98 cobra, engine troubles...

[stang dreamer]

might sound a bit simple to you guys but im from the UK and dont really have any techs round here that dare to even look at one of these things let alone fix it, but i have a few problems with it.

sometimes on startup the starter motor can be turning the engine over but doesnt always spark up straight away, only starts when i give it a bit of gas... this doesnt always happen, and its actually quite rare but its not this bit that annoys me.

its the fact that i can be driving along and dip the clutch to slow at junctions and feel the steering and brakes go a little harder, quick look at the dash and yep, its stalled. has done this twice this week and hasnt done it at all before then.

only when i come to change the fuel filter i noticed that the fuel cut off button has actually been pressed down and wont come back up, infact no matter what i do with that damn button it wont come out or push any deeper in. it just stays in the one position.

could that have anything to do with why im having trouble or perhaps something more serious?

thanks in advance guys

 

[ian7654]

i haven't had this trouble with a cobra, but i did have a 1999 GT that did the same thing. in that case it was the IAC (Idle Air Control) valve. basically it was fouled and when i would put the clutch in to slow down, the car would stall because the IAC would stick closed. To fix it you simply remove the IAC and spray it out with some carburetor cleaner.

that fuel cutoff button could also be an issue, and hopefully someone else here can tell you something about that. however the stalling definitely sounds like an IAC issue to me.

props for driving a cobra in the UK! how did you get your hands on one over there?

 

[stang dreamer]

ill give that a shot, actually. which is the idle valve on these?
my car was actually imported by a guy from the states who is now stationed in wales, i think he traded it in for a van and i got it from the van company cheap as hell. most people my age are driving vauxhall corsas (look it up ) and i feel like a million $ in this thing

 

[stang dreamer]

i have now scanned the car and it had no codes at all, sprayed the idle valve with carb cleaner and it just refused to start totally for about 15 mins. afterwards it seemed fine but soon got back to its old tricks again.

refusing to start is now nearly every single time i turn the key. its a pain in the ass to save for so damn long for this thing and have nothing but bastid trouble since i got it.

still not throwing codes out... is there any other suggestions you guys could tell me of?

 

[mrrob96fs]

Is this the stock throttle body and intake? I have had a stalling problem with my 2000 GT and it seemed to only occur after throttle body and aluminum flywheel install.

I agree on the IAC valve, but throttle position sensors are also pieces of crap of the Ford products. The way I deal with the car stalling, and mine only does it if you put the clutch in at about 3000 rpm and let it drop down to idle, is downshifting and leaving it in gear.

Also if the car is coming down from 2500 or so RPM, then you steal its vacuum with some braking, this is almost a surefire way to stall it.

Also exhaust system will play in this, the less backpressure you have AKA no cats... the more likely you are to stall.

Now starting up woes... Check that fuel cutoff button problem. Also I would suggest running some fuel injection cleaner through a tank of gas, I can imagine with the miles you have on the car, dirty injectors could be the culprit as well. Hope this helps.

 

[stang dreamer]

yeah its all stock except 60mm MAF and K&N filter. these problems arose before the filter change though.

i bought some supermarket branded injector cleaner in the hopes that it makes a difference. but im not sure whether i should as i had problems with my last car and it seemed to make it worse...