Hard Start, Missing, Stuttering

Flex · 07-01-2002

Dudes please help if you can,
Anyone have this problem. MY 89 Mustang 2.3. Sometimes it won't start, smells really rich from the exhaust (acts like a flooded carb). When it starts, it smokes black, then it will settle out and run good. Then again start running rough and miss, stall etc.
When your driving, it will just start popping and stuttering.
I haven't checked injectors or ECM as a possibility. I read somewhere that injectors can get hung open. Any ideas? Thanks guys.

GTRaptor · 07-05-2002

Could be many things, injectors, bad regulator, bad O2 sensors, etc.

Vortex · 07-05-2002

With a problem like that, diagnosing over the computer is difficult. The more details you can give the better. Are you throwing any codes? have you changed anything yet? Is there a certain time is does or doesnt do it?

Flex · 07-19-2002

Hey dudes,
Solved one problem. The O2 sensor was pooched. Eliminated the shake and rough missing problem.
One left. When the car is cold, it runs brutal, but runs smooth when it warms up. Ile seems to fluctuate though. Almost like a carbed car with no choke. What sensor is responsible for cold starts? IAC, TPS. Thanks for the help.

fvpnt0pony92 · 07-19-2002

it would be the coolant teperature sensor. when one of these goes bad it creates cold start problems much like you are decribing.

Flex · 07-19-2002

Thanks for the info bro.

Jarrett · 07-19-2002

It is more than likely the coolant temp sensor, I am not sure if the 2.3's have an air charge temp sensor or not, but if they do check that as well.

Flex · 07-20-2002

Yes it does. I replaced the ACT, O2 and ECT about 5 months ago. So fa,r the O2 was pooched for sure.