Hey Everyone --

I am having some trouble with my 2003 3.8 and was hoping to pick some brains and try and figure out what is up with it.

Here goes -- I am having trouble with what seems to be the engine missing. After I have been driving for a while 40/45 minutes the engine begins to miss. If I give it gas it doesn't respond and then when it does it hesitates and jerks pretty badly. If I am on the interstate going highway speed it will sometimes not be able to keep the speed up. I only seem to notice this problem if i've been driving for a little while -- and if I pull over and shut the car off for a few minutes it stops doing this for a while. The weird thing is I recently made a long trip at night when it was cooler and had no problems at all -- so it almost sounds like something is overheating but i'm not sure.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

To be honest, that could be anything from an air intake problem to a miscalculation by the ECU. Get it professionally checked out, preferably by someone you trust if possible.

Does it have any mods? Is it automatic or 5 speed? Post some details of your car and maybe one of us will have a better clue as to what your problem is. Good luck.

 

Sounds like a Mass Air problem. Once it heats up the engine compartment and creates moisture it appears to drive like a retard?

 

It is a stock automatic 2003, no mods. Just the basic coupe.

 

Dan makes a good point. Theres a good chance that the Mass air flow sensor is misreading. Then again it could be something else. Looks like a professional job, but keep us posted if you figure something out. Since you have no mods, the dealer should be able to check it.

 

MIL light on?? Post on the V6 Forums and someone will know something about it. Just because we have 2 less cylinders all the GT's laugh at us.HAHAHAH Insurance HAHAHAH. Just kidding, I love you GT people.

 

just take it to the dealership, warranty should cover it unless you've went over your miles

 

Plugs could be the culprit, but I'm going to put my money on a MAF problem.

I've seen people with intermittent MAF problems, never bad enough to trip a CEL light, but enough to make it run like trash.

 

That's what just happened to me. Had to replace the MAF, plugs, and wires and it runs like a top!

 

lol. Could possibly be a MAF sensor. I have had a few bad MAF sensors and they really bog and trip when first accelerating. I know i have posted many times on this and other mustang forums. I have had the same problem for ever. Just like described after driving for a bit, i can be in fifth and then let into the throttle and it will start to hesitate. I have changed almost everything. Still have the same problem after a little while of driving. I'll be on a 30 minute trip and then down shift to pass and WHAM! hesitation. And then it will smoth out. I dont have this problem when shifting through gears. Just then at a certain speed then putting the throttle in and then it dies.