This week my wife used my 5.0, and she stop driving my car late Wednesday. Today (Saturday) I tried to start it, and it did not wanted to, I jump cable it, the engine was stumbling iddling at low rpm's and the check engine (wrench) was on, I began driving the car very slowly (it was like governed), I could not go higher than 2500 rpm, highest speed that I could reach was 20 MPH, I could hear the engine stumbling while driving. driving at that speed felt like eternity, upon my arrival to the FORD dealership, (their first question was if my car was modified, I'm lucky that I have not touched anything on my engine). About 3 hours later they call me, my car was ready, like nothing happened. They ask me if I had drive my car at high speed, I told them no, since my wife drives like a turtle, apparently they only hook it to their computer after a test drive and that was it. What went wrong?

 

It's called women jinx mustangs.

My ex drove my S281 in 05 and the **** thing freaked out, gauges flipped, car died, even the heat shield came loose and rattled underneath. No joke. All on one quick drive.

The two are jealous of each other. Well known fact.

 

What he said.^ The only time I have problems with my car is when my gf drives it.

It sounds like maybe it went into "limp-home" mode. Any chance it over heated? Although I'm sure it could've put itself in a limp mode for any number of reasons. It's hard to say without checking the codes. Did the dealership not mention the problem?

 

dealer was not able to find nothing. They just asked if the car was raced. And I told them no. The car did not look overheated, I just started the car in the morning.

In the afternoon it happened again, after starting my car, it began to do the same, I was planing to drive it back home that way, but my kid told me Dad, turn off the key wait (we wait one minute), and then when I crank the car back, the car was great again without any issue (the check engine disappeared). I still have the problem that FORD was not able to detect in my 5.0.

 

I think it would be helpful to all of us if we had pictures of the wives and girl friends.....
But really dead battries will make these cars do all sorts of funny things.

 

Hi All,

Just to follow up. Last night I went to check my 5.0, on my first try to start it, it behaved like it had an almost dead battery, then I tried to start it again, and it showed the same exact problem that it had before, I did it a third time, car started like nothing was wrong.
Today in the morning I tested again my car, on the first start normal, I did it again and normal.
I will take the 5.0 to FORD on Monday for another checkup, and explain them your suggestions maybe the problem still is there.

Thanks for all your advises, I will keep you posted after FORD finds the problem, just for someone else, if they have the same issue, to be able to solve it fast.

 

It seems to me a great percentage of such problems are traced to deficient grounding of various components. The cure might be as simple as re-establishing decent ground paths, starting with the most obvious: battery to chassis. Follow up through PCM, SJB, charging system, lighting, and so forth. I'd hope the dealer's technicians would begin this way. Less wear-and-tear on everyone concerned, if all the grounds are dependable.

 

Hey M2hunter,

My wife's Dodge Caliber had a very similar problem. The car would luge forward, then the check engine light would come on and it was in "limp home" mode where you can't get over 20mph. It would happen intermittently for about 6 months. You cycle the IG and it goes away.

The problem ended up being the throttle body. It stopped responding to actuation requests from the ECM. A local shop replaced the throttle body with a new one and that fixed the issues.

Good luck with your problem.

 

Thanks Guys you are the best, I'm debt with you and FORD, after 4 days of work Dealer found the problem, they replaced the throttle body and motor asy. and the battery.

 

 

Awesome! Glad your problem got resolved!

 

Thanks Marcin

 

Glad you got it resolved!

 

I was just about to say to have the dealer replace the battery.

When the battery isn't putting forth the correct voltage because of a dead cell all sorts of strangeness can occur.

 

X2!!! Doh double post sort of! Lol. I didn't think my first went through!

 

Glad to hear your troubles are resolved M3 hunter. How many miles on your GT?