Problem with ’89 GT
09-30-2003, 03:44 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 15
Problem with ’89 GT
I recently drove cross-country in my Mustang. I drove from Charleston, SC to San Diego. I made it to New Mexico before I started having problems with my car. The car drives fine, but then sputters for 2 or 3 seconds then dies. It seems to happen only when the weather is warm. Normally when I turn the ignition to the on position I can hear the fuel pump kick on, but after it dies the fuel pump sounds different. After it cuts off and I try to start it again the car will run for about 10 seconds then sputter dead again. If I let it sit for awhile, it will start and run for a couple of hours then do the same thing. I took it to the dealership here and, they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I was wondering if you guys had any ideas on what it could be.<img border="0" src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0">
09-30-2003, 04:50 PM
#2
I ♥ Acer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 8,826
Problem with ’89 GT
A fuel pressure gauge would isolate a fuel problem if that was the case, either do that or when it dies and starts acting up get a fuel pressure gauge on it then. Intermittent problems can't really be properly diagnosed until you can recreate the problem and check it then.</P>
10-01-2003, 02:03 PM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location:
Posts: 14
Problem with ’89 GT
I had a pair of cars that did the same thing. One was a fuel pump, the other was the oxygen sensor. You could go to a car parts store and get a code reader, at checker you can use them for free with a deposit, plug it in and run the numbers. That would diagnose most of the sensor problems</P>
10-11-2003, 03:34 PM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location:
Posts: 4
Problem with ’89 GT
Had a similar problem on the wife's 88. Didn't pay attention to the sound of the fuel pump after the problem occured though. Iknow what I found wouldn't affect the the sound of the fuel pump though. The problem sounds identical though as far as what occurs. Her car would sputter a couple seconds and then die only on awarm day. Car would restart and die . Sometimes it wouldnt restart until after sitting 10-15 minutes. I finally tracked it down to that stupid ignition module in the distributor. Very intermittent and only on a hot Texas day.
10-12-2003, 02:50 AM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: United States
Posts: 15
Problem with ’89 GT
A mechanic checked the fuel pressure and said it was at 32psi, he said the acceptable range was 35-45psi. When he took out the old fuel pump it didn't have a strainer on it. After he installed the fuel pump the pressure was at 42psi, and the fuel pump sounded different. When he pulled codes it said the passenger side O2 sensor was indicating a lean condition, and the egr valve wasn't opening properly. I had all that fixed and the car runs fine now, thanks for the help.</P><edited><editID>justincvn2k</editID><editDate>37906.0366087963</editDate></edited>
