HELP!!!!
Thread Starter
GT Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 3
HELP!!!!
I dont know what thread to put this, but i guess ill just post it here. My mustang has been having problems and i want to know if anyone out there can help me
1st problem, when im at a complete stop my car will make this noise and its coming from my engine. its like a rattle noise, its very annoying it also happens when i hit the 30-40 mph. I took my car to a mechanic and he said that i need to replace the motor mounts. he said that he can do it for $500. I don't have that kind of money, so he said he can lower down the noise and the vibration witch would cost me only $40. so he did what he said he was gonna do. But over time i think that its gonna come back.
2nd problem, When im driving my dash lights will turn off then back on. My radio will shut off for about 6 seconds then it will come back on, thats not the only thing. At night when i have my lights on. They dim on there own or sometimes even shut off
3rd problem. My battery light comes on when i start it and about 5 mins of driving it will go away. Also my transmission light has been on ever since the mechanic has temporary fixed my car and it does not go away.
i dont know what to do at this point. i already talked to my mom and she is thinking about selling it and just buying another mustang. but a 2007-2009 GT, My dad is amazing with cars. but he never has time cause i have school and he has to go to work and we are also building a house so that takes up most of his time also
1st problem, when im at a complete stop my car will make this noise and its coming from my engine. its like a rattle noise, its very annoying it also happens when i hit the 30-40 mph. I took my car to a mechanic and he said that i need to replace the motor mounts. he said that he can do it for $500. I don't have that kind of money, so he said he can lower down the noise and the vibration witch would cost me only $40. so he did what he said he was gonna do. But over time i think that its gonna come back.
2nd problem, When im driving my dash lights will turn off then back on. My radio will shut off for about 6 seconds then it will come back on, thats not the only thing. At night when i have my lights on. They dim on there own or sometimes even shut off
3rd problem. My battery light comes on when i start it and about 5 mins of driving it will go away. Also my transmission light has been on ever since the mechanic has temporary fixed my car and it does not go away.
i dont know what to do at this point. i already talked to my mom and she is thinking about selling it and just buying another mustang. but a 2007-2009 GT, My dad is amazing with cars. but he never has time cause i have school and he has to go to work and we are also building a house so that takes up most of his time also
Bullitt Member
Joined: May 21, 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
I'd agree, the lights/radio issue sounds like bad alternator.
I'm not so sure about the rattling noise at idle being a bad motor mount. I had a motor mount go out on my old Topaz in high school, and it would manifest itself just off idle, the motor would clunk as it raised up off the bad mount and slammed back down onto it.
If the rattling is just that, a noise, check under the hood while the car is sitting at idle. Does it appear like the engine is moving around a little bit. If not, see if you can isolate where the rattling is coming from. My guess, given the other problems you describe, the rattlig noise is coming from inside the alternator.
I'm not so sure about the rattling noise at idle being a bad motor mount. I had a motor mount go out on my old Topaz in high school, and it would manifest itself just off idle, the motor would clunk as it raised up off the bad mount and slammed back down onto it.
If the rattling is just that, a noise, check under the hood while the car is sitting at idle. Does it appear like the engine is moving around a little bit. If not, see if you can isolate where the rattling is coming from. My guess, given the other problems you describe, the rattlig noise is coming from inside the alternator.
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: August 18, 2004
Posts: 2,189
Likes: 143
From: Virginia
Was this Mustang purchased new or used? If used, what size dealer was it purchased from? Or, private party sale?
Just wondering if this car has a hidden history. Flooding, wreck or something.
Just wondering if this car has a hidden history. Flooding, wreck or something.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: November 3, 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
I dont know what thread to put this, but i guess ill just post it here. My mustang has been having problems and i want to know if anyone out there can help me
1st problem, when im at a complete stop my car will make this noise and its coming from my engine. its like a rattle noise, its very annoying it also happens when i hit the 30-40 mph. I took my car to a mechanic and he said that i need to replace the motor mounts. he said that he can do it for $500. I don't have that kind of money, so he said he can lower down the noise and the vibration witch would cost me only $40. so he did what he said he was gonna do. But over time i think that its gonna come back.
1st problem, when im at a complete stop my car will make this noise and its coming from my engine. its like a rattle noise, its very annoying it also happens when i hit the 30-40 mph. I took my car to a mechanic and he said that i need to replace the motor mounts. he said that he can do it for $500. I don't have that kind of money, so he said he can lower down the noise and the vibration witch would cost me only $40. so he did what he said he was gonna do. But over time i think that its gonna come back.
2nd problem, When im driving my dash lights will turn off then back on. My radio will shut off for about 6 seconds then it will come back on, thats not the only thing. At night when i have my lights on. They dim on there own or sometimes even shut off
3rd problem. My battery light comes on when i start it and about 5 mins of driving it will go away. Also my transmission light has been on ever since the mechanic has temporary fixed my car and it does not go away.
3rd problem. My battery light comes on when i start it and about 5 mins of driving it will go away. Also my transmission light has been on ever since the mechanic has temporary fixed my car and it does not go away.
Go to advance auto parts and have them check out the charging system they usually don't change anything.
Not sure what your mechanic did, he maybe have disconnected one of the transmission sensors?
Some early s197 have a transmission plate rattle maybe this is what your hearing?
i dont know what to do at this point. i already talked to my mom and she is thinking about selling it and just buying another mustang. but a 2007-2009 GT, My dad is amazing with cars. but he never has time cause i have school and he has to go to work and we are also building a house so that takes up most of his time also
Last edited by TTS197; Oct 26, 2012 at 09:33 PM.
Thread Starter
GT Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 3
Thread Starter
GT Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 3
This could be just about anything even a loose exhaust. Do you have a bolt on mid pipe?
Both these problems are related to each other the battery or alternator.
Go to advance auto parts and have them check out the charging system they usually don't change anything.
Not sure what your mechanic did, he maybe have disconnected one of the transmission sensors?
Some early s197 have a transmission plate rattle maybe this is what your hearing?
What year is your car, miles, mods and how long have you owned it?
Both these problems are related to each other the battery or alternator.
Go to advance auto parts and have them check out the charging system they usually don't change anything.
Not sure what your mechanic did, he maybe have disconnected one of the transmission sensors?
Some early s197 have a transmission plate rattle maybe this is what your hearing?
What year is your car, miles, mods and how long have you owned it?
Mach 1 Member
Joined: November 3, 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
On the rattle make sure the mid pipe is torqued down right and make sure the car is cold when you do this.
Last edited by TTS197; Oct 31, 2012 at 09:58 PM.
legacy Tms Member
Joined: October 9, 2005
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 77
From: N.E. Ohio
These cars are kinda notorious for SJB issues from cowl leaks. Lift the passenger floormat, feel the carpet- if its wet, 9 out of 10 times its because the cowl drains are clogged, this causes water to back up thru the heater, spilling onto the SmartJunctionBox in the passenger kick panel- often lights doing weird stuff is a first indication.
If the carpets wet, park inside, leave windows down, it will dry out, but will take a week...under the hood, just behind/ below the rear of the valve covers, on the firewall you will see a rectangular rubber boot on either side...squeeze the sides, it opens on the bottom, you can get a finger up in and pull all the crap out. Dead leaves, pine needles, plain old mud... Alternately, you can pull these rubber things own/sideways, they pop right out, then you can clean out a lot easier. Popping them back in is a kinda pain, but not that bad-some folks leave them out, but this could allow any exhaust leaks to get sucked in thru the heater, might not be a good idea...
The passenger kick panel has a plastic section that just snaps out for access to the SJB- might look to see if its sweaty looking, mine was...I sat a small desk fan on the floor, let it blow over that area overnight, it dried up, never had any issues luckily...my carpet didn't want to dry, I ended up pulling it up, letting the fan blow under it for a few days to be sure the floor was dry- there's a rubber like pad under there, even if the carpet dries, the floor can be damp and mold could grow making for a stinky/ unhealthy car...it's important to check the cowl drain things once a year, more if you park near pine trees...mine plugged in like 8 months with those darn pine needles.
I would find a different mechanic. If the motor mounts are bad, they are bad, don't think there's any way to tighten them up, guessing while messing around under there, they mighta knocked a plug loose or something. If the tranny lights on, go to autozone or the like, have them plug a scanner in and see what the codes are, should tell you what's up, what might have been knocked loose. The rattle might just be a exhaust heat shield, try to replicate it by varying the idle rpm slowly and have someone lose listen to try and see where it's coming from. Vibrations will cause resonance at certain specific rpm, just a 50 rpm range might make it come or go...take the rpm up in mall increments and hold a second to see if any rattles start, repeat up to about 2500 or so, you should be able to find the loudest point, and have someone else listen to find the source.
The exhausts on these cars tend to drone with aftermarket mufflers around 2000-2100 rpm, if its a exhaust rattle, even stock I would guess that to be the worst rpm range for exh. Rattles. There's aluminum pans under the front floor that can really get noisy if they get a little bent or lose, if ones rattling, just flexing it a little might stop it.
Good luck
If the carpets wet, park inside, leave windows down, it will dry out, but will take a week...under the hood, just behind/ below the rear of the valve covers, on the firewall you will see a rectangular rubber boot on either side...squeeze the sides, it opens on the bottom, you can get a finger up in and pull all the crap out. Dead leaves, pine needles, plain old mud... Alternately, you can pull these rubber things own/sideways, they pop right out, then you can clean out a lot easier. Popping them back in is a kinda pain, but not that bad-some folks leave them out, but this could allow any exhaust leaks to get sucked in thru the heater, might not be a good idea...
The passenger kick panel has a plastic section that just snaps out for access to the SJB- might look to see if its sweaty looking, mine was...I sat a small desk fan on the floor, let it blow over that area overnight, it dried up, never had any issues luckily...my carpet didn't want to dry, I ended up pulling it up, letting the fan blow under it for a few days to be sure the floor was dry- there's a rubber like pad under there, even if the carpet dries, the floor can be damp and mold could grow making for a stinky/ unhealthy car...it's important to check the cowl drain things once a year, more if you park near pine trees...mine plugged in like 8 months with those darn pine needles.
I would find a different mechanic. If the motor mounts are bad, they are bad, don't think there's any way to tighten them up, guessing while messing around under there, they mighta knocked a plug loose or something. If the tranny lights on, go to autozone or the like, have them plug a scanner in and see what the codes are, should tell you what's up, what might have been knocked loose. The rattle might just be a exhaust heat shield, try to replicate it by varying the idle rpm slowly and have someone lose listen to try and see where it's coming from. Vibrations will cause resonance at certain specific rpm, just a 50 rpm range might make it come or go...take the rpm up in mall increments and hold a second to see if any rattles start, repeat up to about 2500 or so, you should be able to find the loudest point, and have someone else listen to find the source.
The exhausts on these cars tend to drone with aftermarket mufflers around 2000-2100 rpm, if its a exhaust rattle, even stock I would guess that to be the worst rpm range for exh. Rattles. There's aluminum pans under the front floor that can really get noisy if they get a little bent or lose, if ones rattling, just flexing it a little might stop it.
Good luck