yogi1958

Hi All

I own a 98 mustang Gt which is starting to give me starting problems
When I try to start the car when cold the engine will turn over several times before starting and will almost choke itself . Any ideas ?
thanks

Cal

forddude1416

Fuel too rich? Battery not giving enough charge?

Shea

Wow, I was just going to post about this same problem 1998 GT, 120,000 miles.

It will turn over for maybe 6-8 seconds before starting, and sometimes it won't quite start, but then when I crank it a second time immediately after, it starts right up.

It has nothing to do with the battery (at least for my car), there is plenty of juice, and it cranks plenty quickly. I saw that for 94-96 models, it is possible that the IAC is causing the problem, so I cleaned that with carb cleaner, but it didn't change anything.

The car runs great once started (except that when at 1/4 of a tank of gas or less, sometimes it sputters when going around corners as though it isn't getting gas), so I don't think it has anything to do with the plugs/wires/electrical.

I think it is a a fuel problem, which could be any number of sensors which control fuel at startup, or if I'm really lucky, maybe a fuel filter? Any help would be appreciated.

forddude1416

definatly check the fuel filter we had the same problem on our 88 buick thing was 98% clogged

Shea

BTW, I just tried to replace the fuel filter yesterday. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I didn't know that you needed a special tool to release the fuel lines from the filter.

In the Hayne's manual (I hate Hayne's manuals, but the guy who owned the care before me gave it to me), it says to pull the clips off the line, then just pull the lines off the filter. It says nothing about needing a special tool to get the lines off.

It would have been nice to know about that tool before I pulled and pried at the line for an hour laying on my back under the gas tank with sweat and rust covering my face. :bang:

Shea

update: replaced the fuel filter. the original was definitely more clogged than the new one, but it still has the hard starting problem.

Shea

I am still working on this problem, I have narrowed it down somewhat. I've figured out that I am not getting fuel pressure before cranking the key.

For instance, I turn the key to on and hear the fuel pump run for a couple of seconds, but there is no fuel pressure and there should be at least 30 psi. I suspect that the fuel pressure regulator is faulty and is allowing the fuel to run right through it into the return line. I will try to verify this within the next few days.

stoic21

guys i had a very similar problem in my 96. i had replaced the starter and it has worked great ever since. However i had jsut recently replaced the valve on the front of the throttle body which also helped the car run smoother. I can't remember the name of the valve right off hand ( i feel like a douche for that by the way....i should remember it) Either way you should pick the parts up yourself because they are both easy to install. (the starter takes a few elbow joints for the sockets though.) but since i can't think of the valve name i have included pictures

Shea

That's the idle air control valve.

stoic21

Yyyyyyeeeesssssss!!!!!!


I knew it was somethign simple like that but for the life of me i couldn't remember. I felt like a soccer mom for a while there.

"guys just replace your thingy on front of where the air goes" Shame on me

Shea

Cal, I dunno if you got yours fixed yet, but after buying a fuel pressure tester and checking the pressure against the specs, I have found that it has the right pressure while running, and the fuel regulator is working (taking the vacuum hose off the regulator causes fuel pressure to increas) but as soon as I turn the engine off the pressure drops, which is not supposed to happen.

Guy at the shop I called said it's probably a bad fuel pump, I'm not sure that I believe him, but take it for what it's worth.