Car dies

Tiny
BRYTNY.MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 FORD MUSTANG
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 209,000 MILES
When driving long distances (or for a long period of time) my car will start to lose power. It feels like it isnt getting the right amount of fuel and it will slowly cut out and so I try pushing on the gas pedal and it doesnt help and within the minute it will just die out. All the electronics in the car still work after it dies, but it wont start up right away, it will try to start but quickly die out, if that and pushing the pedal then doesnt seem to help either. If I let it sit for a good thirty minutes it will start up and run fine, or at least long enough to get home. It is a Manual transmission and ive recently replaced the fuel filter as well as the fuel pump (about four times within a one month period, thinking that was the problem).
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 AT 2:57 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Next time it refuses to start don't wait for it to make up its mind-do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if okay-check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing.
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 AT 10:34 PM
Tiny
BRYTNY.MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I do hear the fuel pump come on when I turn the key on. I took it to Autozone to pull the codes from the check engine light and they said it comes up as a bank 1 and bank 2. He said it can be anything from the spark plugs fouling out, the o2 sensors, a vacuum leak, etc. He did specify that it is running lean and it isnt getting enough fuel to the engine. A co-worker informed me about a possible vapor lock? Some previous people said they had the same problem and vapor locking sounds like it could be the issue, but im still not sure.
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Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 AT 10:55 PM

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