[Stang_Confused]

Hi. My name is Katelyn. I'm 20 years old and I have a 1991 Ford Mustang with a 2.3L engine 4 cylinder. I've only had it for a year. I have a few questions. I'm going to number them so it will be easier to sort out the answers.

#1) What type of oil is put into the engine when you change it. I've changed the oil a couple times in the past year I've had the car but I cannot remember what type is the right type. I'm almost 100% sure that it is 5w30, but today the auto zone guy gave me 10w30. My dad questioned me, which makes me question auto zone.

#2) My check engine light has been coming on lately. Well, to be precise, its been on almost non-stop for the past couple months. I haven't worried about it though because I checked it at Auto Zone last summer and the Crankshaft Position Sensor and Ignition Module showed up. I'm confused about what the position sensor actually does. (i know barely anything about cars) The car acts up at random times. I'll be driving and suddenly it will start shaking, and it smells like a match after you blow it out. Also the catalytic converter turns red sometimes, but only if i continue to drive while the car is acting up. It won't shift up at all or accelerate. I'm not sure what is the problem. My dad thinks it is the converter, but even when the car is turned off after running barely 2 miles to the store and I turn it back on it will shake. Another problem is the RPMs, they usually run at around 2000 or more when idle, lately they have just been dropping. From about 1000 2 months ago to just 500 these past two weeks. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with my poor car?

#3) My convertible top will not go down. The two little back windows aren't working at all, they make noise when I push the button to roll them down, but only roll down once in a great while, and I have to pull them back up. Would that be a reason the roof doesn't go down? I just put in a new battery and alternator last summer, but before the alternator went bad the roof would only go about halfway to down and then it got stuck. I haven't attempted to take it down (its automatic) because a spring in the front broke one cold day this past winter. I'm not sure how that would effect the top so I haven't messed with it.

#4) My door button locks don't work at all and the window buttons only work on the drivers side door. Is there a reason that maybe they aren't connected. Would removing the door panel tell me if they are hooked up at all, or could it be a broken fuse or crossed wire? The only fuse that is broken is the one for my horn, I'm pretty sure that is a crossed wire and gave up changing the fuse. The trunk release button doesn't work either. How would I be able to check if the wires are connected or not?

I'll end it here, but I'm pretty sure there is more that I'm leaving out. I need some advice if anyone can help on what needs to be done to get it up and running (mostly question #2) and if questions #3 and #4 are simple fixes or just not worth fixing.

Thank you -Katelyn

[2Manystangs]

Katelyn, 5-30 is fine...sounds like the car needs a tune up, the idle is probably out of adjustment..the shaking is probably what is known as "dieseling" caused by bad gas, clogged fuel fiter or something else in the fuel delivery, the switches are either bad for the top/windows or dirty, it's possible the fuses are blown...the catalytic converter should not turn red, it could be dangerous and start a fire...I'd recommed taking the car to a trusted mechanic and let them sort through these issues...

[jacob.smoyer]

#1 5w30 isnt bad

#2 could be alot of things sensor could be bad possible short some where crank possible imbalance ...ignitions another endless possibility ...with the check engine light and codes....cars have alot of parts that work together just because one sensor is tripped it could be another part up or down stream from the sensor acting up....theres not a really a true way to diagose online your better off taking it to a mechanic ...fix it now before it gets worse ..the sooner you catch problems the cheaper it is to fix also check your fuses

as for you top ...my old camaro would often shake bolts out of the top then it would be miss aligned and stop working .....it could be that ....your wiring pig tails might be disconnected or shot ....maybe electrical short bad conv top motor ...like i said a car has alot of parts that work together a conv tops the same way one spring could be a problem ...im not an expert but i think any help is help ha

and 4 ....yeah it wouldnt hurt to take your door panel off and check ...look for diconnected pig tails ...check all connections etc ......you might have bad switches or bad motors...without an expertise thats probably the best you can do ...there might be one or 2 screw holdingon your door panel too the rest are plastic pieces ....they are probably dry rotted and might break they are cheap at autozone/checker and .... check your fuses for 3 and 4

[Amscray88kr]

you should probably get new plugs and wires if you dont remember when you got them last change and or top off all your fluids. then follow all of the above. try all these things yourself then last ditch effort go talk to a trusted mechanic.

also if youre at autozone and you arent talking to the manager you might as well be talking to yourself. the kids there are retarded.

let us know how it all goes so we can help ya out.

and if you havent already get some pics up.