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Topic: my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!! (Read 2500 times) previous topic - next topic

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

hey the other day when it was raining my car started to hesitate and sputter when i would drive it ... then it would idle high and go mad slow with some type of sputtering clocking noise... now the  thing dont wanna start at all!!!!!! .... i changed the spark plugs the wires the rotor the distributor cap the ignition coil and then ignition module on the distributor and it still dont start ... my next thing is the computer ... hopfully that will fix it .... but idk if that will fix it!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #1 –
I think it's time to stop throwing parts at it and to try to figure it out.

Pull codes.
Check the fuel pressure.
Do you have spark?

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #2 –
Quote from: softtouch;170485
I think it's time to stop throwing parts at it and to try to figure it out.

Pull codes.
Check the fuel pressure.
Do you have spark?


Well said.  It takes work to do it right.  Guessing + Luck = wrong most of the time.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!
 

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #3 –
i had it hooked up to the machine and it wasnt conecting to the ECU... so now im guessin that computer is bad.  but now idk if when the motor was swapped if they kept the old wiring harness for the 87 cougar and just spliced shiznit together .... cuz i have a few wires that lead to nowhere and are taped up !!!!

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #4 –
Turn the ignition to RUN without trying to start it.
The fuel pump should run for one or two seconds then shut off.
If this happens, the ECU (EEC) computer is running it's program.

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #5 –
My 87 had the same issue... If your fuel pump is original, your fuel pressure is within specs then the fuel line on the pump may be collapsing under acceleration... I made the mistake of replacing my pump with one out of a junk yard, should have replaced that 3" line to... Dropped the tank twice to learn that 50 cent lesson.

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #6 –
When i got start my car every 1 out of 3 times it does what he says i got a 255LPH pump and new spark plugs and wires know any reason my fuel pressure might be a little low?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]


http://www.cardomain.com/id/Carpimp1987
1987 T-Bird AEROBIRD-GT had many many mods but is now totaled and is the car that made me want to start customizing everything all over again.
1988 T-Bird 5.0 HO DD/Sleeper/next project car :birdsmily:
1988 Cougar XR7 5.0 HO Vortech Supercharged being bulit right now :cougarsmily:

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #7 –
my fuel pump always runs it never shuts off .... it always did that for as long as i had it. I think it might be the original pump though. is it hard to change that ?

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #8 –
If your fuel pump runs continuously with the ignition in run and the engine not running, your EEC is in LOS (Limited Output Strategy) Mode. Sometimes called limp-home mode.
It means the program in the EEC is not running. The EEC ignores all inputs. The Fuel pump will stay on. The ignition will stay at its base timing and the injectors will be pulsed at a fixed rate.

Could mean the voltage to the EEC is low or the EEC is shot.
Or it could mean someone has screwed around with the wireing.

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #9 –
yea i think i might have the old harness from when it was a v6 ... idk if that has anything to do with it...and when i spray carborator fluid in the throttle body it starts for a split sec then just dies ....

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #10 –
If the fuel pump runs continually with the ignition in run and the engine not running, this is the first thing you have to fix.
I have not heard you say that yes this is your condition.

But if it is;
Forget about trying to start it.
You first have to have a functioning EEC. I am sure there are some differences between the 3.8 and the 5.0 EEC, but the basic power and grounds should be the same. This is all it needs to run its program.

Trying another EEC is the easiest thing to do.

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #11 –
I had another thought about your why your EEC is not working.
The EEC has its' own dedicated ground wire direct from the battery negative terminal.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think when you go from a 3.8 to a 5.0 the battery moves from the right to the left side.

Anyway see if you have a small gauge wire from the negative battery going into the cable harness.

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #12 –
Quote
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think when you go from a 3.8 to a 5.0 the battery moves from the right to the left side.


That's correct.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #13 –
Nevermind. Missed a couple posts that would have told me it wasn't that.

my car sputters, hesitates and shutdown!!!

Reply #14 –
yea im just waiting for vinnie bird ... ima try out his computer he has ...