Diagnosis help please

[stanger]

Good evening all,
I recently purchased a 97 GT Convertible for my son and myself to enjoy that I love but it doesn't seem to have as much get up and go as I remember my 96 having some years ago. It's an auto and as long as I leave the O/D off we're good but upon turning it on and the transmission shifting from 3rd to 4th makes the check engine light come on. I'm planning on resurecting this car slowly because she really is gorgeous so any suggestions that you guys, or gals, have about compression issues or power issues would be greatly appreciated. I'm planning on changing the sparkplugs tomorrow and that looks like it's going to be a job within itself. Any suggestions on that project will also be appreciated. My son is five so he's not much help mechanically but great moral support and a mustang fanatic, but they gotta have two pipes! Thanks to all.

Richard

 

[the.greg]

Hey,
I don't know anything about your check engine light problem, but I recently changed the sparkplugs on my 98 gt. A six inch extension and a u-joint is what helped me the most(especially on the passenger side plugs). Be sure to use anti-seize on the new plugs.

 

[glittle75]

make it throw the check engine light, then swing it by auto zone and have them pull the code. it could be alot of different things. and having the code will help alot in diagnosing it.

so far as spark plugs, they aren;t that bad if you have a swivel joint. make sure you only put motorcraft or NGK plugs in it. anything else will just cause problems.

so far as waking it back up, i would start with a basic tune-up. change plugs, all the fluids, grab a drop-in K&N air filter, then clean all the sensors. MAF, IAC, aal that stuff. that would be a good start. make sure to post the code if you get it pulled, and we'll help as much as possible.

 

[JerZeyStangz]

Maintenance should be first priority. That CEL (check engine light) could be why the car feels so sluggish, and plus the auto takes away "pep" from the car. I would change all the fluids first, then I would go to modding such as putting a good sounding cat-back. A great CAI is basically the K&N FIPK, JLT, and Mac "Straight Shot."

Then if your really in a serious need of power, P.I. swap (Basically improved heads that come on the 99-04's with added hardware to work on the '97.

 

[CC'S95GT]

while your at auto zone getting your codes ran grab a haynes manual. it'll give you all kinds of good info like what your codes mean and how to fix them

 

[Willis_98GT]

if you change your oil also change the filter too, use the motorcraft ones. their the best,

when i pi swapped my car i used the motorcraft spark plugs, they work very well.