I recently (last Sunday) acquired a 1996 Ford Mustang Convertable. It
has about 95K miles on it, and is in less than perfect condition. The
top has a fair amount of wear (it is actually starting to fall apart
in some spots), there are scratches on the body, and a scrape on the
front bumper.
For the time being, I'm not very concerned about that. What I *am*
concerned about is the engine. (I'd like to note that I didn't see
the car until it was delivered to me... I didn't pay for it, and the
money had been transferred several days before I got the car.)
The previous owners didn't know how to take care of a car. They had
NEVER changed the transmission fluid, and when I took the car to get
the oil changed, they told me that the oil filter was so dirty that
they couldn't tell if it had ever been replaced or not. I ran a
cleaner through the engine, and got the fuel injectors cleaned. THAT
made the engine light go away (the seller told me that it just "stays
on"). It has since come back on, but I think it's residue from all
the sudden cleaning. If it doesn't go away in a few days, I'll have
to take the car back to the shop. I also had to realign and balance
my tires. The alignment was really bad... .37*, front right,
and .28*, front left, off. All this has cost about $350. Not too bad,
considering. Getting the car to turn over is much easier, and sounds
less like a sick cat, and more like a mustang.
My newest concern about this car is that it starts to overheat while
it idles. Is this a common thing? It seems to be fine if I have the
AC running, but obviously if I have the top down, I'm not going to
bother with AC!! I had all the fluids checked three days ago, they
should be fine... does anyone have any ideas?
Hey Jess,
you could have a clog in your coolant system... you said you had it checked.. did you have it changed as well? if you change it, i recommend a flush to help get it all out...
as far as overheating do you mean steam pouring out? The factory guages aren't very accurate so its not a good idea to rely on them totally. Where about does the guage read when it overheats?
This is my first mustang, I'm still learning about the in's and out's.
I've been going by the factory gauges (although I am learning quickly that they aren't accurate), although the needle is as far up as it can go without actually being in the red. When it gets up that high, I can feel heat coming from the engine on my feet.. I don't know if that is normal or not, but in my limited driving experience, I've never seen it happen in a car that is not starting to overheat.
Okay, get the radiator flushed and filled, if that doesn't solve the problem you might want to check the following:
1. Fan (either electric or engine driven, I'm not familiar with this aspect of the newer Mustangs.)
2. Radiator Cap (stranger things have happened, I've had cars overheat for seemingly no reason, and replacing the radiator cap mysteriously seemed to help)
3. Hoses (they could be clogged)
4. Engine block/heads (water jackets could be clogged, this can be a pain.)
5. Catalytic converter, (if it's clogged, it can overly stress the engine and cause heat buildup at idle)
6. Get the coolant system pressure tested (can tell you if you have a blown head gasket or cracked head/block)
7. Wild cards, (innacurate temp gauge, exhaust leak near fire wall, etc.)
Other suggestions (just asked my dad for his opinion on your problems)
1. Use an aftermarket gauge set to find exact readings
2. replace thermostat ( , I shoulda thought of that )
__________________
1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia: 302 with a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Dynomax Blackjack headers, 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super 44s. RJS 11-gallon fuel cell, C4 tranny, chrome 16" pony wheels, fuzzy dice, brown vinyl half-top, and painted in the tackiest color ever (harvest gold, that's why I call it "The Goldenrod").
Also have a 2003 Dodge Ram (lightly modded daily driver/tow rig/office/dining room/home away from home/workshop... I call it "The Big Blue Dawg".)
Last edited by 74stang2togo; 09-09-2002 at 12:06 PM.
That engine light still hasn't disappeared, so I'll be taking the car back in tomorrow. I'll have them run through your checklist (not like I"ll be handing it to the tech, wouldn't want them offended and make matters worse), and we'll see what happens! Thanks a million!
You're welcome, hope my info helps, On the list I mentioned a possible exhaust leak near the firewall as a "wild card", this won't cause the temp gauge to climb, but will cause the floorboards to get hot sometimes. A clogged catalytic converter can cause all of the things you've mentioned(Check engine light, overheating, heat at floorboards), but that may not be your problem, or if it is, it may not be the only one.
If you need anymore help/info just let us know.
Matt
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1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia: 302 with a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Dynomax Blackjack headers, 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super 44s. RJS 11-gallon fuel cell, C4 tranny, chrome 16" pony wheels, fuzzy dice, brown vinyl half-top, and painted in the tackiest color ever (harvest gold, that's why I call it "The Goldenrod").
Also have a 2003 Dodge Ram (lightly modded daily driver/tow rig/office/dining room/home away from home/workshop... I call it "The Big Blue Dawg".)
I took the car up to my friend Shannon at Jiffy Lube. She's the manager, we've quickly gotten on a first-name basis.
They flushed my radiator, put new anti-freeze/coolant in. It was boiling over when I brought the car in... we had to wait over 30 minutes for it to cool. (This is why I like going to that particular Jiffy Lube... they are willing to explain things, let me watch what they do to my car.) The engine was getting so hot that it was making the car shake when I started it up. Like I've said before, this is my first Mustang, so I really have no idea how they act on a normal basis. They said something about the fluid being backed up in my radiator.
They also replaced the serp belt that the previous owner said was new.
I don't know. I think that $455.76 is a considerable amount to spend on a car (that is supposedly in good working order) so that the engine won't explode as I drive to school. New rule: I will never buy a used car from a cop again.
Shannon referred me to another shop to get the thermostat and relay switch checked. I went straight to that shop and was told to come back tomorrow. They need me to bring the car back early afternoon, so I'll be going back on Friday when I can be without a car for 2-3 hours, early afternoon. I'll also have them check the catalytic convertor then.
The car starts much easier... sounds a lot healthier than it did before. With any luck, I'll get all of this taken care of before Dad's credit card maxes out, LOL. Are there any laws about crappy used cars that I should know of? I'd love to be able to kick that cop's butt for all this...
Originally posted by vbjess I took the car up to my friend Shannon at Jiffy Lube. She's the manager, we've quickly gotten on a first-name basis.
They flushed my radiator, put new anti-freeze/coolant in. It was boiling over when I brought the car in... we had to wait over 30 minutes for it to cool. (This is why I like going to that particular Jiffy Lube... they are willing to explain things, let me watch what they do to my car.) The engine was getting so hot that it was making the car shake when I started it up. Like I've said before, this is my first Mustang, so I really have no idea how they act on a normal basis. They said something about the fluid being backed up in my radiator.
They also replaced the serp belt that the previous owner said was new.
I don't know. I think that $455.76 is a considerable amount to spend on a car (that is supposedly in good working order) so that the engine won't explode as I drive to school. New rule: I will never buy a used car from a cop again.
Shannon referred me to another shop to get the thermostat and relay switch checked. I went straight to that shop and was told to come back tomorrow. They need me to bring the car back early afternoon, so I'll be going back on Friday when I can be without a car for 2-3 hours, early afternoon. I'll also have them check the catalytic convertor then.
The car starts much easier... sounds a lot healthier than it did before. With any luck, I'll get all of this taken care of before Dad's credit card maxes out, LOL. Are there any laws about crappy used cars that I should know of? I'd love to be able to kick that cop's butt for all this...
That shouldn't have cost more than $100. I can't imagine how a flush & fill and a belt change could add up to nearly 500 dollars.
They may be ripping you off.
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
<<I can't imagine how a flush & fill and a belt change could add up to nearly 500 dollars. >>
It didn't. It was about $100.
Changing the transmission fluid, blanacing and realigning wheels, flush and fill, belt change, engine flush, oil and filter change, emissions/ fuel injector cleaning was $500. But I still think it's a little rediculous to go through for a car that was supposedly fine.
Do yourself a favor and get a chilton's manual. They have step-by step instructions to figure out what's wrong.
My sister was ripped a good one by a goodyear dealership that explained (a bunch of b.s.) things to her. I got her a chilton's manual for her car (a fiero) and fixed the problem she was having with just a fuse.
The first thing you should ask for at any repair shop is the old parts for inspection.
I just had a shop here tell me I needed a new brake system(400 dollars). I drove the car home, took the from wheels off, and found they were full of it. I took it to my family mechanic in topeka, and had the whole thing done for 69 dollars. resurface & pads was all it needed.
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Originally posted by vbjess <<I can't imagine how a flush & fill and a belt change could add up to nearly 500 dollars. >>
It didn't. It was about $100.
Changing the transmission fluid, blanacing and realigning wheels, flush and fill, belt change, engine flush, oil and filter change, emissions/ fuel injector cleaning was $500. But I still think it's a little rediculous to go through for a car that was supposedly fine.
Didn't need the engine flush . . . Fuel injector cleaner costs $5 at any advace auto parts store.
was the car vibrating when you bought it?
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
Originally posted by vbjess <<I can't imagine how a flush & fill and a belt change could add up to nearly 500 dollars. >>
It didn't. It was about $100.
Changing the transmission fluid, blanacing and realigning wheels, flush and fill, belt change, engine flush, oil and filter change, emissions/ fuel injector cleaning was $500. But I still think it's a little rediculous to go through for a car that was supposedly fine.
at 95,000 changing a lot of the fluids is S.O.P. - but the belt should have been changed at 70,000 . . .
It may be overheating because the timing is off . . .
__________________
Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
I didn't see the car until after it had been paid for.
I did not pay for it. I am 17. I am trying to get this car in working order so it doesn't die while I am on I-264 west trying to come home from church at night. Believe me, I am as sick of this **** as you sound to be. I got this car instead of a Chevy Cavalier because dad has always wanted a mustang convertable. Hopefully all of this will have cured his ills.
I put the fuel injector cleaner into an empty gas tank the first day I had the car. It was on an empty gas tank so that when I filled the tank with gas, everything would mix well. That did not do the job; the "professional" cleaning shot out black crap (for lack of a better word) from my exhaust pipe for at least two minutes before changing to thick white smoke. I've seen the parts that have been replaced, and even to my untrained eye (without much explanation.. even I know that black stuff should not be coming out of the engine, nor brownish-green liquid coming from my oil filter...) the parts did need to be replaced.
Tomorrow afternoon I am going to track down whoever initially sold Officer "Sorry-I-Didn't-Know" the mustang, and I will finish this off with them. At this point, none of us cares about the cost, we just want this car to run properly. I plan on spending my entire Saturday (maybe Friday, depending on what works for both them and me) fixing the car.
I don't know, I'm just sick and tired of this. I wanted a car that runs, not one that overheats and needs $700 of work done. I didn't realize that was asking too much?
Engine overheats while idling... when AC is OFF 
, I shoulda thought of that
)
