My names chris and i just bought a 1988 5.0 im pretty new to mustangs this is my first car. im only 17 and i know enough but not what i want to make this car a good ride. The ignition works but i have to play with it, the trunk doesn't open unless you shake it side to side, driver door is missing a handel and to close it i have to lift it up im on a pretty low budget. If anyone has any hints tips about any of these problems i would appreciate it
It runs but i cant keep the battery charged the altenator was just replaced about a month ago. But the battery always dies i charge it and it can last me about one trip to school. But when i jump it, it starts up but it doesn't stay on after i take off the cables thats the only thing with it driving.
welcome to the site..
im 18 workin on my first mustang also...
sounds like your door could use some new hinges...you could probobly get a deal at the autowreckers...since you could just spray paint them to match the car
I know alot about the history because it was a friends. The reason it hangs it the previous owner was backing down his drive way and hit his dads car with the door. I was told to go get a door from a pick and pull but i wasnt to sure if that was it. The same person told me that the battery was just bad so i bought a battery and it still has the same problem so im not trusting him.
have you tried testing your battery and alternator
with a voltmeter?
it should read 14-14.5 at idle at the battery posts
or take it somewhere where they can do a check on your charging system...
i agree that you need new door hinges, they should be pretty cheap and easy to find at a wrecking yard.
as for the battery problem, you should get the alternator tested to see if it is indeed good, any autoparts store should be able to test it for you. if its good, you may need a new voltage regulator or some new wiring.
for the trunk latch, try finding a can of LPS-3, it's the best hinge/latch lube money can buy.
we know all about being on a budget around here, alot of us, myself included, are used to fixing up our cars $20 at a time.
put new door pins and bushings in and see if that helps, allso you can jack the door up and leave it set for a while. This will bend the hinges up, to make up for the drooping..
Is the door problem with it sagging and being hard to open and close, or is it the handle itself? They tend to break and not work.
You say the alternator has been replaced? The electrical connectors in the back of it tend to melt, causing it not to work properly in charging the battery. You would take those two connectors off and look at them, they melt between the posts inside the connector.
The trunk not opening sounds like the lock assembly either needs lubrication or a new assembly. Check the striker bushing too, they tend to crack and cause issues with it closing and opening.
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if you want a great place to buy parts a little at a time then i recommend 50resto.com (latemodelrestoration.com), cjponyparts.com or californiamustang.com..all sites are good but 50resto is by far the best..and be sure to check out all our sponsorships at the side of the page ------> start slow take your time dont rush man..good luck
As for the charging system you could have blown a diode in the alternator when jumping it, so it will charge fine but when you shut it off it will drain the battery because a diode is basically a one way check valve and it is draining the battery, as for the hinges a junkyard is good or they sell hinge pin rebuild kits also i agree that the connectors do melt and i have bought alternators for these cars that actually came with a new connector with a pigtail
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1989 Ford Mustang LX Notchback,5.0L 5 speed
331 Stroker wuth forged eagle rotater, Scorpion roller rockers, mahle forged pistons, AFR185s,Spec Stage 2+ Clutch,Steeda Sub Frame Connectors with Seat supports,Hurst Short Throw Shifter, Mr. Gasket Hi0-Flo 180* T-Stat,Lunati VooDoo Series cam,Trickflow upper and lower intake,BBK CAI,BBK Long Tube Headers,BBK Off-Road H-Pipe,Flowmaster 40 Series Mufflers,Aluminum Driveshaft,17" Cobra R's,10000K HID's One problem after the next !!
Also for the battery are you sure you got a full charge on it?
I know it seems redundant...
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1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
FMS Ceramic Shorties, pacesetter off road h, force mufflers, 3 row radiator, smog eliminator pulley, underdrive pullies, Yukon 3.55 gears, posi diff... Waiting in garage: rebuilt block, Crane 1.7 rr, bare GT40 cast heads, Summit billit distributor, 9mm plug wires, MSD blaster coil, GT40 upper and lower intake, E303 cam 70% of drivers say "oh Sh** when they hit ice, the other 30% are from Michigan and say "Hold my beer and watch this sh**!"
i put the new hinge in the door asmebly and it helped a little but it still sits a little low. so i tried the jacking it up all it did is go right back to where it was before i lifted it. I tested the altenator it read 14.3 but they battery didnt even pass 6 it was jumping all over the place between 4 and 5. If the wiring is bad about how much would that cost to fix
Help anyone low budget and lot of problems. 
start slow take your time dont rush man..good luck
