Won't Rev past 3K @ WOT?help!
 

This might isn't a 5.0 but still a ford and since there isn't much turn out for questions in the small ponies area I decided to bring my question here. A family member just picked up a 96' with the 3.8 engine. One day while getting on to the freeway to my misfurtune I was using the car the car bogged at half throttle and the check engine light came. It accelerated just fine going down the freeway and everything seemed fine except for the check engine light being. Well back on the city streets whenever I would go into what the car would bog out at the line then catch reving only up to 3K and staying there and simply floating across the street until I took it out of wot to 3/4 throttle and then it would take off if I tried going back to what it would hesitate again but slowing begin to rev. The car and engine look new anywhere you look at it and the engine has 60 k miles on it. I was thinking it would either be the mass air or the O2 sensors. What would be a good thing to do to check whats wrong with the car. Oh and also I noticed that when comming to a stop and applying the brakes it revs up and down. I don't hear a vacuum leak on the brake booster but would this be a good place to check. I really need to get this car running back to its normal state so I can continue on my EFI-T5 project. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Blown head gasket. Check the compression. Actually, 60k is right about the average for the 3.8.

Take care,
-Chris

BAD MASS AIR- i have had mass airs go bad on 3 of my mustangs and that is exactly what they do, i got my 95 for dirt cheap cause they couldnt figure out why it ran like crap. when you part throttle it, it will usually rev up all the way, but at full throttle the darn thing bogs down and runs like crap right? swap the mass air with someones that you know works.

Sounds just about right with the mass air. Compression comes fine, idles, starts up, revs just fine as long as you don't floor it. Also I noticed that in the mornings if you rev the engine to say 3-4k it will hesitate. Once it's warm it won't do it. Do you think the electronics from a different type of car will fit like say from a 5.0? Or how about from an 86-93? I have those available but not for a 96 3.8. Thanks again and let me know if there is anything else I should check for.

you have a different computer so i think your gonna have to buy one specifically for your car, i dont think any others will work. if for some crazy reason that isnt your problem, then i would check your tps (throttle position sensor) good luck

Mass Air- Was working on a '93 5.0 that was a turd on the street, and wouldn't go past 4,000 RPM. Swapped Mass Air Sensors, and ran like a raped Ape...

Is it AOD?

If so, you might want to check the throttle position sensor. I would guess mass air, but work checking TPS.

Just checked the posts and looks like sn95gt19 concurs :).

I had a similar problem and my TPS was disconnected :) Fixed the problem and everything was okey dokey.

Thansk,
DoranW

I would say switch out the throttle position sensor (TPS) first. And if not that then change the mass air.