Mach 1 Mach 1 2004 stalling - need ideas plz

[tsolorio]

Hi, Please don't flame if this is the wrong spot for this question. I've Googled and haven't found anything similar.

I bought my Mach '04 about 1 yr. ago. Since then it's stalled about 5-6 times. The first time the guy at the dealer drives it around the lot (1-2 min. tops) and there was nothing wrong and that I didn't properly use the clutch or that it was just a fluke. I have been driving manual transmission cars/trucks since I learned to drive. His attitude irritated me. It was in 5th gear on an open road. No clutch involved when it happened.

Next 2,600-3,000 miles it happens again.

I tell the dealer about it on the next oil change. They keep the car 3 days. Used a scanner while driving it down the road. Decided that the Idle Control Valve is defective. They replace it.

Next 2,500-3,000 it happens again. I tell them about it on the next oil change. Everybody in the service department seems stumped.

Time goes on and the next few times it consistently stalls within 700 miles of needing an oil change. I don't know if there is a sensor problem or what, but this is what I see happening each time. I'm not a mechanic, that's why I took it to them.

Everything is stock. I don't plan on leaving it that way ;-) But I love my Mach and I don't want to replace it. I just feel stressed that usually I'm open an open road (above the speed limit) or sometimes on a curve when this happens and the lights come on, power steering and brakes go out and all I can do is gear down or put it in nuetral and crank it again. After that is does fine.

What worries me is that one time I was entering congested area and my only option was to immediately put the clutch in and restart at 45 mph. Somebody...anybody....I'm desperate for ANY ideas.

Thanks for any help.

 

[screamingmach1]

i never had (or heard of) any problem remotely close to that. try contacting ford directly if your dealer can't help you out. p.s. i don't blame you for not wanting to get rid of it.

 

[tsolorio]

Thanks. I'll try that. Probably should have called already but I spend my entire day job on tech support for customers. Aw, what's another 1hr. on the phone. Everything else is great with my stang....except for being a ticket magnet. I could live without those.

Oh, well...have to sacrifice something for such a sweet ride.

 

[IMachU]

A lot of folks at www.mach1registry.com have reported (me included) that our K&N aftermarket CAI have carused the stalling problems. 98% of the time it is while pushing in the clutch and coasting to a stop. The rpms just keep dropping until it stalls, but it is very infrequent. The best way to get rid of this is to get nthe predator tuner and install the stock performance tune. Or just go and get a tune. I'm assuming you have an aftermarket CAI on your Mach.

Other than that the IAC valve (idle air control) has been the culprit on the other Machs, and I believe there is a TSB out on it.

 

[tsolorio]

Actually I've been wanting to get a K&N but haven't gotten around to it. Most of the time it stalls when I push in the clutch to slow for a turn or if I'm coming into traffic. I'm always afraid that it'll happen and cause me to kiss the back of another car or worse ....something a lot bigger.

They replaced the IAC valve and they (dealer where I bought it) were sure that was the cause, but apparently it's not. I've sent an email to ford and plan on calling them tomorrow to get thier ideas. I've also entered the VIN to see if there is a recall....no luck on that either.

I'll try your suggestion too. Hey, I'm up for anything. I'm just glad that I'm not the only one with the prob. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Crzyhrse]

I've had the stalling problem on my Mach for quite awhile now. A month after I bought it I got a K@N CAI and it's been stalling every since. It does it all the time. I've already got the Predator tune installed and adjusted when I had my Mach dynoed, but it still does it. I plan on getting the C@L Tru-Flow System, so I'm gonna ditch the K@N. I'm hoping that cures it.

 

[djlethalwang]

I started having a stalling problem after I put on my Steeda Cold Air. I took the MAF screen out while I was installing it thinkin that it would be better without it. I was wrong......I've read that taking the MAF screen out will cause stalling, but right now I can't really confirm if this is true or not. I reinstalled the MAF screen the night before taking my Mach to the dealer for transmission work. The whole way there, it didn't stall once, but that was only about a mile and a half drive and I only came to a stop like 3 or 4 times...........Anyway, I should have the car back within the next couple of days. Had to take it in because I'm pretty sure that i messed up the syncros when a clutch spring broke off a couple weeks back and and damaged my pressure plate. I made the mistake of driving the car up to the dealship without the use of my clutch. Yeah, that was fun....everytime I came to a stop I had to turn the car off, put it in first and start it to take off again, then I RPM shifted from 1st to 2nd and just drove in 2nd most of the time doing about 30MPH. So yeah, that definitely had some kind of effect on the tranny. Luckily everything is covered under warranty and they decided to give me a whole new transmission. But, I'm hoping when I get my car back it won't have that stalling problem anymore. Hopefully putting the MAF screen in fixed it.....

 

[Mach428]

I had the stalling problem last summer, when I put the K&N intake kit in my Mach, I took it right out after stalling out at 130MPH. Ever since, my car stalled once at a stoplight when I was coasting with the clutch in with the stock intake.

 

[djlethalwang]

I got my car back Friday from the dealership finally and I have not had one stalling problem since. I still have on the Steeda Cold Air, also. That MAF screen really does make a difference........leave it in when installing an aftermarket CAI....

 

[oohsoobad2]

Im really suprised you guys can get warrenty work with the mods youve done, especially the Predator. One of the first things dealers do now days is tap into the diagnostic port and read the ECU, its real easy for them to tell if its been flashed.

 

[ttown]

Im really suprised you guys can get warrenty work with the mods youve done, especially the Predator. One of the first things dealers do now days is tap into the diagnostic port and read the ECU, its real easy for them to tell if its been flashed.

Actually the Predator is one of the best tuners on the market because the dealer can't tell you had a performance tune. When you take it in for repairs just put your factory tune back in and save the custom tune in the Predator.

 

[KeithCobraUH]

Does it die when you are accelerating then let off?

I would say try another IAC valve.....might have got a bad one....or when they installed they didn't clean out the whole.

I believe there is a mod on EBay or off mach1registry where they put a plate under your IAC valve and helps with the falling idle.

 

[tsolorio]

Well, I finally got a response back from Ford and they will be in touch with the dealer where I bought it. At this point their option is to run full diagnostics. They already did that but I said "Ok, let's do it".

I haven't gotten a tuner yet. I'll see if they can fix the problem this time. If they can't I'll purchase a tuner and try it myself.

Hopefully their ultimate solution won't be to offer to sell me a 2005 again. That was their last proposal. I told them I wanted my Mach fixed.

I had the habit of coasting to a stop but I've been making the effort not to do that to see if it helps. I'll post anything they find/don't find here as soon as I find out something. It'll probably be a couple of weeks before I can take it to them.

Wish me luck!!

 

[tsolorio]

Does it die when you are accelerating then let off?

I would say try another IAC valve.....might have got a bad one....or when they installed they didn't clean out the whole.

Mine did seem to stall when accelerating and then coasting but there is this particular 90 degree curve where I was coasting going from 5th gear->nuetral and at the point try the brakes to slow for the curve that's when I realize it stalled. Luckily I caught it in time, cranked it and put it in 4th to complete the turn just in time.
No worries on that too much. There is a dirt road that I could have headed straight down if necessary.

It's just unnerving to get caught off guard like that.

 

[bigorangegt]

i had the same problem. it was tha iac valve. ford can do all the diag. they want and it wont show up. And your lucky if your dealship will cover for the new one. cause as far as ford is concerned there is nothing wrong with the valve

 

[tsolorio]

i had the same problem. it was tha iac valve. ford can do all the diag. they want and it wont show up. And your lucky if your dealship will cover for the new one. cause as far as ford is concerned there is nothing wrong with the valve

Well, a few people have told me this problem sounds like the IAC valve and they should cover it under warranty but I know if they refused, it wouldn't be the first time they found a way to get out of doing warranty repair on our cars.

I hate to think bad of people but I've had my doubts if they actually changed that part like they said. Just becuase they are a ford service department doesn't necessarily mean they are honest. I see no difference "replacing" that part has made.

Who knows...this may end up coming out of my pocket just to make sure it gets fixed.

 

[Give Me TP]

Actually the Predator is one of the best tuners on the market because the dealer can't tell you had a performance tune. When you take it in for repairs just put your factory tune back in and save the custom tune in the Predator.

True, though there is a code that's throw after restoring the factory tune that indicates the adaptive learning process is incomplete, from which a dealer might infer that a recent reflash had been done, but that would also happen after disconnecting the battery for 30+ minutes. So I agree the Predator is great. It also helps of course to have a mod-friendly dealer.

 

[Mikes04Mach]

stalling

I found that if I dont fully depress, and I mean to the carpet, it will sometimes die, but not often , and other then that only bad gas from 76 had her spitting a little on starts... As for the warranty work, well, I know that when I took mine in the first time, they would not work on it until they could prove that the ecu had not been flashed, so use your chips etc with caution, the dealer has the right to deny warranty work if they can show ECU mods!

 

[TR03Mach1]

I don't have the problem that you are describing, but I do empathize with what you're going through. This is just a suggestion. Take the car to an authorized SVT dealer and let them check it out. For some reason, SVT shops seem to have a better track record of finding and fixing these elusive little bugs than do the run of the mill Ford dealers.

 

[Give Me TP]

I've had the stalling problem on my Mach for quite awhile now. A month after I bought it I got a K@N CAI and it's been stalling every since. It does it all the time. I've already got the Predator tune installed and adjusted when I had my Mach dynoed, but it still does it. I plan on getting the C@L Tru-Flow System, so I'm gonna ditch the K@N. I'm hoping that cures it.

It did cure it didn't it...