Fordnatics List Archive

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Mail From: Bill Darchi <(email redacted)>



Hi everyone,

I own an '89 Mustang and an '94 Explorer. I have three questions
concerning my Mustang. Any responses will be apreciated.

1) I recently had a leak fixed in my airconditioning system, and now I
notice an "idle problem" when it is turned on. The idle surges from
normal to about 1200 RPMs , also when the car is moving and I step on the
Clutch and brake the engine will stall. As I said this only happens when
the car has the air compressor turned on. I think it might be the EEC-IV
computer, but I don't have a way to read error codes. This brings me to
part two. Does anyone know a good cheap code reader I can buy, or make?

2) When I first turn on the interior vent system I notice a small puff of
mist that smells like radiator coolant, plus a few weeks ago I noticed
that the coolant system was lower (empty overflow, low level in
radiator), but I did not notice any coolant leakage. Could there be a
leak in the heater core causing the mist in the vent and the slight
coolant lose? Or does anyone have any other ideas?

3) Finally, I've been noticing a drop in the oil pressure only when the
car is idling. It always dropped a little from high RPM to idle, but
lately its been dropping to the low end of the normal range on the
gauge. Could it be an oil pump problem and if so is it normal for a 302
with 80K miles on it to have the oil pump go?


Any comments or suggestions would be helpfull. I would appriciate any
repair suggestions,, because I do most of the work myself.

Thanks,
Bill

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Mail From: chucko (Chuck Fry)

Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 13:35:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Bill Darchi <(email redacted)>

1) I recently had a leak fixed in my airconditioning system ...
... This brings me to
part two. Does anyone know a good cheap code reader I can buy, or make?

All you need on an '89 Mustang is a piece of wire. Grab the file
/pub/chucko/eec-iv-summary from the Fordnatics archives on ftp.rahul.net
for specifics.

2) When I first turn on the interior vent system I notice a small puff of
mist that smells like radiator coolant ...

Your heater core is leaking. It's a major pain and/or expense to
replace, but it's best to replace it NOW before the leak gets bigger and
pisses antifreeze all over your feet (I've had this happen in a Brand C
car). Mustangs are supposed to have a flow restrictor in the inlet side
heater hose; check that it's there before everything goes back together.

3) Finally, I've been noticing a drop in the oil pressure only when the
car is idling.

This is one of two things: either normal wear on the engine, or the
usual Ford oil pressure sender flakiness. There's not much you can do
about it short of rebuilding the engine. As long as the pressure only
drops at idle, I wouldn't worry about it.
-- Chuck

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Mail From: Craig=Blome%Graphics=Dev%PCPD=(email redacted)

Bill Darchi <(email redacted)> Wrote:
|
| Does anyone know a good cheap code reader I can
| buy, or make?

Sure--get yourself a good quality jumper wire. Refer to Chuck's FTP archives
on EEC IV diagnostics for instructions on how to read diagnostic codes on the
dashboard "Check Engine" light.

| Could there be a
| leak in the heater core causing the mist in the vent and the slight
| coolant lose? Or does anyone have any other ideas?

Not sure. Wasn't there a Ford TSB having something to do with this? Anyone
know the number?

Regards,
Craig Blome

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Mail From: David Schwarze <(email redacted)>

Bill Darchi writes:
>
> Does anyone know a good cheap code reader I can buy, or make?

If you're not into making your own code reader, you can buy one form
Auto Parts Club or other stores for about $30. IMO the audible beeps
are easier to keep track of than flashes of light. Course, you could
make one that beeps too, I suppose...

> 2) When I first turn on the interior vent system I notice a small puff of
> mist that smells like radiator coolant, plus a few weeks ago I noticed
> that the coolant system was lower (empty overflow, low level in
> radiator), but I did not notice any coolant leakage. Could there be a
> leak in the heater core causing the mist in the vent and the slight
> coolant lose? Or does anyone have any other ideas?

I think you hit it right on the nose. Sounds like your heater core is
going out. It's very common with Mustangs. I can e-mail you a
summary of the job, as can a few other list members, if you want. I
think most of us Mustang owners have had to replace our heater cores
at least once.

> 3) Finally, I've been noticing a drop in the oil pressure only when the
> car is idling. It always dropped a little from high RPM to idle, but
> lately its been dropping to the low end of the normal range on the
> gauge. Could it be an oil pump problem and if so is it normal for a 302
> with 80K miles on it to have the oil pump go?

Funny, *my* car experiences a drop in pressure on the freeway, and jumps
up to normal at idle. The gauges basically are crap. Before you do
anything drastic, find a way to hook up a reliable (i.e. mechanical)
gauge and make sure there is really a pressure problem and not a gauge
problem.

I have seen an oil pump go bad on a Mustang before, once. It was in
1988 and I was test driving an 84 GT Convertible from the Ford dealer.
I kinda stepped on the gas a little in second gear, and at about 4,000
rpm I heard this clattering noise, and the pressure dropped to zero. I
pulled over and the sales guy decided to limp it back to the dealer,
saying something about Mustangs not being over head cam engines and
they can run for a few miles without oil pressure. After we get a ride
back to the dealership, he asks me, "So, are you still interested in the
car?" I almost laughed.

Sorry for the rambling...

-David

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David Schwarze '73 VW Safare Custom Camper (Da Boat)
SAIC Comsystems, San Diego '73 Capri GT 2800 (Da Beast)
(email redacted) '87 Mustang Lx 5.0 (Da Bruiser? Soon...)
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