96 GT running rough....

MustangChris

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you dont even HAVE to do the premium...

just open your gas cap, drain the can of seafoam into the tank, put the cap back on and drive away. :)

plugs: you will need
a set of wrenches (remove the intake piping)
a ratchet.
a 12" (or 2 6") extensions.
a socket to take out the plugs (i want to say 3/4, but i dont remember)
a pair of needle nose pliers (to pull the spark plug out of the hole if it stays in the hole after you losen it)
die electric gel ($0.99 at the parts store in the little packet)
anti-seize gel ($0.99 at the parts store in the little packet)
spark plug gap measureer ($0.99 at the parts store)
wet rag (clean the exterior of you wires, boots, coil packs, and the inside of the sockets)
1 hour free time
 
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96redgt

96redgt

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Did you have a problem with your fuel rail being in the way when you did yours? Maybe it just appears like its going to be in my way, but I'm just wondering....

A 5/8" spark plug socket won't work? It makes things so much easier....

Quick question, I know the PCV valve is on the passenger side valve cover, but there appears to be some kind of valve on the drivers side as well... Is it another PCV valve or what? I couldn't find anything about it in the Haynes manual.....
 

Cruizin GT

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When I had a cyl. 3 misfire, I did plugs and wires. First the plugs, then ran the car to see if that was it....nope. Still misfired, turned out to be the wires even though they looked fine. Just a heads up if the plugs dont fix it.
 

Cruizin GT

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Oh... and use a universal joint ( can`t remember the exact name lol) between the socket and extension. It will make it soooooooooo much easier.
 
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96redgt

96redgt

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New problem... Went to crank it up to go to work this morning, and it turned over, cranked, revved to 1k then "choked". Tried again, same result. Tried again, and as long as I gave it gas, it lived. Stopped giving it the pedal and it died again. Do I need to try taking off the IAC and messing w/ it?
 

white 98 gt

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Cruizin GT said:
When I had a cyl. 3 misfire, I did plugs and wires. First the plugs, then ran the car to see if that was it....nope. Still misfired, turned out to be the wires even though they looked fine. Just a heads up if the plugs dont fix it.
yeah, like cruizin gt & i have said: do a tune up....plugs, wires, possibly replace iac. (even if you've cleaned it. doesn't always help.)
 

JDwhite98gt

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lets just hope u didnt mess up ur MAF sensor. The car not being able to idle with out giving it gas doesnt seem like a plug problem at all. You other problems did seem like it was a tune up issue. How did u clean ur MAF?
 

white 98 gt

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JDwhite98gt said:
lets just hope u didnt mess up ur MAF sensor. The car not being able to idle with out giving it gas doesnt seem like a plug problem at all. You other problems did seem like it was a tune up issue. How did u clean ur MAF?
possibly his iac is shot...
 
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96redgt

96redgt

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Took it out and used the CRC MAF cleaner. Followed directions on the can, let it dry properly. Keep in mind I drove it after I put everything back together yesterday, and it drove fine until the cylinder started misfiring again....
 

MustangChris

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96redgt said:
Did you have a problem with your fuel rail being in the way when you did yours? Maybe it just appears like its going to be in my way, but I'm just wondering....

A 5/8" spark plug socket won't work? It makes things so much easier....

Quick question, I know the PCV valve is on the passenger side valve cover, but there appears to be some kind of valve on the drivers side as well... Is it another PCV valve or what? I couldn't find anything about it in the Haynes manual.....

the fuel rial is in the way, and be careful its got a sharp edge on it... lol. a universal joint will make this part of it easier...

yea, that should work fine, i honestly dont remember what size socket to use, but a sprak plug socket is fine.

The drivers side Valve cover unit is simply an elbow.

Cruizin GT said:
Oh... and use a universal joint ( can`t remember the exact name lol) between the socket and extension. It will make it soooooooooo much easier.

+1

96redgt said:
New problem... Went to crank it up to go to work this morning, and it turned over, cranked, revved to 1k then "choked". Tried again, same result. Tried again, and as long as I gave it gas, it lived. Stopped giving it the pedal and it died again. Do I need to try taking off the IAC and messing w/ it?

Blown IAC, Blown TPS, clogged fuel filter, bad MAF.

96redgt said:
Took it out and used the CRC MAF cleaner. Followed directions on the can, let it dry properly. Keep in mind I drove it after I put everything back together yesterday, and it drove fine until the cylinder started misfiring again....

if this is the case i have a feeling its a clogged fuel filter... replace the fuel filter (i suggest Motorcraft, but i have a Fram in mine now and its running fine)

its located above the differencial in front of the gas tank.
open your trunk, behind the drivers side trunk pannels you will see a red button. make sure it is pressed down and then UNPLUG it. (this turns off your fuel pump)
start your car and let it die.
try starting your car again untill it wont turn over anymore.(this drains the gas from your lines)
unplug your battery
jack up the back of the car.
jack up the front of the car HIGHER than the rear.
Make sure the car is STURDY ont eh jack stands.
remove the two plastic c-clips on each side of the filter.
unbolt the "filter-holding unit"
remove the fuel line going TO the gas TANK
drain the filter into a bucket (5-10 minutes)
remove the 2nd line.
remove the old filter
place the 2nd line onto the new filter
place the 1st line onto the new filter
place both c-clips onto the lines
bolt the filter back into the filter-holding-unit-thingy
lower the car
reattach your battery
plug in the button in the trunk and make sure the button is pressed down.
turn your key to "on/acc"
turn your key to "off"
do this 3 times total. This charges the pump and helps regain presure to your fuel system. some argue that it's not needed, but i always like to be safe instead of sorry.
start the car. This may take a few attempts to re-fill teh system.
let it idle and watch for leaks under the back of the car.
note: you WILL get covered in gas doing this... there is no way out of it...


let us know if this fixes the problem :)

it could be a bad injector on the #3 as well, thats why i was telling you to run sea-foam. so see if it was just dirty...

I personally think that once you change your fuel filter and change your plugs you will be fine. you cleaned your intake system (and you said you had a clean air filter) so its getting air. once you give it clean gas and a clean spark, I think you will be fine.

you may have a bad IAC. its two bolts. simple to replace, but it does cost $65.00....

<img src="http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/data/503/3661iac_sensor_after_removing_black_cap.jpg">


If you dont see a change after a fuel filter, after the new spark plugs, let us know... we will move onto the next step :)
 
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96redgt

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Got home.... found the problem.... The rubber piece on the end of the line from the PCV valve had split completely in half. Went to the local LKQ, got a replacement piece, and now it cranks right up. Haven't tried driving it or anything yet, so I don't know if the misfire is still occurring or not.

Doing the plugs as soon as it cools down outside. Spent three hours walking around LKQ seeing what they had, now I gotta cool down some. Saw alot of cars that had been through the cash for clunker system.... Including a 99-04 GT... Would the stuff they put in them destroy the cams? If not, I can get some cams for $9 a piece..... Intake was already gone.
 
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96redgt

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I would, but I don't know if the mixture they put in the engines to lock them up would damage the cams... I would love to get them for cheap, but only if I can use them. It's a cash for clunkers car.
 
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96redgt

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I am now done with doing the plugs, took the car for a drive, and HOLY s***! Its like night and day.... The acceleration is drastically different, as well as no codes thrown yet (knock on wood). Now I need to do the wires.....

Thanks for all the help everybody! That's one nightmare gone... I'm just glad I didn't have to shell out alot of money to fix it.....

Now if I can just figure out if I can use the cams out of a "cash for clunkers" car............
 
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96redgt

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If I get a chance, I'll go back and try to get them. I bet someone has already grabbed them though. The place was packed yesterday...

Hopefully a 99-04 w/ a good motor will come in soon, so I can just grab the whole motor. I'd like to have an extra motor to start rebuilding to replace my current one. Its got 180k+ on it........

What other vehicles besides mustangs have the PI heads on them? F150s, Crown Vics, Lincolns????
 
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96redgt

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I would love to do the 5.4, but so far all the ones I've found are ungodly expensive. If I could find one for a decent price, I would jump on it. I did a search on here for a thread about the swap, but I couldn't find one (although I could have swore there was one).... If there is one, it should be stickied.... If there isn't, it'd be nice to have a write up on it.....


Btw, here's what my plugs looked like when I pulled them.... Now I know why I was misfiring..... I'm surprised it ran as good as it did....

DSCF4031.jpg


Apparently, when I changed my intake, I didn't clean up all the fluids like I thought I did.... #3 & #7 had fluid sitting down around them.....
 
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