When cold, starts easily and immediately dies

1988 T'Bird, 3.8L. When cold, starts easily and immediately dies. Repeat 4 or 5 times, stays running but very rough idle. Wild (1-2000 RPM) fluctuations. Put it in gear, stalls. Repeat until finally under way. engine missing dramatically accompanied by wild fluctuations in RPMs. Top speed of maybe 50-55 MPH. Stop at red light, low swing of RPM fluctuation- dies. Starts right up, shift into neutral, feather the gas pedal to keep it running, light turns green drop into gear and sputter away. Problem came on rather suddenly. So far I have replaced dist cap and rotor and added injector cleaner to gas to no avail. Plugs and wires are suspect but it ran sweet right up 'til now.



Response:

The first step is to extract any check engine light codes. This can be done free and here is how to do it: Ford Trouble Codes



Once you have the codes, it may guide you to your issue. There are many things that can make this problem happen. A failing MAF Sensor, Vacuum leak, If you notice smoke.. an injector could be stuck open and giving the o2sensors false readings... the good news is that it restarts..... 

Anti-lock brake problem

Hopefully someone here can help me. I have a 2003 Chevy Astro Van and everytime I use my brakes my anti-lock brakes kick in with their grinding just as I am almost at a stop. It is really annoying. I had someone look at my brakes a few weeks ago. He told me there was nothing wrong that my brakes are all over 50% and that it's just the anti-locks working when it's slippery. Well, it happens ALL the time, even on dry blacktop. I hope this is nothing serious or expensive. Any help is greatly appreciated.





Thank you!



Response:

1) my 07 f550 does the same thing and ford dont know why but has been doing this for 170000 miles with no other problems



2) Number one cause of this issue is a failing Speed sensor. The speed sensors are located inside the front hub bearing assemblies. This means you have to replace the entire hub bearing......



Or, you can just remove the ABS fuse or Relay to deactivate the ABS system. The ABS will no longer work which means it will no longer give you a problem when it is dry out. Just won't work in the wet, icy roads either. Once you save up the money, you may want to have the ABS system fixed.

1996 lincoln town car (help)

well the car has 118 thou on it. The rear end air bags where replaced with springs and struts but the check air suspension light stays on, washer fluid light came on and shorty after every once in a while a buzzing noise comes from under the dash. some where usually when i let off the gas peddle.  i was thinking it was becouse i needed to replace the washer fluid so i did and it stopped but outta the blue a couple hours later its doing it again and honestly its driving me crazy.  Any advice would be great. annoying ringing sound coming from under the dash sounds like a ringing the ear but louder, goes away when i accelerate this is driving nuts please help...



Response:

1) Sounds like a relay. Find it while it's making the noise and you will find a part nimber on it. Go to your local parts store and have them cross reference it or go to the dealership to find out what it controls.



2) What you are describing sounds like a vacuum leak. Check your heater control harness where it cinnects.

1994 camaro z28 not starting

it was running perfect and it sat for several mths and was supposely started once in awhile i tried 1 day took me 3 days to get running it ran perfect then it sat for 8 hours and hasnt started again it wines now so i think its the starter but dont have the money to get someone to switch it for me and i am not sure if it is the only issue



Response:

1) Frozen solenoid. Tap on it with a hammer.

2) it sounds its a lose wire my car did that and after spending 800 bucks to have every part you can think of change by the shop i kept taking it too.  i finally took it some other place good year found it was just a lose wire and fix it for 30 bucks. if you take the starter off just remember to color coat which wire as to where it goes and just put it on the same as you took it off its not hard to change them i have done them before.

1996 Buick Regal acelleration problems

It has 60k miles. Had fuel filter replaced and fuel injectors cleaned about six months ago.





Recently started - when accelerating or going up at hill it will momentarily jerk.



Any ideas what might cause this?



Response:

1) Try a better grade of gas. IE Higher Octane instead of who has the lowest price. Check your owners manual for the recommended fuel octane rating. You may be suprised.

2) Get your catalytic convertor checked to and if it is bad and since the car has less than 100k on it they have to change it for free its a federal law that i learned about when i need mine changed but i was over about 1000 miles just my luck lol

dual heating and cooling sysem the passenger side turns cold and gives off nothing but COLD air

I have a '99 Grand Cherokee Limited with dual heating and cooling system. The heater works fine for a very short time (15 or 20 minutes), after which time the passenger side turns cold and gives off nothing but COLD air. How do I fix this problem?

Stereo Swap - need advice

I am trying to swap the stock AM/FM cassette deck in my wife's 2000 ford windstar van. How do you take the plastic shroud that surrounds the radio and heater out without breaking it? to expose the screws to remove the radio?



Response:



The shroud just snaps in and out. Use a plastic pry tool and pop it loose to expose the stereo mounting screws. Here is the wiring in case you need it for the swap.

2000 Ford Windstar Stereo Wiring





Constant 12V+ Green/Purple



Switched 12V+ Yellow/Black



Ground Black/Light Green



Illumination Green



Dimmer n/a



Front Speakers 6" x 8" Doors



Left Front (+) Orange/Light Green



Left Front (-) Light Blue/White



Right Front (+) White/Light Green



Right Front (-) Dark Green/Orange



Rear Speakers 6" x 8" Side Panels



Left Rear (+) Light Brown/White



Left Rear (-) Light Brown/Yellow



Right Rear (+) Light Brown/Green



Right Rear (-) Brown/Pink

96 Monte Carlo with a 3.4 liter motor he keeps burning up his alternator

my friend has a 96 Monte Carlo with a 3.4 liter motor he keeps burning up his alternator,he has replaced it 3 times.the 2nd one was he did not hook up the cowl for it to get air to cool it but it has happened again any ideas or maybe a cure for this would be helpful.





Response:



1) Disconnect that amp and subs.







2) Sounds like something is drawing a lot of amps. Has he been blowing fuses and replaced them with a higher amp fuse? Do any wires feel hot or warm. The fan belt could be over tighten,(this is bad for the bearings). Get it to a garage and have them check it.





3) One of the sensors is bad. Check your voltage at each sensor both cold and hot and compare to specs. Usually high voltage (battery voltage) is a cold cycle circuit. Low voltage (half battery voltage) is the run or warm circuit. This triggers the ECM to set the cycle for ignition and fuel pump. A common problem with the distributor model 4 cyl was the pickup coil and reluctor in what was known as the "Hall Effect" Ignition.

 

4) hall effect is possible. an automatic shut down relay is possible. another strange thing is the map sensor. these are all easy checks to find out no meters or other things. start with the shut down relay which is under the hood in the relay center and switch it with another relay of the same number like the ac or what ever and see if it runs when warm. for the test on the map unplug the vacuum and see if it runs (it will act flooded but it will run) if it is the map and if all else fails it can be the pick-up coil know as the hall effect. in the distributor flat plate their when cap is removed lol and have a great day.

1989 f 250 fuel tanks

I have a 89 f 250 5.8. I'm not to knowledgeable about repair but can be a quick learner. I just purchased this vehicle as a need to use weekend vehicle. I put fuel in the rear tank about 14 gal and a little more in the front tank which made neither one completely full,drove home then parked. The next morning I noticed the rear tank Gage showed almost empty and the front tank was as full as one can get on the Gage. Odd to me. Did the tank pump fuel into the other? I did not see any fuel leakage any where.Why did other tank now show more fuel?



Other question- The front tank gives me a lot of trouble when trying to pump fuel into it. The gas pump nozzle just keeps shutting off. Sure was a pain to get gas into the tank.



Response:

To answer your 1st question, there is a metering valve that changes which tank is drawing fuel and where the fuel is being returned. It is possible for that valve not to function properly thus allowing the fuel to be returned to the other tank. However, if it is fuel injected it will cause preformance problems and possible check engine light.





To answer your 2nd question, there is a restriction in your fill tube or the vent/return on the fill tube is restricted.