Bought a 1988 mustang lx 2.3 2 days ago. after looking under the hood, trying to figure out why it runs like crap, i noticed the o2 sensor wasnt even plugged up in the car. The previous owner replaced the exhaust on this car (halfway). but the manifold is cracked and plugging up the o2 sensor didnt help anything. The car runs rough as hell, and has about the power of a 5hp briggs and straton lawn mower motor. The car somehow out of a miracle spun the tires in my yard (which was wet and muddy) and spun pos, didnt dogleg. But it has the rear end for the 2.3 in it because the axles only have the 4 lug as opposed to the 5 lugs on the 5.0 cars. The car also doesnt move at all when shifted into (D) from P, but will work in regular D. If i have it in D, and push it forwards into (D) it will click in place, but has tension on it, pulling back. It also wont stay in 1, it just shifts up to 2 when i let go, which leads me to think the shifter linkage needs adjustment. And the car is burning rich. The fuel guage shows either F or E, nothing in between. The coolant temp guage doesnt work. And when turning the ignition to the "on" position, no ligts come on that indicate that the computer is even working. No check engine light, nothing. The previous owner said he had to remove the guage cluster cover thing because a bulb for the speedo burned out, and there is evidence that he did because he didnt put the screws back in it to hold it in place. Is it possible he disconnected the lights for the computer (check engine, etc.). Could the computer be **** shot and just in "limp mode" or whatever you call it? Also i know my vacuum modulator valve is bad because the engine is sucking up transmission fluid into the throttle body.
where do i even start? please help me because ive had this car for 2 days and already want to stick 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate on it.
and if it helps identifying the car in any way, it has cruise control on it. doesnt work because the cable connected to the throttle body is broken.
and there is evidence, im almost 100% sure the motor in it now is not the original. the odometer shows 311,000 miles, but im not sure it wasnt pulled from a car in the junk yard, considering the car has mis matched seats and mis matched rims.
where do i even start? please help me because ive had this car for 2 days and already want to stick 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate on it.
and if it helps identifying the car in any way, it has cruise control on it. doesnt work because the cable connected to the throttle body is broken.
and there is evidence, im almost 100% sure the motor in it now is not the original. the odometer shows 311,000 miles, but im not sure it wasnt pulled from a car in the junk yard, considering the car has mis matched seats and mis matched rims.