[Mathias]

Okay, I have a 2.3L mustang and i've been trying forever to find a new engine, but thats another story. (probably need it now) So awhile ago I decided to switch my spark plugs/wires, ran fine after that, ran better after that even. Then one day I started hearing a tick in my engine, I think its the #3 cylinder, and I knew that wasn't good but she was still runnin fine. Next day I was playing around and threw her hard into second gear and my exhaust pipe disconnected right from the cat, it went from high pitched 4 banger to deep sounding diesel mother f'er, the escort I was playing with (and beating) backed off and turned haha. So then it started acting real bad, stalling at idle and whatnot. I attributed this to the exhaust and just had dual exhaust split from the cat installed for a pretty penny. Problem is it still stalls at idle, dips down to 500 and then dies, starts up just fine, then dies again if i dont give her gas. If I run it for awhile then it won't stall at idle, so after it ran for awhile i popped the hood and adjusted the idle up to 1500, stayed there and drove around fine. Turned off and prob 30 mins later came back and idle was back to where it was, stalling and all that. Obviously my adjustment didn't stay (damned spring on the throttle body screw must be s**t). Topped off the oil in her (1qt, leaks a bit, cant find new aluminum pan tho :o ) Still dies on me. Could really use some help here guys, i'd love to just get rid of the pussy 2.3 but after the exhaust and me going to the black hills in a bit money is gonna be hard to save up, and can't drive her as is anyway. Did I screw up that cylinder, break the rod or something? I think tommorrow im gonna try takin off the sparks to her and see if it still stalls, will have a miss but at least if it doesn't stall i'll know it IS that cylinder and im basically screwed :o I'm learning but I have never torn apart an engine and don't really have a place to do a lot of work on her. I'm open to suggestions, I really need some help here guys. Any replies are *much* appreciated, im really in trouble here.

[Mathias]

*bump* come on guys, surely someone can help.

[Kevin Doe]

Originally posted by Mathias:
i'd love to just get rid of the pussy 2.3

No turbo and you in turboford.org, and you call the 2.3 a pussy. You're ousted sucka.

Sorry, your post was too confusing to really read. That and I couldn't really discern a specific question. Hope you get it figured out.

Kevin

[Vyk]

*stab in the dark*
Cam timing? Timing belt might've jumped a tooth. Otherwise, yeah, try a cylinder drop test.
Either way, you almost certainly got a bunch of unburned gas in the cat and that's how you took the exhaust system apart.

[trashline]

Originally posted by Mathias:
i'd love to just get rid of the pussy 2.3 but after the exhaust

this might seem harsh and yes my post topic was adjusted b/c i said damn. but this kind of language on a public forum is foul. and i dont think you should even be here if thats the way you feel. I dont know much about these cars but i enjoy working on them. And i know for sure Im not going to give you any advice

P.S. good luckand maybe do a compression check.

[Mathias]

Thanks Vyk, sounds like that could be my problem. After thinking about it I did get some backfire and i've tried dropping cylinders and it has no effect other than to give me a nasty miss. Sorry if my choice of language offended you trashline, I was more than a bit upset and the reason I came to this forum is because i wanted to get rid of the powerless stock 2.3 and get a 2.3 turbo. I've been trying for awhile, have even looked at a few being sold on here, just haven't gotten one yet. Now I need to locate myself a timing light and hopefully fix my problem if that is indeed what it is. Thanks for your replies.

[trashline]

its not really about me per say, but what would people who want to get into TF's think... maybe that were trash you never know. apalogie is accepted. if you put the crank pulley on top dead center or where your finger blows ff the number one plug, the cam belt pointer should face the aux pulley bolt if not rotate crank 1 full rotation and it should line up. if it doesnt then your cam timing jumped.

[Mathias]

Well I just found out that the 91 mustang has computer controlled timing. I grabbed some carb cleaner and cleaned off one of the sensor plugs, there are two but the other one is below my throttle body and didn't have enough time to clean that one. After cleaning the one sensor it had no effect, apparently they both work together, but I pulled off the other sensor while it was running and she went from near stall at 500rpm up to 1500rpm idleing just fine. I'm told its some sort of choke and when I tried hitting the gas with the sensor disconnected the rpms took a dive and she didn't go anywhere. Hopefully after I clean up the other sensor that should take care of my idling problems. Thanks for your help everybody.

[Mathias]

Well back to where I started. I unplug the sensor and it idles right, so i tried removing the sensor to clean it and its just a little plastic w/ a slot in it. A piece from the throttle body gets inserted into that slot and when u accelerate the piece turns which then turns the end of the sensor. I'm guessing the sensor must be junk because it wasn't dirty at all and my tinkering had no effect. If I don't get this fixed by tommorrow I won't have a way to get to work.

[Dr_EluSivE]

to my knowledge there is no sensor under the Throttle body, but i could be wrong.. You dont need a timing light to set cam timing, just pull the cam cover of, and make sure all the marks line up, If they dont pull the belt, line things up, and put it all back.

Dr.