Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: dcruit95coug on December 09, 2007, 10:23:26 PM

Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: dcruit95coug on December 09, 2007, 10:23:26 PM
:cougarsmily: i have a 95 3.8 cougar that runs and idles flawlessley,but everytime i take off from a light it hesitates then takes off.The car was garaged for about 15 months before i bought it.It's been well taken of and only has 79000 miles on it.I replaced the fuel filter but it still does it.Could it be the fuel pressure regulator even though it only does it on take off?thanks for any tips. Dave
Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: cougarXLS on December 10, 2007, 08:16:11 AM
Kneee-jerk reaction here... see what the computer has to say for it's self... plug in and get the codes.
Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: thunderjet302 on December 10, 2007, 09:21:05 PM
Check for codes before randomly replacing parts. The 3.8 in your 95 is not a barn burner by any means. My 95 T-bird is, uh, slow ;)
Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: dcruit95coug on December 10, 2007, 09:32:35 PM
would there be codes if there is no check engine light on?I know what you mean about the lack of giddy-up and go but the 94 t-bird i owned a few years back had the same motor and it ran somewhat better.I think it will get better as time goes on,I think it's probably from sitting for about 15 months.Things may just be a little gummed up.Does anyone know of an effective fuel additive that might help?thanks.
Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: cougarcragar on December 10, 2007, 09:47:55 PM
There won't be any codes is the CEL isn't on.

You may consider doing the Sea Foam treatment on it, as well as a basic tune-up.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm

I recently used Sea Foam on my '96 4.6 and it made a big difference. It idles much better than it used to, and it once again barks the tires in the 1-2 shift under wide-open throttle (I modified the transmission when it had 50k miles, but it slowly lost power since then).
Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: 88XR7 on December 16, 2007, 10:42:08 PM
Quote from: cougarcragar;192143
There won't be any codes is the CEL isn't on.

You may consider doing the Sea Foam treatment on it, as well as a basic tune-up.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm

I recently used Sea Foam on my '96 4.6 and it made a big difference. It idles much better than it used to, and it once again barks the tires in the 1-2 shift under wide-open throttle (I modified the transmission when it had 50k miles, but it slowly lost power since then).

+1, I stand by this stuff...
Title: sluggish at takeoff
Post by: cougarXLS on December 18, 2007, 12:36:14 PM
Even if the Check Engline Light is not coming on, that does not necessesarly mean there are no codes of interest.  Intermittent problems may or may not show up via that light, aka the 'Continous Memory' codes.  Check 'em down first; that would still be my first approach.