Bill95Mustang

Ok...did the SeaFoam and replaced the PCV. Of course, I broke the plastic tee that the PCV hooks into, so wound up pulling the intake right above the intake manifold in order to get at the hoses and the tee. At least I was able to confirm the EGR port was clear and so was the rest of it. Inside was black, but didn't see any big obstructions or anything. Put everything back together, SeaFoamed it and it runs a lot better. Still a minor knock and the CE light kept coming on and going off. So, I checked the engine codes again and guess what. O2 sensors for both sides seem to be bad. Of course, this is very frustrating since I just replaced both in April when I had the exhaust off while replacing the flywheel/clutch assembly. Hard to believe that I got bad O2 sensors (both sides) but the codes keep coming back after I clear 'em, so either Advance Auto sold me pieces of crap or didn't give me the ones that go before the cats. I'll replace those later this week and let you all know.

Previous question: yes, I did pull the spout prior to setting timing and then I checked that timing did advance when I replaced the spout. But, thanks for asking.

Thanks to all.
Bill

tmajikman

Thats what the forum is for. Glad to here you are figuring things out.

aode08

Now replace the spark plugs and wires, etc and set gap properly, id set the timing to 6- 8 degrees not 10 and see if the noise goes away.

I took our uncles to 10 from 6 and it did this, even after 93 fuel was added etc etc etc, put it back to 6 degrees, problem solved [>:].

Af far as the 02 Sensor codes, check their grounds, you could have a bad ground, or they are doing their job of letting you know something is not right, such as fuel pressure or injector etc. You can listen for bad injectors with a steth or a long screwdriver etc, it will sound different from the rest sometimes.

The 02's are supposed to be replaced at 50-60k? as normal maintenance.

Bill95Mustang

Replaced the O2 sensors and no joy. Haven't adjusted the timing yet...kind of holding off on that until the very end. Did find something interesting online. Apprently, Ford has a history with the MAF sensor 'fouling' (I think someone in the forum earlier said this as well). The codes I'm getting led me to this on the internet. I tried cleaning the sensor using a procedure I found and it helped but totally didn't do away with the knock. So, tomorrow, I'm replacing the MAF sensor and I'll report back. Slowly but surely...

Bill95Mustang

Ok...gotta love Advance Auto over Autozone. Around 8pm last night, I ordered the replacement MAF sensor that they had to get in from another store and it was waiting for me at 7:30am today when they opened the store.
What a difference. Replaced it in the parking lot and the drive home was exhilarating. Finally had the old car back. I still have a very slight knock under WOT and the CEL does flicker on and off, but the performance robbing knock has disappeared. I may have to back off the timing some and maybe replace the spark plug wires, distributor cap, button, etc., again but that is something I can look at in a month or so.

Thanks to everyone and to AdderMk2 whose MAF comment started me thinking down that line. I know that cleaning out the carbon and all the other suggestions definitely improved the performance.

aode08

try setting the timing to 6 degrees with the spout connector removed. At idle the ecm will add more timing after you plug the spout back in,-NORMAL

can you please get us a sound clip?

91hatchgt

Ih ad a little pinging under a load at about 4k rpm in 3rd gear. I cleaned the maf (it was nasty dirty) and installed a new PCV valve, and the car has never performed better.