ignition problems? IAC for the stall at stop light? i dont think one thing would cause those problems
Electrical problem
This started about a week ago...
One night I had a couple of "electrical hicups". I was driving dwon the road, when just for a split second, my battery light and check engine light came on, my radar detector reset, and my rpms went up a bit. But the car carried on as if nothing was wrong.
A couple of days later the car wouldn't start. It had been running so it wasn't a cold start. No click, no whir, no sign that anything was even trying to turn on. Then after removing my key then trying it again, it started without any problem.
Same thing happened today. I kept turning the ignition and nothing. No noise or anything. But after opening and closing the door (not even getting out) the car started just fine.
Then today I was pulling up to a red light, came to a complete stop, and the car just stoped. I was able to start the car again without problem.
I'm kinda scratching my head over this one. I can think of a few things that might do this all together, but since it all started at the same time, I feel as if one thing might be causing it. I've never seen a mustang act like this. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!
One night I had a couple of "electrical hicups". I was driving dwon the road, when just for a split second, my battery light and check engine light came on, my radar detector reset, and my rpms went up a bit. But the car carried on as if nothing was wrong.
A couple of days later the car wouldn't start. It had been running so it wasn't a cold start. No click, no whir, no sign that anything was even trying to turn on. Then after removing my key then trying it again, it started without any problem.
Same thing happened today. I kept turning the ignition and nothing. No noise or anything. But after opening and closing the door (not even getting out) the car started just fine.
Then today I was pulling up to a red light, came to a complete stop, and the car just stoped. I was able to start the car again without problem.
I'm kinda scratching my head over this one. I can think of a few things that might do this all together, but since it all started at the same time, I feel as if one thing might be causing it. I've never seen a mustang act like this. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
The IAC only has about 40k miles on it.
I don't know if it has anything to do with this, but my passenger fog light keeps blowing out. Some kind of electrical problem with it as well. I must have gotten some water in there or something.
I don't know if it has anything to do with this, but my passenger fog light keeps blowing out. Some kind of electrical problem with it as well. I must have gotten some water in there or something.
my foglamps have blown also. Its just water inside the fixture because the seal between the bulb and the housing doesn't work well. happens all the time.
Usual suspects
Check the usual suspects. Start with the battery - check if you have any dry cells - add water if you do. Remove and thoroughly clean the terminals and leads. If problem persists, check (or have it checked) the battery/ignition circuit to make sure your system is charging.
Could also be downstream of the battery/alternator/ignition circuit, but bet you find the culprit if you start here.
tripleblack
Check the usual suspects. Start with the battery - check if you have any dry cells - add water if you do. Remove and thoroughly clean the terminals and leads. If problem persists, check (or have it checked) the battery/ignition circuit to make sure your system is charging.
Could also be downstream of the battery/alternator/ignition circuit, but bet you find the culprit if you start here.
tripleblack
I have an optima maintenance free battery, so it shouldn't be a cell (but I have had a bad optima before).
I was also thinking maybe the alternator and/or ignition. But i'm scratchin my head over this.... The car starts great with cold starts. It's the warm starts that I'm having a problem with.
I have a battery minder installed. Today after sitting in traffic for a while I stopped for an errand. I came out, and it was dead to the world again. I checked all my connections, then I checked the battery minder. It said that the battery was totally dead. I continued to check it a couple of times. Suddenly it lit up to say that the battery was at full charge. I jumped in and it started right up.
I think that maybe my car is just telling me that I haven't been giving her enough attention lately and she's having a temper tantrum.
I was also thinking maybe the alternator and/or ignition. But i'm scratchin my head over this.... The car starts great with cold starts. It's the warm starts that I'm having a problem with.
I have a battery minder installed. Today after sitting in traffic for a while I stopped for an errand. I came out, and it was dead to the world again. I checked all my connections, then I checked the battery minder. It said that the battery was totally dead. I continued to check it a couple of times. Suddenly it lit up to say that the battery was at full charge. I jumped in and it started right up.
I think that maybe my car is just telling me that I haven't been giving her enough attention lately and she's having a temper tantrum.
im not familiar with battery minders, but could it be the minder thats causing the problems? Are the posts on your battery corroded at all? I would still check IAC because cold versus warm starts can be like that. yeah, could be ignition too. haha, sounds like we got a checklist going!
Intermittent short
Last time I had this problem was in a 96 Taurus that Midas screwed up by installing the wrong alternator ($600 mistake - I cheer every time I drive by their dark, bankrupt store!). Acted like an intermittent short in a wire - problem was ghostly, now you see it, now you don't. Anyway, the car was getting SOME charge from the alternator (100 amp alternator in a system designed for 130 amp), but still the battery would go crazy. It was getting just enough juice for the computer to start acting like it was drunk.
Replacing the alernator cured the problem. I checked the leads, harness and ignition system first, though - and everything pointed to the virtually brand new alternator. Alternator was one of those items mounted under the AC and requiring about 4 hours of work to remove. Took it out, had it tested - tek said it was fine (and of course it was - if you need only 100 amps). Put it back in, etc, etc.
Took me a year of charging my battery every other night and rarely driving (3rd vehicle) the car to finally figure it out by re-reading the invoice and taking note of the alternator part number - 100 amp.
Midas (hope they all go bankrupt) wouldn't give me the time of day - my problem, not theirs.
Have the ignition circuit checked out. Bet its in there - might be an actual short, but I'm betting its battery-to-alternator.
tripleblack
Last time I had this problem was in a 96 Taurus that Midas screwed up by installing the wrong alternator ($600 mistake - I cheer every time I drive by their dark, bankrupt store!). Acted like an intermittent short in a wire - problem was ghostly, now you see it, now you don't. Anyway, the car was getting SOME charge from the alternator (100 amp alternator in a system designed for 130 amp), but still the battery would go crazy. It was getting just enough juice for the computer to start acting like it was drunk.
Replacing the alernator cured the problem. I checked the leads, harness and ignition system first, though - and everything pointed to the virtually brand new alternator. Alternator was one of those items mounted under the AC and requiring about 4 hours of work to remove. Took it out, had it tested - tek said it was fine (and of course it was - if you need only 100 amps). Put it back in, etc, etc.
Took me a year of charging my battery every other night and rarely driving (3rd vehicle) the car to finally figure it out by re-reading the invoice and taking note of the alternator part number - 100 amp.
Midas (hope they all go bankrupt) wouldn't give me the time of day - my problem, not theirs.
Have the ignition circuit checked out. Bet its in there - might be an actual short, but I'm betting its battery-to-alternator.
tripleblack
mustanggt said:I have an optima maintenance free battery, so it shouldn't be a cell (but I have had a bad optima before).
I was also thinking maybe the alternator and/or ignition. But i'm scratchin my head over this.... The car starts great with cold starts. It's the warm starts that I'm having a problem with.
I have a battery minder installed. Today after sitting in traffic for a while I stopped for an errand. I came out, and it was dead to the world again. I checked all my connections, then I checked the battery minder. It said that the battery was totally dead. I continued to check it a couple of times. Suddenly it lit up to say that the battery was at full charge. I jumped in and it started right up.
I think that maybe my car is just telling me that I haven't been giving her enough attention lately and she's having a temper tantrum.
I have had my eye on the alternator for a while... I have 146k miles and it's the original (should I be in the records books?). I was still planning on replacing it as preventative. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this. No electrical problems today!
Thanks for all the help.
Thanks for all the help.
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
Ford Mustang Forum
A forum community dedicated to Ford Mustang owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, builds, modifications, reviews, engine swaps, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
