HELP! Just got car back but ....

[Wil]

ok, well after almost 4 months I finally got my car back from first the shop and just recently the body shop. Well it looks like when the paint guy put the engine stuff together ( he painted the engine bay) he did it incorrectly and forgot something cause the car runs choppy. I think it's one of the hoses from the egr spacer cause I only see one line from the radiator to the front of the egr spacer but nothing on the back. Is there suposed to be a hose in back to going somewhere. BTW, the car looks great, will post asap. PLEASE HELP

 

[jrichker]

Thge only hoses going to the EGR spacer are the coolant lines. If the front one was connected & working, coolant would be pouring out the back line on the EGR spacer.

See http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/TPS_IAB_Pic.jpg for a picture Of the EGR with both coolant hoses connected correctly.

Dump the codes and see what the computer says is wrong…

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.

See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.dalidesign.com/hbook/eectest.html for more descriptive help
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html

IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is about $30 or so at AutoZone or Walmart.

 

[04sleeper]

Check all your vacuum hoses. It sounds like he missed one.

And the coolant line to the EGR spacer does have 2 hoses. 1 in and 1 out.

 

[Wil]

where does the one from the back come from. That has to be the problem cause only one line is hooked up. right?

 

[04sleeper]

where does the one from the back come from. That has to be the problem cause only one line is hooked up. right?

It comes off a fitting on the rear of the lower intake that is screwed into a water port.

 

[Wil]

any pics would be great. I just don't want to go the the shop again to get it fixed if it's going to be a simple thing. btw, I don't feel anything from the side that is missing a hose. should there be a vacume? Also, would that missing hose cause my car to running jerky at lower rpm. I hit the gas hard once and it pop ( backfired) fyi

 

[Black1987Stang]

it would still be running the same, it would just be pouring coolant from the egr plate and intake manifold. If you got coolant in the motor it SHOULD be coming out of the egr plate thats if it is not blocked off for some reason.

 

[Wil]

uhhhhhh, so if nothing is coming out, does that mean something is wrong? I have the front plugged in but nothing on the back of it.

 

[HISSIN50]

uhhhhhh, so if nothing is coming out, does that mean something is wrong? I have the front plugged in but nothing on the back of it.

do you have the system full of coolant? are you sure that there is a coolant line on the front port, and not an incorrectly routed vacuum line?

good luck.

 

[5spd GT]

If it is backfiring...you might want to verify your timing or have someone else do it...

Post a couple engine pics (egr, or disconnected lines that look suspicious)...if you can...

Glad you got the car painted

David

 

[Wil]

well, i followed the line down and found that it is hooked up to the small box on the lower left next to the radiator. I looked around behind the intake manifold for a loose hose but found nothing. maybe i don't have one? BUT I've seen some car in mags that don't have anything plugged in the egr. Also, this wouldn't cause my car to run odd, would it. Could it be a spark plug?

 

[Wil]

btw, will post pics of engine and car asap

 

[MusPuppis]

Those EGR lines wouldnt cause it to run poorly. Alot of poeple unhook them. I dont have mine hooked up at all.

If its backfiring when you get on it some and its jerky at lower RPM my guess is timing or a misfire. I'd have someone verify your timing, or do it yourself if you have a light. Also make sure the plug wires are routed properly and all of them are all the way on the plugs and distributer. You could have a bad connection somewhere.

 

[5spd GT]

well, i followed the line down and found that it is hooked up to the small box on the lower left next to the radiator. I looked around behind the intake manifold for a loose hose but found nothing. maybe i don't have one? BUT I've seen some car in mags that don't have anything plugged in the egr. Also, this wouldn't cause my car to run odd, would it. Could it be a spark plug?

I know one line that goes to that carbon canister (small box)...comes from the front-left underneath the upper part of the intake...and another line will go to a vent at the gas tank...

 

[Black1987Stang]

sounds like its hooked up to the carbon canister, that line should go to the bottom of the upper intake.

 

[Skoobie]

Little Hyjack

sounds like its hooked up to the carbon canister, that line should go to the bottom of the upper intake.

I have that same problem. A vac line that leads from the carbon box is just tucked in behind the distrubutor not attached to anything. There are Three vac connects under the upper intake (I have an Explorer/GT40 intake). Which vac hook up does the carbon canister go too?

::EDIT:: And its seems weird that you would hook a VACUUM line up to the canister...wouldnt that suck carbon into the intake???

 

[jrichker]

I have that same problem. A vac line that leads from the carbon box is just tucked in behind the distrubutor not attached to anything. There are Three vac connects under the upper intake (I have an Explorer/GT40 intake). Which vac hook up does the carbon canister go too?

::EDIT:: And its seems weird that you would hook a VACUUM line up to the canister...wouldnt that suck carbon into the intake???

Any one of them will do. for the record, here's the Explorer vacuum line hookup.

Vacuum line connections:
One large vacuum line from the upper front goes to the carbon canister

One large vacuum line from the rear goes to the vacuum tree.

One small line in the front feeds the Smog pump solenoid control valves on the rear of the passenger side wheel well..

One small line in the rear goes to the fuel pressure regulator.

One small line in the rear goes to the EGR suction regulator.

One large line in the rear goes to the PVC valve.


The carbon canister is designed to prevent carbon form being sucked out of it unless you smash it with a BH.

See http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/88Stang5.0Vacuum.gif for vacuum line routing for a standerd 5.0 Mustang

Or

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/mustangFoxFordVacuumDiagram.jpg

See http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/ for lots of other engine wiring & vacuum line help.

 

[HISSIN50]

well, i followed the line down and found that it is hooked up to the small box on the lower left next to the radiator.

lower left as you are standing in front of the car, or as seen from the drivers seat (the usual and assumed perspective)?

i had a feeling about a vac line (or dry line) being attached - sounds like it might be.

good luck.

 

[Skoobie]

Just out of curiosity...what would happen if say someone found the large vac connection (the canister connect on the explorer intake) unhooked and instead of hooking the correct line back up just say capped it off??? Would it over time cause the car to run differently? (Did it back in July/Aug)

 

[Wil]

ok, here's a pic of the car first, she's a little dirty