At a loss

[L.Mark]

OK. I've replaced the MAF, Crank Position Sensor and had two coils replaced and had the car diagnosed. It ran fine eversince I picked it up on Friday. Saturday it stated to rain and the car actually started and ran for 2 minutes then died and wouldn't restart until I unplugged the MAF sensor and drove it the rest of the way home. The CEL did not come on nor did it come on while driving it home with it unplugged. I plugged the MAF back in but did not try and restart since I was pissed. I will try again tomorrow. And suggestions. My mechanic has looked it over as well as Ford. Am REALLY fustrated with this car right now. My mechanic says the PCM is the problem...don't want to spend money on a possible. Anyone have any suggestions...

[DOOM]

Do you have a warranty?

[martyo]

Can you tale some pictures under the hood and either post them here or e-mail them to me at marty@mosspeedshop.com?

I had mentioned to you that I felt like something was getting wet and this makes it all the more likely.

When you take the pictures, let's see the CAI (if you have one) and the area around the meeter (MAF).

[guspech750]

I recall seeing Justbob cleaning a harness connector near the firewall that was corroded as he was having issues with his car running poopy after car washes. Perhaps he will chime in soon.


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DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[MyBlackBeasts]

OK. I've replaced the MAF, Crank Position Sensor and had two coils replaced and had the car diagnosed. It ran fine eversince I picked it up on Friday. Saturday it stated to rain and the car actually started and ran for 2 minutes then died and wouldn't restart until I unplugged the MAF sensor and drove it the rest of the way home. The CEL did not come on nor did it come on while driving it home with it unplugged. I plugged the MAF back in but did not try and restart since I was pissed. I will try again tomorrow. And suggestions. My mechanic has looked it over as well as Ford. Am REALLY fustrated with this car right now. My mechanic says the PCM is the problem...don't want to spend money on a possible. Anyone have any suggestions...

Not the PCM. You have an exposed circuit somewhere that is shorting when exposed to humidity/water. Only way to blame PCM is a connector missing the gasket (which they should have checked) or the epoxy is cracked (rare). This problem usually happens when wiring has chaffed the insulation off or rubbed on sharp spot & cut thru or wires pulled partly out of a connector exposing the copper or my personal pet peeve, the idiot that pierces the wire to test a circuit but is too stupid or lazy to seal the hole back up = time goes by and some poor soul is dealing with the issues like you are:mad2:.

This is a patience repair, one you can do yourself and save big $$$. Start at end of a loom, and unhook retainers, start pulling wires from loom. Examine wires looking for exposed copper, holes/cuts in insulation or green corrosion. Do small sections at a time (based on your comfort level) and return to how it was before moving on. Don't take everything apart at once, this could turn in to a nightmare if you don't have the skill level to deal with it. Take your time and do a little here & there & over a few days you'll get it done.

From what I've read here, there are 2 spots under hood that this is very common to happen. Check those 1st so you aren't reinventing the wheel.

Good luck! :)

[L.Mark]

I gave a quick look and didn't see any compromised wiring. There were two harness that were on the valvel covers but were not damaged. I didn't see anything wet under the hood. I tried starting this car and it started fine and strong until it idled down the first little bit the it died. Did this two other times then just wouldn't start. CEL is still not on.


Can you tale some pictures under the hood and either post them here

I took some pics and will get them loaded ASAP.

:mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2: :mad2::mad2:

[Limited360]

Try pulling codes to see if there is anything pending and hasn't had a chance to turn the MIL on yet...

If its worse in wet always it's something cracked or exposed in the wiring. Surprised no MIL with MAF unplugged...

Does the MIL work during key up? Should be lighting up and do a MIL check during start up.

PCM failures can cause random issues but typically those are not intermittent normally.

Good luck, sorry your chasing a ghost of a problem...

[Pat]

Read the thread, try trouble shooting the fuel system, a clogged-up filter will behave llke this.

[L.Mark]

Does the MIL work during key up? Should be lighting up and do a MIL check during start up.

It does light up during test...


a clogged-up filter will behave llke this.


I have a filter I just haven't put on, gonna try when the easter thing winds down.

I will try more trouble shooting if the weather holds. Thanks for all the help.

[MyBlackBeasts]

I gave a quick look and didn't see any compromised wiring. There were two harness that were on the valvel covers but were not damaged. I didn't see anything wet under the hood.

Not just "on engine" harnesses. All of them in the enitre bay. IE: the one in rad saddle area by drivers headlight is known to rub thru on metal. Also, the one that goes behind the drivers valve cover. Others can chime in as to any other known spots.

This is not something that will be visable just "looking" at it. You have to pull the wire out of the loom & visually feel/inspect reach one.

Top of engine wet n/a. Wet usually remote from engine like rain/road spray in the headlamp area.

[L.Mark]

Do you have a warranty?

Yes but it's only the basic and does not cover the ghost problems according to Ford.

[DOOM]

Yes but it's only the basic and does not cover the ghost problems according to Ford.


What's a BASIC warranty? :confused:

[L.Mark]

Sorry, it's Base Care...covers all lubricated parts of the engine, metal fuel lines, oil pump and pan, water pump, seals and gaskets, harmonic balancer, etc...for the engine. Basically doesn't include the relays, sensors or anything like that.

[L.Mark]

I had mentioned to you that I felt like something was getting wet and this makes it all the more likely.


I agree, went through nealy the same thing with my Fleetwood and it's coil pack which was under the NON leaking water pump. What puzzles me is the car starts and runs after the MAF sensor is unplugged. I did this while it was raining and the thing started and ran to the house.

[L.Mark]

It was also mentioned of possibly the fuel fliter and or pump. But why would it start and run when the MAF was unplugged????:confused::confus ed::confused:

[justbob]

Sorry, I can't help here. I flat out gave up.. I power washed my engine without fail for 8 years with no issues, then out of the blue I could barely keep it running but managed to get it home. After three days it finally fired up and purred. The second time I just went thru a touch less car wash with undercarriage jets. Same thing, but this time it took almost 5 days!! Never found anything..


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

[Mebot]

Sorry, I can't help here. I flat out gave up.. I power washed my engine without fail for 8 years with no issues, then out of the blue I could barely keep it running but managed to get it home. After three days it finally fired up and purred. The second time I just went thru a touch less car wash with undercarriage jets. Same thing, but this time it took almost 5 days!! Never found anything..


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

ghost in the machine!

sent from space

[frankdc]

I'm having a similar problem. i just had my 4.6 marauder engine rebuilt here in Los Angeles by the mechanics that have taken care of my parent's cars and my first mustang since I was 18. I've had the car for 2 months and the check engine light goes on after 2 hours of resetting it. Then they checked the mass air flow sensor, replaced it with a remanufactured one from Star Ford, and then the light went on again. Needless to say the car is running rough at low speeds from 0-25 mph. It's annoying! Tomorrow we are getting to the bottom of this. This happened an hour after I got my car washed on Friday.

[L.Mark]

I'm having a similar problem. i just had my 4.6 marauder engine rebuilt here in Los Angeles by the mechanics that have taken care of my parent's cars and my first mustang since I was 18. I've had the car for 2 months and the check engine light goes on after 2 hours of resetting it. Then they checked the mass air flow sensor, replaced it with a remanufactured one from Star Ford, and then the light went on again. Needless to say the car is running rough at low speeds from 0-25 mph. It's annoying! Tomorrow we are getting to the bottom of this. This happened an hour after I got my car washed on Friday.

Yes, mine has a slight shudder at idle etc...Let me know what you find please.


Sorry, I can't help here. I flat out gave up.. I power washed my engine without fail for 8 years with no issues, then out of the blue I could barely keep it running but managed to get it home. After three days it finally fired up and purred. The second time I just went thru a touch less car wash with undercarriage jets. Same thing, but this time it took almost 5 days!! Never found anything..


What all have you done or looked at???

[L.Mark]

Not just "on engine" harnesses. All of them in the enitre bay. IE: the one in rad saddle area by drivers headlight is known to rub thru on metal. Also, the one that goes behind the drivers valve cover. Others can chime in as to any other known spots.

This is not something that will be visable just "looking" at it. You have to pull the wire out of the loom & visually feel/inspect reach one.

Top of engine wet n/a. Wet usually remote from engine like rain/road spray in the headlamp area.

I'm having this done. The new guy I took it to said he had just had a CV with some of the same issues and it was a harness like you described. Also said he thinks he's found a bad spot. I'll know tomorrow. I was not comfortable doing this with the run of luck I've been having. I'll post the results...

[babbage]

Battery is how old? Ground wire clean. There was a TSB for a pinched wire harness for Marauders. WD-40 in the engine bay will help remove and repel moisture.

I agree with what myblackbeasts said a few posts up.