86 2.3 no power

86stang420 · 05-02-2009

i just got a 86 2.3 liter mustang that has no power what so ever. i cant even get it over 20 mph. ive changed the oil filter, plugs, wires, and hoses. checked the timing and gas pressure. any ideas what could be causing the problem?

SM90Stanger · 05-02-2009

It could have something to do with how the engine breaths, check the exhaust and intake. That's what happened with one of my cars, the air intake 'valve thingy' got stuck closed and the car had about 10HP, lol.
OR you could take it to a mechanic if you're not mechanically inclined.

turboeeyore · 05-03-2009

check your timing, and do a compression test, see if your low on coolant it could be getting into a cylinder. change the fuel filter just to say you did.

93foxbody2.3 · 05-03-2009

A friend of mine had that problem once. We opened his air filter box to see if it was the filter was clogged and it was! Apparently he was driving and sucked in a plastic grocery bag and it covered the whole filter letting little to no air in. It was actually funny because he went to 2 mechanics who couldn't give him a straight answer before he asked me. LOL

ExtrmZ · 05-03-2009

check timing, if its not the problem, its not gonna hurt it to have it right on

NavySVO · 05-04-2009

Please refresh my memory, is this a carbed car or EFI?

turboeeyore · 05-04-2009

could it be water in the fuel?

Amscray88kr · 05-04-2009

is it water on the knee? OPERATION!

sorry couldnt resist. yes check for restrictions on intake and exhaust. could be electrical. run codes?

if its carbed then ill show myself the door.

my grandpa couldnt figure out what was wrong with his model A for like a week. it had no gas...

so yea check everything =P

ethangsmith · 05-04-2009

It would be carburetted, being that it's an N/A 86. HOWEVER, you can still run codes on it since it has the EEC IV system on it. That would certainly yield some results.