Troubles w/my 2000 V6 mustang..need help

[platinumali]

Hi All, I'm new to the forum but thought I'd seek advice as there appear to be some real knowledgeable users on here.
Anyway this is my deal i am the sole owner of my 2000 V6 Mustang. She has 174k miles. i have followed the necessary maintenance book. i work from home now so i only put about 8-9k mi per year on the car. She is a FANTASTIC car and I do not want to get rid of her.
So these are my issues:
1. I just took the car in for an oil change last week and this week occasionally when i start the car white smoke comes out of what i would assume is the exhaust and then it does not smoke anymore while driving. What could be causing this?
2. something underneath the car rattles when i am driving, it has been doing that for some time intermittently, but just this week it seems to be much more frequent and louder.
3. my ABS light is on and my mechanic indicated i will need a new control unit. Is this required for my car to run properly or can i have the ABS turned off??
4. The car sputters when idle and has lost a lot of its accerlation power. not sure if this is connected to the smoke and rattling as everything seems to be coming from the exhaust area. i experienced this last year around oct/nov and needed to have new spark plugs replaced due to a misfire in cyl 6 and that corrected the sputtering and loss of power issue right away. That was only 3500 miles ago so i didn't think it could be that so soon.
5. RPMs jump when i am sitting idle at a stop light after i have driven the car for a while like over 45 mins for example.

***NO CHECK ENGINE light on or blinking either only ABS Light is on*******
Any advice would be helpful as i will be taking the car to my mechanic next week. i kind of like to hear averything that could be an issue so i know a little before i go in. thanks in advance

few addl repairs outside of normal brakes, oil maintenance:
*spark plugs replaced 11/10- 171k mi
*Trans flush, coolant flush, fuel filter and neck 5/10- 166k mi
*Replace power steering line, fluid and clamps 12/09- 163k mi
*rack & pinion, lower steering shaft, ball joints and suspension 5/09 -156k mi (car was stolen and wrecked causing damage)
*replace serpinteen belt & first battery replacement 3/09 - 154k mi
*Evap System leak repair 11/08- 149k mi
*replace trans pan gasket 7/08- 144k mi

 

[wmburns]

Does the motor use coolant? Does the motor use oil?

Coolant is usually white. Oil is gray.

Worn value guide seals usually present as gray smoke on statup that goes away after warm up. This is an example of a problem that can be lived with.

A leaking head gasket would let coolant in the combustion chamber. If allowed to continue will erode the metal thus making a repair more risky.

I'm assuming that you don't work on your car yourself.

I'm afraid that with the high mileage and symptoms, a bad head gasket is a real possibility. A cooling system pressure test, motor compression test would answer the questions.

The rattling under the car is likely rusted out cats.

ABS can be disabled by removing fuse F2.29 in the Central Junction Box (driver's kick panel).

 

[MustangLX-5.0]

To be more specific, the ABS module is fuse 29. 3rd row up far right side on the diagram I have added here. It's the fuse box right underneath your steering wheel to the left. Just match the spot on the diagram to the same spot on the actual fuse box. All ABS does is rapidly pulsate your brakes to help prevent them from locking up during a very hard stop. They will not pulsate. They will function fine, just remember to not hold your pedal in so long if you slam on the brakes or you will lock your tires up and skid.

If the white smoke is in the very early morning hours an it is even a little humid or damp outside, some white steam coming from the exhaust is normal in damp times of the day. It's just condensation. But if this happens any time of the day and poofs out, it's most likely coolant burning in one of the cylinders due to a leaking head gasket. Thats typical for the 3.8 engines. Mine has been leaking for some time and i'm at 150k+ miles.

 

[platinumali]

thank you both for your repsonses.
i so wish i could work on my own car, but no i do not.
The motor uses coolant and oil. and the smoke is a white smoke that comes out and lingers for a moment in the air only at start up and only on occasion (i've seen it happen twice) and i only drive my car maybe 2-3 times a week (maybe) mostly within 20 miles and the occasional 30+ one way drive to the city.

if it is a bad head gasket, would you both recommend replacing the engine or buying another car? i struggle with buying another car (used) when i have been the sole owner of this one and know everything that is wrong and right with it. However, i do not want to be that person that gets a refurbished/used engine put in for $3-4k (is it more than that) and then a number of other issues arise.

looking for suggestions

 

[platinumali]

oh one other thing i noticed is my odometer will go out and then come back in. it is tracking the miles, but sometimes goes out while driving. Do you know what would cause this?

 

[wmburns]

Regarding the white smoke. It's very difficult to tell sometimes from a post. But if it's light whispy white smoke that mainly occurs in the cool/cold mornings that goes away when the motor is hot, that is NORMAL.

Does the car use coolant? Does it use oil? If so, this is a trouble sign.

Ok, if you plan on keeping the car, why not have the engine pressure tested and find out if you actually have a problem?

Then you can make an informed decision instead of just assuming it needs tons of $$ repairs.

IF it does need major engine repairs, based on the high mileage, it may not be worth it to pay someone to install a new motor.

IMO, this is a decison best based upon the overall condition of the car. Is it clean? Good body and paint? Seats good? Do you like the car? It makes more sense to perform a major repair when the base car is worth having.

FWIIW, Mustangs with blown engines are actually very easy to sell. Seems there are tons of ppl that are willing to put new motors into these cars. There's one in my driveway right now that traveled that path.

Regarding the odometer, check the ground located behind the center console. It's frequently meesed up during a radio install.

 

[Chris Gallucci]

Hey guys, I'm new to everything Ford. My dad owned a Chevy dealership and that is what I had grown up with. This is my first car and I really like it, however last night I started her up and went to taco bell. When I got back pulling into my driveway I started smelling something smoking. I pulled into my garage turned her off, and I saw it, smoke coming out of the drivers side front fender. I popped the hood and saw nothing. It smelled of burning brakes, and burning oil. I am having a mechanic check it out as I type, I was just wondering if you guys have had the same experience. It is a 1999 convertible, 77k miles, and had been sitting for three months and had been driven the night previous. Also, the alternator seems a little weak, any ideas, or is this a mustang being a mustang?

Thanks y'all,

Chris Gallucci

 

[jrod2423]

This would be a rare occasion on a mustang from what I know, most likely something broke on the occasion of wear and tear. You wouldn't have been happening to be doin any racing or trying to do burnouts or something hard like that on the brakes? That would be the only thing I could think of brakes smokin for.

 

[Chris Gallucci]

No, in fact I am very scared to accelerate too much because of the fact the U joint takes a second to kick in once you select drive or reverse. Also, it needs a new top, or needs stiched back together where the rear window meets the top. Does anyone know of a top sealer? I really don't want to buy a new top, AND have to pay someone to install it