My car hates me - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Trey · 01-15-2002, 14:32

After finally resolving my alternator issues, I once again had my baby out and running strong. Until today. This week, the damn gremlins in my car have decided to throw a tricky one at me.

As I'm driving down the road, the car begins to miss a bit...kinda like hiccups, and then straighten itself out. A moment ot two later, it begins to miss again, but really freally bad. And then it dies. Kaput. Now, I can sit there for..oh...last time I was there for 45 minutes, an I can get the car to start again. I take off down the road, and a few minutes later it happens again. Kaput.

So I'm thinking something is overheating, and in turn, killing the car. It's not the ignitor, as I've already gone through that mess, and put in the MSD. Also, My brother ran it totally out of gas a few weeks ago, and I was told that the gas acts like a coolant for the fuel pump....

So my question is could it be the MSD? The Fuel pump or it's relay? Could it be somethig else entirley?

Noclss2000 · 01-15-2002, 19:03

could be a number of things.
fuel filter, fuel pump, msd.
I doubt it'd be the disty since it misses, the disty normally just quits on you while driving.

Trey · 01-15-2002, 21:11

I know it's not the disty as there is no longer any spark coming from the ignitor. (hence the MSD and external coil.)

If it were the fuel filter I think I would be seeing less power than normal when I really got on the gas. But when I stomp it, it tears off like a bat out of hell.

The fuel pump is still a possibility, but I've never heard of one quiting, and then starting up again after a while. It's odd to say the least.

I think the MSD is the culprit, but I do not know for sure...yet.

I took it on a drive after changing out the plugs (which looked fine) and had no problems. It was about a 15-20 minute drive, so I figure that if it was going to over heat something, it shold have. Yet had no problems.

I'm at a loss......

Stacy94PGT · 01-15-2002, 21:39

Have you checked your vacum lines to see if one of them have poped off ?

Trey · 01-15-2002, 21:59

Just did....it all looks fine.:crazy1:

01-18-2002, 09:48

My daughters car, same year and model as yours, was doing almost the
same thing. The car would run strong, then miss and buck, then catch again.
I had the fuel filter replaced, along with the thermostat and that seems to
have fixed the problem. I noticed the car overheating earlier so that's why I replaced the thermostat.

Cheers
Jim

Trey · 01-19-2002, 00:25

Fuel filter is going in on Monday. We'll see what happens.

Thanks