Engine sputtering, please help

atrainsgt · Jan 13, 2008

Hey guys I'm a new member on this forum but I have been reading through allot of the threads to see if anyone else has this problem and it appears that no one has so I figured I would make a thread and see if anyone could help. The car is a 1998 GT 5-speed the mods are in my sig. So anyways My engine started sputtering a few days ago so I changed the fuel filter thinking that would take car of the problem, it helped but did not solve it by any means. The car is fine for just normal driving but when I hit the gas to pass a car or something like that it will sputter like its not getting enough fuel or I guess it could be getting to much. You all have any ideas? I could go into more detail if you need to know anything specific. My guess is that the fuel pump is going out but it may be a clogged injector. How do I check for a clogged injector? Thanks

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 15, 2008

Clogged injector is doubtful, it really just don't happen.

How many miles are on it, and when did it last get plug's, and what kind are they?

voidfinger · Jan 15, 2008

I had a similar problem twice. one time it was a cracked plug, got some water down in there and it got hot and cracked the enamel and arked every time my car got over 3k. Then i had a plug wire go bad. That might be your problems b/c it only happens under load right? if so i would check those. Pretty cheap and easy fix also.

atrainsgt · Jan 15, 2008

The plugs and wires are about 2 months old. NGK plugs and FRPP wires. The car has been running fine for the last couple days oddly enough. Maybe the injector cleaner worked. I tested my injectors they are all working. I will replace the plugs because they did have some coolant sitting on top of them for a while when my thermostat was leaking and I was not aware of it but I cleaned all that out a few days ago. You all know where I can buy the FRPP 170lph in tank pump for a 1998 GT? The only place I can find that has it is mustangwarehouse and I've heard allot of bad about them so I would rather buy it elsewhere. http://www.mustangwarehouse.com/mustang_1.mvc?p=M-9407-D46

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 15, 2008

Try spraying some carb cleaner on the MAF wire if it comes back.

reivaxtorres · Jan 15, 2008

hey, did you get my IM on yahoo?

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 15, 2008

Me? No

atrainsgt · Jan 15, 2008

I just got it X I hadn't been on yahoo today and NO. The plugs and wires I put in about 2 months ago. I would just go ahead and buy that pump you suggested but its supposedly discontinued. The only place that has it that I can find is Mustang Warehouse and it seems they have a habit of sending parts for the wrong model and pathetic or non existent customer service.

DFG_magic · Jan 15, 2008

Everything they said. Last resort would be the fuel pump. I've seen fuel pumps go south right after changing a VERY dirty fuel filter. Mine for a fact did.

reivaxtorres · Jan 15, 2008

J.R. said:
Me? No

haha, no, i meant atrainsgt. i guess i shoulda been more specific, huh? :santa_grin:

atrainsgt said:
I just got it X I hadn't been on yahoo today and NO. The plugs and wires I put in about 2 months ago. I would just go ahead and buy that pump you suggested but its supposedly discontinued. The only place that has it that I can find is Mustang Warehouse and it seems they have a habit of sending parts for the wrong model and pathetic or non existent customer service.

did you happen to take out the plug wires? if you did, you may have damaged them, or even if they were soaked in coolant long enough they could get damaged. i had to throw my frpp wires away when my manifold cracked because the #4 wire got soaked and it was arching.

if you removed them, its possible you may have streched/torn a wire inside, or its also possible you may have damaged them with that coolant that was sitting in there

if you still really want to buy that pump, look here:
http://www.lethalperformance.com/pa...-racing-1998-mustang-high-flow-fuel-pump.html

voidfinger · Jan 15, 2008

atrainsgt said:
The plugs and wires are about 2 months old. NGK plugs and FRPP wires. The car has been running fine for the last couple days oddly enough. Maybe the injector cleaner worked. I tested my injectors they are all working. I will replace the plugs because they did have some coolant sitting on top of them for a while when my thermostat was leaking and I was not aware of it but I cleaned all that out a few days ago. You all know where I can buy the FRPP 170lph in tank pump for a 1998 GT? The only place I can find that has it is mustangwarehouse and I've heard allot of bad about them so I would rather buy it elsewhere. http://www.mustangwarehouse.com/mustang_1.mvc?p=M-9407-D46

the fluid could be causing it, the first time mine messed up was with the coolant or water in the passengers rear plug hole. I got a leak on mine where the heater hose went in. I was leaking a lot though.

reivaxtorres · Jan 15, 2008

voidfinger said:
atrainsgt said:

The plugs and wires are about 2 months old. NGK plugs and FRPP wires. The car has been running fine for the last couple days oddly enough. Maybe the injector cleaner worked. I tested my injectors they are all working. I will replace the plugs because they did have some coolant sitting on top of them for a while when my thermostat was leaking and I was not aware of it but I cleaned all that out a few days ago. You all know where I can buy the FRPP 170lph in tank pump for a 1998 GT? The only place I can find that has it is mustangwarehouse and I've heard allot of bad about them so I would rather buy it elsewhere. http://www.mustangwarehouse.com/mustang_1.mvc?p=M-9407-D46

Click to expand...

the fluid could be causing it, the first time mine messed up was with the coolant or water in the passengers rear plug hole. I got a leak on mine where the heater hose went in. I was leaking a lot though.

Thats where mine broke. it must be a '98 thing....

atrainsgt · Jan 15, 2008

Have you guys ordered from lethal performance before? I'll go ahead and get the pump, I'm sure mine is the original and the car has around a 159,500 miles on it.

reivaxtorres said:
J.R. said:

Me? No

Click to expand...

haha, no, i meant atrainsgt. i guess i shoulda been more specific, huh? :santa_grin:

atrainsgt said:

I just got it X I hadn't been on yahoo today and NO. The plugs and wires I put in about 2 months ago. I would just go ahead and buy that pump you suggested but its supposedly discontinued. The only place that has it that I can find is Mustang Warehouse and it seems they have a habit of sending parts for the wrong model and pathetic or non existent customer service.

Click to expand...

did you happen to take out the plug wires? if you did, you may have damaged them, or even if they were soaked in coolant long enough they could get damaged. i had to throw my frpp wires away when my manifold cracked because the #4 wire got soaked and it was arching.

if you removed them, its possible you may have streched/torn a wire inside, or its also possible you may have damaged them with that coolant that was sitting in there

if you still really want to buy that pump, look here:
http://www.lethalperformance.com/pa...-racing-1998-mustang-high-flow-fuel-pump.html

voidfinger · Jan 15, 2008

170 here

reivaxtorres · Jan 15, 2008

ive never ordered from lethal performance before, but i havent heard any bad things on them either

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 16, 2008

Lethal is pretty awesome, no worries there.

Mine also broke back there, 97.

DFG_magic · Jan 16, 2008

That pump in question is a 170lph unit. For tha money you're spending i'd get a Granatelli 190 or 255lph pump.. Check out www.mustangsunlimited.com . Fuel pumps are things they usually keep in stock. They have the BBK 255lph pump for 144.95$ PN: BBK1607, BBK 190lph pump for 124.95$ PN: BBK1606, Granatelli 255lph $149.95 PN: FP250, Holley 255lph pump $181.95 PN: H12902, etc. Check them out. And IIRC, all these pumps are Walbro pumps with vendor specific packaging. I know my Granatelli 255lph pump had "walbro" engraved on the pump with no Granatelli etching anywhere.

voidfinger · Jan 16, 2008

you do know that the 98 pumps are variable speed pumps right? they are like the 99 up pumps with a return which with the 99 ups don't have i think. So you have to get a specific pump.

atrainsgt · Jan 16, 2008

Those pumps will not work. You can make them work by grinding on the basket but they are designed to run at a constant speed and will burn up quicker than a pump designed for the 98's. Any pump you see that is listed 96-98 will not work, if you look closely at the description allot of them will say 96-98 except 98 GT's. It has to be a 98 specific pump.

96s281_081 said:
That pump in question is a 170lph unit. For tha money you're spending i'd get a Granatelli 190 or 255lph pump.. Check out www.mustangsunlimited.com . Fuel pumps are things they usually keep in stock. They have the BBK 255lph pump for 144.95$ PN: BBK1607, BBK 190lph pump for 124.95$ PN: BBK1606, Granatelli 255lph $149.95 PN: FP250, Holley 255lph pump $181.95 PN: H12902, etc. Check them out. And IIRC, all these pumps are Walbro pumps with vendor specific packaging. I know my Granatelli 255lph pump had "walbro" engraved on the pump with no Granatelli etching anywhere.