89 Mustang LX (HELP!?!)

[Amy has a Mustang]

I have an 89 mustang LX and I have been trying to figure out what is wrong with it, i have replaced the alternator, and gotten a new distributor cap, new battery, spark plugs, and a new modguel... i even had the coil tested, bc i thought that mb it wasnt getting enough fire, but they said that it was good... idk? my car just doesnt wanna start... i had been having probs since i got the car from my dad the christmas after i turned 16.... i am now 18 and it just doesnt wanna start... do any of u guys/ gals kno what might be the problem?

stupid about cars...

amy

[fordforlife]

What are the symptons? Do you turn the key and nothing happen? does it just spin and spin?

have u tested the starter yet? If you pull it off or get some1 to pull it off for ya, you can have autozone test it, bout the simpliest way. If you know someone with a fuel pressure gauge, have them test the pressure for ya to see if its your fuel pump. Check around at some shops, one by my house tested my fuel pressure for free. hope this helps!

[Amy has a Mustang]

idk really what happens, my uncle is the one that looks under the hood... i am the one that sits in the car and turns the key... lol all i kno is that it sometimes tries to start, but i really dont kno... yea ill tell my uncle to have a look at those things... thx 4 the sugestions! and if all elses fails were gonna put it in the shop, have them take a look at it. i really hope i can get her running, she is my baby!

[ridge_runner]

so it turns but it doesnt start......do you have spark??? and is the engine getting gas??and look around for any wires that might be disconnected

[Amy has a Mustang]

no i dont think that it has spark... idk... that is what my uncle was saying might be the problem... and i dont kno if its getting gas... i mean thought that the gas it had might be bad, or it was out, so we put in some more, but idk... im sure that nothing is disconnected, we have checked all the obvious stuff... so idk again thx 4 the sugestions it really will help my uncle out, hes bout outta ideas... lol

hoping...
amy

[fordforlife]

walmart sells a little electric tester kit for about 7 bucks. Its in the electrical section of automotive. In it is a spark plug tester. You touch to the wire to see if it is getting fire. (not the kind where you have to poke through the wire either, just touch it)If the wire is getting spark, then pull the spark plug and see if its firing. This will tell you if you have spark or not. If you do, then move on to gas. Might even be a clogged fuel filter.

I would def check the starter though, ive had it go out in my 85 bronco, 93 tbird, and recently my 90 f150, so they do like to go out. There under $75 for a decent one, even cheaper for a lesser brand.

[fordforlife]

just incase he doesnt know, the starter will be bolted to your transmission, it will be near where your engine is bolted to the transmission, usually 3 bolts or so, and a couple wires, not too hard.

[GTStang]

Don't know if you have spark.... take the sparkplug boot off the spark plug, put a screwdriver in there and lay the screwdriver's metal rod against something metal. Now crank the car while some looks to see if the scredriver arcs to the metal. If it does you have spark in that wire. If it does in intermittently you have an issue. Repeat for all plug wires.

[351wStang]

To find out if you have spark or not, just unplug the plugwire, pull the plug, install it back into the plug wire. Let your uncle hold it while you turn the key.....who knows..may give him a few ideas. J/K

The quickest way to check for spark is to pull the coil wire off the distributor cap, hold it near then point you pulled it off of (middle of cap) with insulated pliers and get someone to turn the key. If it arcs across then you have spark. Check your rotor button and cap itself, if they are good then you should be getting fire all around.

This would mean a fuel or timing problem. But always check fuel first unless you can easily tell its out of timing (firing on exhaust stroke ect.). Pull your fuel filter. If the fuel coming out is clean then its fine. But, they dont cost much so I would suggest replacing the original. When you pull the fuel filter if fuel starts pouring out of the tank side or "feed" line, then its a safe bet your fuel pump is working. If it still doesnt start after replacing the fuel filter and priming the system (cycling the key on and off a few times), then the problem lies farther up. Maybe bad injectors.
Now all this is assuming that the motor is turning over and not starting when you turn the key to the start position.

However, other problems may lie deeper in the system. Has the car ever smoked? You could have a near total loss of compression. Ie. broken rings, fried pistons, severely blown head gaskets, or maybe even hung valves. If after going through all of the fuel and fire test it still doesnt start come back with more info. You may end up pulling the valve covers to varify everything is up to par in the valve train. Atleast visually.

Best of luck to you.

[wildstringer]

a common problem for for is the pick up coil inside the distributor. with the key on and a test light check for power to one side of the injectors . then take the test light to the other side and have someone crank the car . the test light should flash . if it doesnt you dont have any pulse to your injectors and the prob is most likely the pick up coil.if you do you may want to have some one lay near the gas tank and turn the key on to run you might be able to hear the fuel pump or you can press the valve in on the fuel rail and see if gas comes out. watch your eyes and it will look just like a valve stem on a tire with a cap on it

[wildstringer]

i didnt realize i left out the part that once you find the power side of the injector you will hook the test light to a hot the flashes will be ground

[stang_racer20]

sounds like another classic tfi module to me.

[Amy has a Mustang]

Originally Posted by stang_racer20

sounds like another classic tfi module to me.

no its not that... we already replaced it, we were thinking that it might be the EEC IV Modgule do any of yall kno where that is??? help me please!!!

lost completly,
amy

[andrewespo]

Originally Posted by Amy has a Mustang

no its not that... we already replaced it, we were thinking that it might be the EEC IV Modgule do any of yall kno where that is??? help me please!!!

lost completly,
amy

The EEC IV is behind the passenger side kick panel.

[Amy has a Mustang]

Originally Posted by andrewespo

The EEC IV is behind the passenger side kick panel.

do u kno if it can be tested and how?