal?

If you push on the clutch pedal with your hand there should be 1" to 1-1/2" of travel before you feel the throwout bearing pushing on the clutch spring. If the pedal is rock hard from the get-go then the cable is too tight...

Here's how to adjust the stock pedal.

If there is free play in the pedal then the clutch could be toast...

JJ03MustangGT

+1, kinda sounds like the clutch.

mustangman281

I'm gonna say the clutch also.

bmmf

Just checked the car and there is no play with the clutch pedal. It is rock solid so I was thinking about adjusting it a little so it wouldn't be so tight. Would adjusting the clutch fix the problem or simply postpone it for a little while? Thanks for the help

steve0914

maybe learn to drive a 5 speed?

mustangman281

Your clutch is on the way out. If your still have a stock quadrent and cable then its self adjusting.

bmmf

I really hope its not that.

Taking it to my buddy's shop tomorrow but I am pretty sure it is the clutch too. Starting to hear from slipping noises when I try to gas it.

cliffyk

Read the link I posted above and adjust the clutch cable--the OEM setup is not "self-adjusting" as has been posted, but instead is a semi-automatic mechanism requiring that you lift the clutch pedal to release a pawl that allows the quadrant to reposition.

One issue might be that the previous owner bent the release pawl out of the way, as described in the Corral article--in thei case you'll have to manually release it as described in the link.

Once you get the cable adjusted properly there are three possible outcomes:

1. You caught the problem in time amd the clutch disc is somewhat prematurely worn but it and the pressure plate are OK nonetheless;

2. The clutch disc is shot, but the plate is OK (may need to be resurfaced);

3. The disc and plate are both toast (plate has surface cracks from overheating, and cannot be resurfaced);

Both 2 and 3 mean it's new clutch time--2 will cost a bit less than 3 to get repaired.