My car is dead!!!!!

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

Ok here is the story. My dad and I put a new radiator, thermostat, thermostat housing and new hoses. Ok well after we were done we started it up and it worked fine. We let it run for awhile and heat up so that the thermostat began working. Well first of all the old thermostat i believe had been stuck open the whole time ive owned the car since september. Ive almost driven it 1000 miles since i bought it. the mileage is 97K. Well as I was leaving the driveway to go drive it it died and would not catch. It cranks over but wont start. We tested the battery and it is fine. I have no idea what is wrong. Please help!!!!!

Nick

[Jeb_Bush_2000]

This is a long-shot, but try unhooking the negative battery terminal for about ten minutes, then trying it again.

[LittleBlueStang]

I doubt that the thermostat has anything to do w/ your problem. Try looking at the fuel pump. You should be able to hear it engage when you put the key in the "gonna start it" position. If you hear it working, try the fuel filter. Is it getting spark? My ride is a 77', so my EFI knowledge is limited, but these are things that I would try on my car if I had this happen.

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

Yes the fuel pump does turn on when I try to start it. Im gonna test to see If I get a spark in my wires and see if that is the problem. Any other suggestions?

[Stang Runner]

Make sure the ECC is Gounded right off the Batter -Cable it should be.

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

Well I went to start my car today and it started right up. The plug wires are the original 1989 ones i believe so this may be the problem. It seems like if they get just a little wet the car wont start and it will after it sits and dries like overnight. The same thing happened when I steam cleaned it awhile ago. I am buying the FMS 9mm wires from Summitt either today or tommorow. But I am happy now because it is running better than ever!

[rick8750]

Thats alot more fire than stock so be sure to follow a couple 9MM rules. Don't just throw in the 9's and cruise!

1. treat each plug with diletic grease on the contact.
2. use copper point cap and rotor.
3. separate wires completely to avoid arc (use a harness kit).

9's Rock.

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

Hey thanks for the info. Where can I get a copper cap and rotor kit. Is the stock one not copper. Also are there special wire looms for the 9mm wires? Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Nick

[rick8750]

Ok, Seriously... Not many people understand the importance of a big bang but i swear by my MSD setup. If you want to make a worth wile upgrade along with the 9MM wireset you should really invest in MSD coil and distributor. if that is a little too pricey at this time then your local autoparts store should carry a distributor cap with copper rotor point and contact strips... low cost alternative to going all out. Don't overlook the fact that with a bigger bang you can now bump your timing at least 1 degree further than with stock wires. I could only squeeze 13 deg TDC out of the stock wireset before detonation... with the 9MM wireset i am running smooth and strong at 15 deg TDC with 0 detonation. I can actually bump it to 16 deg TDC but my idle gets a little crappy due to my ratio eprom chip calculating too much fuel when i attempt to advance my timing any further than 15 deg TDC. In short i say... MSD Kit with distributor.

[MidNiteBlu 5.0]

I dont think i have the money to buy a new distributor because im 17 and just spent about a lot of money with the radiator, parts, car payment, and alignment bill. plus I need to buy new tires soon and insurance is coming up. What about the MSD cap and rotor kit that Summitt sells. Would that be good?

Thanks,
Nick

[kevknotch88]

If your car quits again, I would guess it is the module on the side of your distributor. That is a common problem on these rides.
kevin

[rick8750]

I don't think it's a bad idea at all. The kit that summit sells is bound to be better than the existing stock parts. MSD is reliable.

[mean81GT]

I have always kept a can of "wire-dry" in my emergency kit. I carry a small box in my hatch, with a quart of oil, brake fluid, tranny fluid, wire dry, antifreeze, and a few other odds and ends. When you drive an older stang, these things become necessities. Before the stang entered the garage last year, i had wiring problems. whenever it would rain, the car would have trouble starting. If i drove through a large puddle, the car would stumble and want to stall, and sometimes did. Spray the wirte dry on there, and it would clear right up. Wire-dry, learn it, know it, live it.