[imustang]

i own a 93 2.3L lx and knock on would it hasnt had any issues with the motor or electrical.

good on gas...

But it is slow.....5.0L FTW!!

[84 GTNT]

I've had my 2.3 turbo Gt for 10 years over 150.000 miles on it and can still out handle and run down alot of these import coupes. Not to mention a few old v8's .It always put a smile on my face.

[bhurst]

Hello all, I recently purchased a 1986 with 2.3L motor and it
has been stalling recently and then it doesn't want to start.

I believe it is electrical but cannot figure it out. It has stalled when idling or when running. I believe it is getting gas because I have pulled fuel filter from carb and tested mechanical fuel pump by turning engine with starter and it looks to be working properly.

I don't think plugs are firing because it don't even try, even when
i spray starting fluid in single barrel? Have replaced coil. It runs great when it runs. Don't have a Haynes or Chiltons yet.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

2.3L Newbe
Bob Hurst

[ethangsmith]

Could be a dying TFI module on the distributor. Try replacing that if you are having spark issues.

[bhurst]

Thanks ethangsmith
I am going to look into this today. Heading to Autozone to retrieve
altenator core return cash for our 2002 Escort anyhow. This TFI
module doesn't sound expensive, so I will see if they have a replacement.
bhurst

[SM90Stanger]

I just bought 2 mustangs this summer. The first being a 1990 2.3L LX notchback with 360K kilometers and the second being a 1991 2.3L notchback with 140K kilometers. Guess what, I drove them both home no problem and they ran great. Neither of the 2 cars has ever had any major work done other than oil changes and air filter changes. I believe this thread poster just got some water in his computer which caused the electrical problems because as far as I know and have read from the other posts, these are some really solid, well-built engines.

[mustangiighia]

I have a 1975 Ghia with a original 2.3 in it and it does just fine and nothing major has ever gone wrong with it and its over 30 years old.

[melvinliles]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the 2.3. I've been drivin mine goin on 10 yrs( if you count the couple yrs I drove it while it belonged to a lady friend of mine) and really havent had any major problems with it...outside of a valve job due to overheating the mill( a story all unto itself and another thread). Wish you luck in the future...maybe you should try talking nice to her and treating her better..works wonders for me.
--------------------------------------------------------

93 LX convertible
stock 2.3 with glass pack muffler

[bhurst]

Update on 2.3 stalling, bhurst here...
The car has not started for a week. I replaced the ignition module on distributor. As mentioned before, the coil was replaced and car did run once since then. Just to rule out the basics, I have replaced distributor cap, rotor, plugs and plug wires. I am not getting any fire at the plugs...
I have a circuit tester and do see voltage on coil,
and also two of the six wires feeding the ignition module? Car is equipped with an EEC IV system,
but the Electronic Engine control reader I have is
for 1996 and newer. Isn't there an adapter for this vintage 1986 Mustang?
I have located the self test connector and I have
found a method of reading trouble codes in the Haynes Manual which utilizes an analog meter and
a jumper wire in the "Emmisions Control Systems"
chapter, But only have a digital meter at this time.
Any further ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Bob H.

[harrist7]

Mine, bought new, now has 194,000 miles on it, no problems at all.
I have never even had to add a drop of oil to this engine.
'Course I do drive easy...might as well, since it ain't gonna go no faster anyway, ha/

[turboeeyore]

Originally Posted by ethangsmith

Could be a dying TFI module on the distributor. Try replacing that if you are having spark issues.

i thought 86 2.3's had eecii, carburated without a tfi, sounds to me like a bad connection @ the control module.

[ethangsmith]

84-86 the 2.3L in the Mustang/Capri/Marquis/LTD was a 1 barrel Carter YFA feedback carburetor with EEC IV electronics. My 86 had the TFI on the distributor. Awful system. I backdated to Duraspark II and put the Motorcraft 5200 2 barrel on it.

[turboeeyore]

i forgot about the eec3, i've only worked on carb'd and efi 5.0's, carb'd 3.8's and efi 2.3's. no one i know has had one for me to work on.

[interceptor999]

2.3's are one of the best 4 cyl engines ford has ever put out. AND its world class too! To say that they suck would be pretty insulting....considering there is some that are pushing well over 1,000Hp! and a few high hp 2.3's street driven everyday....that would not be possible if it was a bad engine.

[Danodandan777]

alright people well heres the deal to be all honest they are not the worse of the worse but they are far from the best i mean first for as much horse power as they have and what they can do is pretty darn something to talk about but there is alot on the motor to complain about for one in major is the o2 sensor is someone what of a ***** to get to because of the hoses um the set up is kinda awkward too but i will say that every other week mine is taking me for another trip down the learning road cause its a new problem every week but to be honest and fair the cars can take hell on face or front end first lol i know one thing i have a 1993 lx hatchback 2.3 and it had the same factory struts on it until 2008 of december thats something but i know we are talking about the motor its self well in all honesty again my motor has given me more greif than i would had ever expected like for instance right now i have no clue what the hell is wrong with it for one when i crank it up the thing spikes up to 3500 to 4000 rpm runs rich on fuel and acts like its trying to suck the world into the little guy ive checked all vacum lines and they are all fine ive checked the o2 sensor it is fine i replaced the mass air flow sensor i bought a new idle air control valve for it and it made it worse when i put it on the ppl at the parts store say its the right part but im not so sure it doesnt seem like it but heres the funny part when i put it in gear the motor drops to about a 1000 were it should be i personally think i got sold a bad or wrong part for the idle air control so if u know where i can order a part and that it will for sure be the right one tell me or if u want to back up ur game on the 2.3L being so good then tell me an easy way of whats wrong with it and how to fix it